Contractors
Class Code 5480: Plastering NOC & Drivers — Workers' Comp Insurance
Covers plastering contractors applying traditional plaster, stucco, or similar finish materials to walls and ceilings, along with the contractor's drivers. It's distinct from drywall/wallboard installation, which uses prefabricated panels rather than applied plaster.
- Risk level:
- elevated
What code 5480 covers
Class 5480 applies to plastering contractors who mix and apply plaster, stucco, and similar finish coatings to interior and exterior walls and ceilings, covering crews who prepare surfaces, apply base and finish coats, and texture or smooth the final surface, along with drivers transporting materials and crews. The work involves material mixing, scaffold and ladder use for exterior and high-wall work, and repetitive application and finishing motions that carry meaningful physical demand. This classification is distinct from drywall/wallboard installation, which uses prefabricated panel products rather than a wet-applied material, though some contractors perform both types of work. Exterior stucco application on multi-story buildings may involve scaffold or lift use similar to exterior painting, which is a standard underwriting consideration for this class.
Included operations
- Mixing and applying plaster or stucco base and finish coats
- Interior and exterior wall and ceiling plastering
- Surface texturing and finishing work
- Scaffold and ladder use for exterior and high-wall application
- Drivers transporting materials and crews to job sites
Businesses that typically carry 5480
- Plastering and stucco contractors
- Exterior finish (EIFS/stucco) installation companies
- Traditional plaster restoration contractors
- Small, owner-operated contracting businesses
- Regional trade contracting companies
- Subcontractors working for general contractors
- Design-build contracting firms
Common misclassifications
Code 5445
Plastering and drywall installation are easy to confuse since both involve finishing interior walls, but the materials and process are different and call for separate classifications.
Code 5022
Stucco contractors who also do masonry veneer work can blend two distinct classifications if that scope isn't tracked separately.
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What drives the cost of code 5480
- 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 5480 fits
Quote class code 5480.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states
Class code 5480 questions
How is this different from drywall installation?
Plastering involves mixing and applying a wet finish material directly to a surface, while drywall installation uses prefabricated panels — they're separate classifications.
Does this code cover exterior stucco work?
Yes, exterior stucco and similar finish systems are included in this classification.
Are our material delivery drivers included?
Yes, drivers transporting plaster or stucco materials and crews to job sites are part of this classification.
What about masonry veneer work done alongside stucco?
Masonry work is typically a separate classification (5022); we review the specific scope to confirm how payroll should be handled.
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents