18 - Works progress and quality management

Question 1

Q. How do decide how often site visits are required during a construction project?

Answer 1

A. dictated by the works, contract programme, unforeseen works, inspection details in SoW e.g. laying roof on roof deck.

Question 2

Q. In what circumstances might a project require more frequent site visits - give examples.

Answer 2

A. technical project, a project that uncovers various issues, a lack of confidence in the new contractor.

Question 3

Q. Give me some examples of the quality standards you include in your specifications.

Answer 3

A. BS 8300:12 Decoration
BS 8612 for Dry-fixed Ridge, Hip and Verge Systems
BS EN 845-1:2003 Specification for ancillary components for masonry. Ties, tension straps, hangers and brackets

Question 4

Q. How does the contract administrator’s role differ from the role of a clerk of works?

Answer 4

A. the CA is not site based, whereas the CoW is. CA will make frequent site visits. For large complex projects a CoW may be required to make daily visits and report to CA. for projects I have been involved in I carry out regular site visits to inspect progress and quality.

Question 5

What is a clerk of works ?

Answer 5

A clerk of works inspects the workmanship, quality and safety of work on construction sites and reports back to senior managers and clients. As a clerk of work, you’d be conducting regular site inspections and checking that building plans are being followed correctly. You’d check that work is being carried out to the correct specifications and legal, safety and environmental standards.

Question 6

How do you monitor progress on site ?

Answer 6

Site inspection based on the programme, schedule of works, quality standards, specification etc

Question 7

What would you do if a contractor suggest an alterative material ?

Answer 7

Consider its application, costs, suitability, guarantees attached and meeting the required standards.

Question 8

NCI House - How and why did you define poor workmanship ? Did you reference any documents ?

Answer 8

BRE ? BS etc ?

Question 9

When inspecting works, what kind of things do you look out for? (site health and safety)

Answer 9

Quality, workmanship, health and safety of the operatives, progress sin relation to the program, suitable materials

Question 10

How do decide how often site visits are required during a construction project?

Answer 10

Dictated by the works, contract programme, unforeseen works, inspection details in schedule of work for inspect for laying roof of roof deck etc

Question 11

In what circumstances might a project require more frequent site visits - give examples.

Answer 11

A technical project, a project that uncovered various issues, a lack of confidence or new contractor.

Question 12

Give me some examples of the quality standards you include in your specifications.

Answer 12

BS 8300:12 Decoration
BS 8612 for Dry-fixed Ridge, Hip and Verge Systems
BS EN 845-1:2003 Specification for ancillary components for masonry. Ties, tension straps, hangers and brackets

Question 13

How does the contract administrator’s role differ from the role of a clerk of works?

Answer 13

The contract administrator is not a clerk of works; it is not a site based position although frequent site visits are required. For large projects it may be appropriate to appoint a clerk of works to make daily visits and to report to the contract administrator. For most projects this level of oversight is not required but weekly visits and stage inspections with regular meetings are required.

The contract administrator fills many roles. Initially this will include setting up the formal contract, issuing documents to the contractor, checking insurances and that the approvals are in place. It will also involve oversight of the contractors programme; this may include ensuring that specific target dates stated in the tender invitation have been factored in. As the work on site progresses the programme will be used to monitor the contractors performance.

Question 14

Q. Explain how you carried out your site inspections to assess the progress and quality of the work undertaken.

Answer 14

A. a physical inspection of the site, taking into account H&S, contract programme, quality specified, discussion with site manager.

Question 15

Q. Explain how you recorded the progress made to date?

Answer 15

A. site inspections followed by flash reports with photographs.

Question 16

Q. Explain how you determined if the work was progressing to time. (i.e. how is progress on site measured?).

Answer 16

A. checking against the contract programme.

Question 17

Q. Explain how you determined which stages of the project were “critical” and how you timed your site visits to ensure you witnessed the necessary works.

