Contractors
Class Code 5183: Plumbing NOC & Drivers — Workers' Comp Insurance
Covers plumbing contractors installing and repairing pipes, fixtures, and plumbing systems in buildings, along with the contractor's drivers. It's the standard classification for residential and commercial plumbing work not otherwise classified.
- Risk level:
- elevated
What code 5183 covers
Class 5183 applies to plumbing contractors performing installation, repair, and service work on water supply, drainage, and gas piping systems within buildings, covering plumbers and their crews along with drivers who transport tools, materials, and crews between job sites. The work involves pipe fitting, soldering or welding connections, fixture installation, and working in both new-construction rough-in conditions and finished spaces for service calls. This is an NOC classification, meaning it applies broadly to general plumbing work; certain specialized plumbing-adjacent work, such as well drilling or septic system installation, may fall under a different, more specific classification depending on the state and scope. Plumbing contractors doing both new construction and service/repair calls are typically covered under this same code.
Included operations
- Water supply, drain, and gas piping installation
- Fixture, water heater, and appliance connection work
- Pipe fitting, soldering, and welding connections
- New construction rough-in and finished-space service calls
- Drivers transporting crews, tools, and materials
Assigned elsewhere
- HVAC installation and service — see code 5537 (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems)
- Well drilling or septic system installation, evaluated under the applicable specialized classification
- Plumbing supply sales and distribution — see code 8111 (Plumbers' Supplies Dealer & Drivers)
- Sprinkler system installation for fire protection, evaluated under the applicable specialized classification
Businesses that typically carry 5183
- Residential plumbing contractors
- Commercial plumbing contractors
- Plumbing service and repair companies
- Small, owner-operated contracting businesses
- Regional trade contracting companies
- Subcontractors working for general contractors
- Design-build contracting firms
Common misclassifications
Code 5606
A plumbing company's owner or project manager who is purely supervisory may qualify for the lower-hazard executive/supervisor classification instead of the field plumber code.
Code 5537
Plumbers who also perform HVAC installation on the same jobs can blend two different trade classifications if the work isn't tracked separately.
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What drives the cost of code 5183
- Total payroll for employees performing the classified work, not gross receipts
- Experience modification factor built from claims history
- State-specific base rates and loss costs filed for this class code
- Use of subcontractors and whether they carry their own workers' comp coverage
- Safety programs, jobsite supervision, and documented training
- Payroll properly split across multiple classifications when work crosses trades
What underwriters look for
- Years in business and prior workers' comp loss history
- Types of jobs typically performed (new construction, remodel, residential vs. commercial) and average job size
- Whether subcontractors are used and certificates of insurance are collected and tracked
- Total payroll for employees actually performing the classified work
- Safety program, training documentation, and any OSHA history
Eligibility
State differences
This entry uses standard NCCI class code phraseology, which applies in most NCCI-governed states. Pennsylvania (PCRB), Delaware (DCRB), California (WCIRB), New Jersey (NJCRIB), Michigan, New York (NYCIRB), and Massachusetts maintain their own classification manuals, and code numbers or phraseology can differ there. Our agency confirms the correct classification for your state before quoting.
Where code 5183 fits
Quote class code 5183.
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Class code 5183 questions
Does this code cover both new construction and repair plumbing?
Yes, 5183 covers plumbing work broadly, whether it's new construction rough-in or a service/repair call.
What about HVAC work done by the same crew?
HVAC installation and service is a separate classification (5537); plumbers doing both trades typically need payroll split accordingly.
Are our drivers included?
Yes, drivers transporting tools, materials, and crews are part of this classification.
Does this cover selling plumbing supplies at a counter?
No, that's a different classification (8111) for plumbing supply dealers, distinct from installation work.
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents