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June 3, 2026

New version of standard specifications 250 for road construction since January 2026

Standard specifications 250 are used as a reference and contractual basis in public tenders for roads, sewerage, pavements, cycle paths and so on. It includes rules on materials, execution, surveying methods, tolerances, safety and quality requirements, but also on insurance requirements. A new version of standard specifications 250 (version 5.0) has been in force since 1 January 2026. Read on to find out what’s new and how it affects your insurance.

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Previous versions of these standard specifications often had significant implications regarding insurance. In version 3.0, which dates back to 2015, it was, for example, mandatory for the liability component of the All Building Site Risks (ABR) insurance to be the first line of cover. This had a considerable impact on insurability and premiums. The latest version promises to relax the requirements.

New version leads to greater flexibility

The latest specifications (version 5.0) do not include any new measures that increase your insurance costs. Instead, more freedom is given to contracting authorities concerning the insured value of the work and the insurance of existing property. There is also greater freedom of choice regarding the insurance excess. The way this is implemented in practice will show how it is applied in new tender specifications.

Important point for road contractors

By contrast, there is an important point for road contractors to consider: their responsibility for verifying subcontractors’ cover has increased, particularly regarding workplace accident insurance and car insurance. The new version of the specifications states: ‘The contractor will indemnify the contracting authority should one of its subcontractors not possess adequate cover.’ You cannot fully cover this with insurance. 

Our advice: are you active in the road and sewerage sector? If so, we recommend that you proactively adjust your contracting agreements. This will ensure that the necessary responsibility lies with the subcontractor and that the main contractor does not run into problems if the correct insurance policies have not been arranged by the subcontractor in question.

Services provided by Vanbreda Risk & Benefits

We closely monitor the latest developments for all construction parties. Are you looking for no-obligation advice or tailored insurance cover? Get in touch at bouw@vanbreda.be. We’ll be happy to help.

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