3. Construction Phase - Field Functions Flashcards
Purpose of Field Review
- Monitor contractor’s performance maintaining schedule and standards of quality.
- Provide guidance to contractor by interpreting contract documents and issuing Supplementary Instructions.
- Fulfill the performance standards of general rview as required by client-architect agreement, AHJ, OAQ.
All field functions should follow these principles: (6)
- Describe to client architect’s duties and role (construction phase).
- Keep client well-informed of the progress, copies of field review reports
- Ensure consultants review their portion of work
- Avoid words “inspect” & “supervise” in documents.
- Keep documentation: reports, logs, photographs, tapes.
- Good communications with contractor & building officials.
Is architect responsible for exhaustive inspections, construction methods or construction safety?
No, but he should understand workplace safety and practice “due diligence” on site.
Why would the architect go to site?
- field review
- site meetings
- interpret contract documents / resolve problems
- observe testing
- review samples / mock ups
- meet with consultatns, contractor, client re progress
- determine % work completed (prepare Certificate)
What is the Contractor responsible for? (6)
- construction schedule
- quality of construction
- construction methods
- workplace safety
- supervising crew
- coordinating sub-contractors
Who is assigned to manage the site by the Contractor?
A site superintendent.
If an unsafe or life-threatening situation is observed, the architect should..
Immediately notivy the Contractor and record the observation.
Otherwise, he can be liable for contributory negligence and responsible in tort.
If problem is not corrected, architect should follow up with contractor and owner in writing.
Contractor is solely responsible for workplace safety.
A field report should contain the following items:
Report name and the architect’s project number
The field report number
Date and time of observations, and the weather conditions at the site
Number of workers present at the site or an estimate number, if the project is large
Observations made, including problems
Estimate of the conformance with the schedule and the estimated percent of completion
Items to verify and action or information required
A list of any attachments, and the name of the person making the report
Two situation where work may have to be uncovered
1) Work has been covered contrary to architect’s request or requirements of contract documents
Work must be uncovered and examined by architect.
Work is paid by contractor.
2) Architect has not specifically requested to examine work that has already been covered
If work is found to conform, owner must pay for uncovering expenses and replacement through change order
If work does not conform, it must be corrected and replaced, and must be paid by contractor. However, if owner or separate contractor caused the unsatisfactory work, the owner must pay the cost
When tests and inspections are required by the contract documents, or by laws ore regulations, who is responsible for making arrangements with testing agencies?
Contractor
Contractor must pay for the tests and must give the architect timely notice of when and where the test is to be made so that the architect can observe the procedure
If architect, owner, or public authorities require additional testing beyond what is required in the contract documents, what is the proper procedure?
Architect should instruct the contractor to make arrangements, but only after written authorization from the owner
Owner pays for tests
If the owner or contractor has a dispute or makes a claim, the architect must take certain preliminary action within ___ days of receipt of the claim. Such action may include…
10 days
a) requesting additional supporting data from the claimant
b) suggesting a compromise
c) accepting the claim
d) rejecting the claim
e) advising the parties that the architect is unable to resolve the calim because of a lack of sufficient information, ot that it would be inappropriate for the architect to resolve the claim
If the architect asks either the owner or the contractor to respond to a claim or provide additional information, that person must respond within 10 days and must either…
1) give the response or information
2) tell the architect when the response will be furnished
3) tell the architect that no supporting data will be provided
What are the two most common types of claims?
1) claims for additional time
2) claims for concealed or unknown conditions
Claims for additional time
Occurs when contractor feels that extra time is needed
Contractor must provide amount of time and estimated cost
If weather is basis for the claim, contractor must provide evidence of abnormal weather conditions and prove it could not be reasonably anticipated
Claims for concealed or unknown conditions
Occurs when surprises are found on the job site
Contractor must make claim for additional time or money
To be valid, unknown conditions must be, 1) subsurface in nature, physically concealed, 2)must be of an unusual nature that is different from what would ordinarily be found for the project type
example: test borings may indicate a standard type of soil. if a large boulder is discovered, it may require blasting or special excavation techniques, thus requiring more money
Must be made within 21 days of discovery
During progress payments of a project, the architect is responsible for…
…making sure that the amounts requested are consistent with the amount of work actually done and the amount of materials installed
What is the purpose of a holdback?
Gives the owner leverage in making sure the job is completed and can be used to provide money to satisfy lien claims
Reasons for an architect to withold payment to contractor:
- defective work not remedied
- third party claims or evidence of probability of third party claims
- failure of the contractor to make payments to subcontractors
- reasonable evidence that the work cannot be completed for the unpaid balance of the contract sum
- damage to the owner or another contractor
- reasonable evidence that the work will not be completed on time and that the unpaid balance will not be sufficient to cover damages due to the delay
- persistant failure of the contractor to carry out the work in accordance with the contract documents
Before the final certificate of payment can be issued to contractor, the contractor must submit the following items:
- an affidavit that payrolls, materials, and other debts for which the owner might be responsible have been paid
- a certificate showing that insurance required by the contract documents to remain in force after final payment will not be canceled or allowed to expire without at least 30 days written notice to the owner
- a written statement that the contractor known of no reason that the insurance will not be renewed
- the consent of the surety to final payment, if applicable
- any other data required by the owner
Shop drawings for dormitory windows have been prepared by the manufacturer, checked by the local distributor, and reviewed and approved by the contractor and the architect. During installation, it is discovered that the quantity of windows as indicated on the shop drawings is one less than that shown in the contract documents. Who is responsible for the discrepancy?
a) The architect
b) The manufacturer
c) The distributor
d) The contractor
d) The contractor
On- site field observations by the architect are made to determine which of the following? Check the three that apply.
