It's one of the questions first-time exhibitors ask us most often when reading the small print of an assembly quote: "why doesn't it include insurance?". The short answer is that the fitter and the exhibitor need different insurance policies, and each one is liable for a different part.
What the fitter's insurance covers
The assembly company (us, in this case) must have its own liability insurance, covering any damage it might cause during the assembly or dismantling process itself — to people, to the hall, or to third-party material. This is exactly what trade fair venues (IFEMA, Fira Barcelona, Feria Valencia...) require to be verified before letting material and staff in.
What the exhibitor's insurance covers
Once the stand is built and open to the public during the fair, liability shifts to the exhibitor: if a visitor has an accident at your stand, if exhibited merchandise is damaged, or if there's any incident during the commercial activity itself, it's your own insurance (or the fair-specific insurance many venues offer) that responds — not the fitter's.
Why the quote doesn't include it
That's why our quotes always state explicitly that they don't include the exhibitor's liability insurance: it's not an oversight, it's simply that it belongs to a separate policy, which you take out yourself (often alongside your exhibitor registration, or with your own business insurance).
What to check before your fair
- That the assembly company has valid liability insurance and can prove it to the venue without delays.
- That you, as the exhibitor, have your activity covered during the fair days — many venues offer this as an option when registering.
- If you're exhibiting valuable merchandise, check whether your policy also covers theft or damage to the exhibited products, not just damage to third parties.