Answer 17

A. they were defined in the SoW to allow for this.

Question 18

Q. Explain how you used the specification and preamble to ensure the work was carried out to the appropriate standards

Answer 18

A. Within the specification I detailed a number of British standards that ere required.

Question 19

A preamble is an explanation of a document, commonly found in contracts, specifications and bills of quantities. It can help with the interpretation of the document.

Answer 19

A preamble might include:

A description of the parties to the contract.
A description of the competence (or lack of it) of the parties to the contract. This can be taken to set a general standard for the quality of goods or services expected, or the level of support required.
The background to the document.
A summary of the negotiations.
Tendering procedures.
The objectives of the project.
Other related documents or previous contracts and their relationship to the current document.

Question 20

Q. How do you manage cost and cost variance on a project?

Answer 20

A. by using a variations tracker on spreadsheet. Showing additions and omissions on a project.

Question 21

Q. How did you ensure the materials you specified had been used on site?

Answer 21

A. regular site visits and evidence, photos taken.

Question 22

Q. How did you check and record this and what physical checks do you make?

Answer 22

A. check on quality, material, placement, sizing etc.

Question 23

Q. Give me some examples of the evidence you include in your reports to verify this.

Answer 23

A. photographs along with site inspection notes.

Question 24

Q. What would you have done if you found the project falling significantly behind programme?

Answer 24

A. I would raise it with the contractor, sit down and review the programme, discuss re-sequencing activities to bring back in line. Consider acceleration.

Question 25

Q. When you identified the sub-standard workmanship to what quality standards did you refer to identify the work was not to the required standard?

Answer 25

A. I referred to the British Standards for the acceptable quality required as previously defined.

Question 26

Q. what is included in a flash report?

Answer 26

A. brief statements providing an update on the scheme. Whether there are any H&S issues raised. Photographs. The information needs to be simple to read and provide a valuable update.

Question 27

Q. what is RAG?

Answer 27

A. it stands for red, amber and green and can be used to provide a very visual and immediate way of identifying problem areas.

Question 28

Explain how you carried out your site inspections to assess the progress and quality of the work undertaken.

Answer 28

A physical inspection of the entire site, taking in account h&S, contract programme, quality specified, discussion with site manager

Question 29

Explain how you recorded the progress made to date?

Answer 29

site inspection record and photographs

Question 30

Explain how you determined if the work was progressing to time. (i.e. how is progress on site measured?).

Answer 30

in reference to the contract programme

Question 31

Explain how you determined which stages of the project were “critical” and how you timed your site visits to ensure you witnessed the necessary works.

Answer 31

They were defined in the schedule of works to allow for this

Question 32

Explain how you used the specification and preamble to ensure the work was carried out to the appropriate standards

Answer 32

Within the specification I detailed a number of British standards that ere required.

A preamble is an explanation of a document, commonly found in contracts, specifications and bills of quantities. It can help with the interpretation of the document.

A preamble might include:

A description of the parties to the contract.
A description of the competence (or lack of it) of the parties to the contract. This can be taken to set a general standard for the quality of goods or services expected, or the level of support required.
The background to the document.
A summary of the negotiations.
Tendering procedures.
The objectives of the project.
Other related documents or previous contracts and their relationship to the current document.

Question 33

How do you manage cost and cost variance on a project?

Answer 33

A cost tracking spreadsheet to defined cost per items invcding add and omit variations to the eintial SOW

Question 34

How did you ensure the materials you specified had been used on site?

Answer 34

regular site inspection and evidence

Question 35

How did you check and record this and what physical checks do you make?

Answer 35

Quality, material, placement, sizing etc

Question 36

Give me some examples of the evidence you include in your reports to verify this.

Answer 36

Verified and recorded within the site inspection notes and photographs

Question 37

What would you have done if you found the project falling significantly behind programme?

Answer 37

Review with the contractor, considerer acceleration

Question 38

When you identified the sub-standard workmanship (NCI House) to what quality standards did you refer to identify the work was not to the required standard?

Answer 38

I referred to British standards for the acceptable quality required as previously defined.