A. The progress and quality of the work
B. The amount work completed for progress payment
C. The techniques of the construction being utilized
D. Whether the work is being performed according to contract documents
E. Whether the contractor is following the proper sequence of installation
F. Whether the contractor is following proper safety procedures
A. The progress and quality of the work
B. The amount work completed for progress payment
D. Whether the work is being performed according to contract documents
The contractor for a project submits to the architect
shop drawings that contain deviations from the contract documents not noted as deviations on the shop drawings. The drawings are then approved and returned to the contractor by the architect. Which of the following is true in this situation?
a) The contractor assumes responsibility for deviations from the contract documents.
b) The contractor is allowed to build according to the approved shop drawings containing deviations.
c) The architect assumes responsibility for deviations
from the contract documents because the architect approved the shop drawings.
d) The owner must be informed of all deviations from and alterations to the contract documents.
a) The contractor assumes responsibility for deviations from the contract documents.
At a project site, the architect notices the mechanical subcontractor unloading equipment for which shop drawings have not been received. The architect’s most appropriate first course of action is to
a) stop the unloading at once and report the incident to the owner
b) advise the general contractor that the equipment is subject to rejection pending the architect’s review
c) ask whether the shop drawings are in the subcontractor’s possession
d) inspect the equipment to determine whether it meets the requirements set forth in the project specifications
b) advise the general contractor that the equipment is subject to rejection pending the architect’s review
During a concrete pour, a portion of the third floor of a project collapses because of inadequate shoring. The architect informs the contractor that work in the area of the collapse will not be approved until the architect can fully evaluate the impact of the failure on adjacent work in place. The contractor states that the architect will be held responsible for the cost of delays unless the analysis is performed within 24 hours. The architect should
a) perform as complete and thorough an analysis as possible within 24 hours
b) perform a complete analysis in a timely manner and make it clear that the contractor will be responsible for the schedule
c) put the owner on notice that the owner may have to pay additional costs for an extended completion date
d) allow the contractor to proceed with work in the adjacent area so that no time is lost
b) perform a complete analysis in a timely manner and make it clear that the contractor will be responsible for the schedule
When delivering brick to the site, the supplier offloaded the bricks at a point very distant from where they are needed. The contractor requests an extra for relocating the brick. The architect should
a) reject the request for an extra on the grounds that it is the contractor’s responsibility
b) require the brick supplier to relocate the brick
c) prepare an appropriate change order giving the contractor a contract increase for relocating the brick
d) prepare an addendum to the contract outlining the responsibility of the brick supplier in the delivery of brick
a) reject the request for an extra on the grounds that it is the contractor’s responsibility
Six months after final payment, the building manager notifies the architect that an operating and maintenance manual for a key piece of equipment was never received. The architect should do which of the following?
a) Instruct the contractor to provide the manual.
b) Withhold an amount of retainage necessary to provide for the manual.
c) Suggest the building manager contact the manufacturer directly for the manual, since final payment has been made to the contractor.
d) Contact the manufacturer directly to obtain
the manual.
a) Instruct the contractor to provide the manual.
After occupying a portion of a building, the owner
notices a dent in a wall. The dent was not noted on the punch list prepared by the contractor and reviewed by the architect. What determination should the architect make?
a) The contractor is responsible for the repair even though it was not on the original punch list.
b) The owner has taken occupancy and is therefore responsible because the cause ofthe damage cannot be established.
c) The contractor is responsible because only a portion of the building is occupied and other construction activities continue.
d) The architect is responsible because he/she missed the damage during the original punch list walk-through.
b) The owner has taken occupancy and is therefore responsible because the cause ofthe damage cannot be established.
A contractor omits an item of incomplete or incorrect work from the punch list accepted by the architect.
