Contractors
Class Code 5221: Concrete or Cement Work—Floors, Driveways, Yards, or Sidewalks & Drivers — Workers' Comp Insurance
Covers concrete contractors pouring and finishing flatwork — floors, driveways, sidewalks, and similar horizontal surfaces — along with the contractor's drivers. It's the standard classification for flatwork concrete, as distinct from structural or foundation concrete work.
- Risk level:
- elevated
What code 5221 covers
Class 5221 applies to contractors performing concrete flatwork such as floors, driveways, sidewalks, and yard slabs, covering crews who form, pour, level, and finish concrete surfaces, along with drivers who transport equipment, forms, and materials to job sites. The work involves handling heavy concrete materials and equipment, along with kneeling and bending for finishing work, and exposure to wet concrete during pouring and finishing. This classification is focused on horizontal, ground-level flatwork rather than structural or foundation concrete, which can involve different forming techniques and equipment depending on the scope. Contractors performing decorative concrete finishing, such as stamped or stained concrete, are typically still covered under this classification since the underlying work is the same flatwork trade.
Included operations
- Forming, pouring, and finishing concrete floors and driveways
- Sidewalk and walkway concrete installation
- Decorative concrete finishing, such as stamping or staining
- Drivers transporting forms, tools, and materials to job sites
Assigned elsewhere
- Structural or foundation concrete work involving different forming and reinforcement techniques, evaluated under the applicable classification
- Masonry work such as block or brick laying — see code 5022 (Masonry NOC)
- Concrete or cement product manufacturing, evaluated under the applicable manufacturing classification
- Asphalt paving performed as a primary service, evaluated under the applicable specialized classification
Businesses that typically carry 5221
- Concrete flatwork and driveway contractors
- Sidewalk and paving contractors
- Decorative concrete finishing companies
- Small, owner-operated contracting businesses
- Regional trade contracting companies
- Subcontractors working for general contractors
- Design-build contracting firms
Common misclassifications
Code 5022
Concrete flatwork and masonry work are both concrete-adjacent trades but involve different tools, techniques, and classifications.
Code 5403
Concrete crews that also perform structural carpentry formwork on the same jobs can blend two distinct trade classifications if the work isn't tracked separately.
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What drives the cost of code 5221
- 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 5221 fits
Quote class code 5221.
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Class code 5221 questions
Does this code cover driveways and sidewalks specifically?
Yes, driveways, sidewalks, floors, and similar flatwork are the core focus of this classification.
What about decorative or stamped concrete?
Decorative finishing techniques applied to flatwork are typically still covered under this same classification.
How is this different from masonry work?
Masonry (5022) involves laying block, brick, or stone, which is a different trade and technique than pouring and finishing concrete flatwork.
Are our drivers who transport forms and materials included?
Yes, drivers supporting the concrete crews are part of this classification.
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents