ROLE OF ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER DURING CONSTRUCTION

After award of the construction contract, the architect or engineer generally continues

to assist the client in relations with the contractor.

2.23.1 Site Observation

As part of their ongoing services during construction, and depending on the scale

and complexity of the project, architects and engineers may make periodic site visits or maintain full-time representation on site during a portion or all of the construction period. The professional’s role is to expedite day-to-day communication and decision making by having on-site personnel available to respond to required drawing and specification clarifications.

Site-observation requirements for the project should be discussed with the client

at the onset of the project and be outlined in the architect-client agreement. Many

clients prefer periodic or regularly scheduled site visits by the design professional.

A provision for additional or full-time on-site representation, however, can be addressed in the agreement, and compensation for this additional service can be outlinedin the agreement for discussion with the client later in the development process or during the construction phase. The client and the architect and engineer

should agree on the appropriate amount of site visitation provided in the architect’s

basic services to allow adequate site-observation services based on specific project

conditions.

If periodic site observations are made, the architect should report such observations to the client in written form. This should call attention to items observed that do not meet the intent of the construction documents. It is normally left to the client to reject or replace work unless such defective work involves life safety, health, or welfare of the building occupants or is a defect involving structural integrity.

If the architect provides full-time site observation services, daily or weekly

reports should be issued to the client outlining items observed that are not in accordance with the construction documents or design intent.

2.23.3 Inspection and Testing

Technical specifications require testing and inspection of various material and building systems during construction to verify that the intent of the design and construction documents is being fulfilled under field conditions. Testing is required where visual observations cannot verify actual conditions. Subsurface conditions, concrete and steel testing, welding, air infiltration, and air and water balancing of mechanical systems are such building elements that require inspection and testing services.

Normally, these services are performed by an independent testing agency employed directly by the client so that third-party evaluation can be obtained.

Although the architect does not become involved in the conduct of work or

determine the means or methods of construction, the architect has the general responsibility to the client to see that the work is installed in general accordance with the contract documents.

Other areas of inspection and testing involve establishing and checking benchmarks for horizontal and vertical alignment, examining soils and backfill material, compaction testing, examining subsurface retention systems, inspecting connections to public utilities, verifying subsoil drainage, verifying structural column centerlines and base-plate locations (if applicable), checking alignment and bracing of concrete formwork, verifying concrete strength and quality, and other similar items.