Who is liable for the cost of completing or correcting that item when the omission is discovered?
a) The architect
b) The surety
c) The owner
d) The contractor
d) The contractor
An occupancy permit is
a) an agreement by the authorities that the building complies with fire, safety, and health regulations
b) certification by the architect that the building is substantially complete and may be occupied by the owner
c) legal acceptance of the building by the owner
d) the act of taking possession of the building
a) an agreement by the authorities that the building complies with fire, safety, and health regulations
Existing mature vegetation on a property line was inadequately protected and, consequently, damaged by a subcontractor’s excavation equipment. The owner should require which party to remedy the damages?
a The owner’s own forces
b) The subcontractor
c) The contractor, with no additional compensation
d) The contractor, with compensation for additional work administered in a change order
c) The contractor, with no additional compensation
After excavation, which of the following construction sequences would be likely to be the most productive?
a) Footings, walls, toilet partitions, roofing, carpet, painting
b) Concrete, structural steel, roofing, drywall, painting, carpet
c) Structural steel, concrete, walls, millwork, roofing, painting
d) Grade beams, walls, drywall, roofing, millwork, site work
b) Concrete, structural steel, roofing, drywall, painting, carpet
Which of the following is true of the list of incomplete work and work to be corrected?
a) It is prepared after the start of the warranty period.
b) Work listed must be completed prior to occupancy by the owner.
c) It is limited in value to one percent of the contract.
d) It is prepared to cover all trades.
d) It is prepared to cover all trades.
A contract allowance for building signage is established at $50,000. The signage chosen during construction costs only $45,000. The contractor should offer a credit change order for
a) $5,000
b) $5,000 minus the contractor’s expense of processing the credit
c) $5,000 minus the cost of installation, overhead, and profit
d) the cost of installation, overhead, and profit
a) $5,000
The contractor decided not to purchase a specific material for a project near the time of bidding because there
was no place on site to store the material and it would not be needed until months later after construction
had progressed. When the contractor did purchase the material, the price had risen by 30 percent compared to the price at the time of the bid. Which of the following is true?
o The contractor is entitled to a change order for the price increase.
o The contractor is entitled to a change order for half of the price increase.
o The contractor is entitled to a change order for the difference between the added cost of the material and the estimated value of appropriate storage space for the intervening months.
o The contractor is not entitled to a change order.
o The contractor is not entitled to a change order.
A contractor unbound the specifications for a project andgave specific sections to subcontractors for bidding. The contractor later discovered gaps in the overall coverage of the bids. In this situation, which of the following statements is true?
o The subcontractors should be forced to absorb the cost of the work.
o The owner should sign a change order for the omitted work.
o The architect or its insurer should pay for the cost of a change order.
o The contractor is not entitled to a change order.
o The contractor is not entitled to a change order.
An architect is providing full architectural and engineering design services for a new detention center. The construction contract has been signed and the contractor informs the architect that the fire-sprinkler contractor does not have the fire line from the city main to the building in the price because it was not on the drawings or in the specifications. Which of the following should be done?
o The contract amount should be adjusted by a change order.
o The fire protection subcontractor should install the fire line at no additional cost.
o The fire protection engineer is required to pay for the installation of the fire line.
o The architect should issue supplementary instructions directing the contractor to install the fire line.
o The contract amount should be adjusted by a change order.
During the construction phase, the owner and the contractor have a difference of opinion about the quality of the erection of the steel frame and the progress of the work. The first step that should be taken to resolve the problem is for the owner and/or the contractor to
o stop the project
o request arbitration
o consult with the steel fabricator
o request the architect’s interpretation
o request the architect’s interpretation
During construction, the architect realizes that the specifications did not include requirements for some nondestructive testing of welds on some of the structural steel. The city inspection department requires the contractor to perform these tests. The individual responsible for paying for the tests is the
o structural engineer
o architect
o owner
o contractor
owner
Final completion [total performance] of a commercial building occurred 2 weeks behind schedule. The contract contained a liquidated damages clause that required deduction of monetary damages from the final payment to the contractor. Deductions from the architect’s compensation should
a) be a percentage of the amount deducted from the payment to the contractor
b) be an amount agreed to by the owner and the architect
c) not be greater than 10 percent of the architect’s total compensation
d) not be made
d) not be made
The architect can decrease the amount of construction- related waste by doing which of the following? Check the four that apply.
A. Designing a materials flow plan for the contractor and user
B. Specifying recycled materials and products
C. Requiring recycled product packaging.
D. Specifying a single dumpster on site.
E. Specifying masonry construction over wood construction
F. Assisting the owner and contractor in a waste management plan
A. Designing a materials flow plan for the contractor and user
B. Specifying recycled materials and products
E. Specifying masonry construction over wood construction
F. Assisting the owner and contractor in a waste management plan
Which of the following is a true statement about substitutions during construction phase? Check the three that apply.
A. They may be accepted if they replace unavailable products.
B. They may be accepted if they replace unsuitable products,
C. They may be accepted if the contractor forgot to order the product.
D. They may be accepted by oral agreement between architect and contractor
E. They may be rejected as defective work if they lack proper approval or authorization.
F. They may be included in the shop drawings without official written notice
ABE
The bids for a new office building exceed the owner’s budget. Options available to the owner include which of the following? Check the four that apply.
oA. Give written approval for an increase in the budget
oB. Authorize rebidding or renegotiation of the project
oC. Cooperate in revising the scope or quality of the work
oD. Require the architect to modify the documents
without additional compensation once the scope is reduced
oE. Require the architect to compensate the owner for the difference between the budget and the bid
oF. Terminate the agreement without paying full for the bid documents
ABCD
