General Flashcards
Why do you believe you’re competent to be a Principal Designer (CDM)?
Technical knowledge and experience, design involvement allows me to compile PCI and plan works with the principal contractor.
How did you identify possible EPC upgrades?
External consultant was used to advise on this, who suggested including the AC unit.
How did you achieve an EPC B rating in a Victorian age property?
Energy efficient AC (heating and cooling), double glazed sash windows, LED lighting, insulation to suspended ground floor.
Did you approve the contractor’s designs?
Got Building Control Approver sign off at design stage. I reviewed the energy consultant’s sign off to be sure it achieved EPC B.
How was the design repsonsibility split between you and the contractor?
I wrote a performance spec for the building fabric and the contractor undertook designs for the M&E and terrace.
How are sub-contracts warrantied? What forms were used?
Collateral warranties.
JCT form (as a deed).
What are the current MEES ratings and their dates?
C - 2028, B - 2030, net zero - 2050.
How much more would it cost to go with Option 2 rather than Option 3?
£3,000.
How much longer would Option 2 have taken versus Option 3?
Around 1 week.
How did you report to the client in terms of project costs?
Had a schedule of interim payment certificates showing the costs to date and contract sum.
How did you deal with the variation of the works on a contractual basis?
I agreed the works with the contractor, put this onto a variation order with costs, issued to contractor.
How did you value the variations?
Got additional quotes to compare costs, checked BCIS.
Could the contractor have refused the variation? If so, on what basis?
Yes, based on changes to the design, quality or quantity of the works, [or site access].
How was the structural engineer appointed under the works?
Appointed on the client’s side. [Direct to client or contactor.]
How was the structural engineer’s appointment arranged?
Appointed directly through the client.
What would the procurement route be for Windsor Walk?
It was a traditional procurement route, single stage tender of 3 contractors and selected Quinn.
Why did you decide to use a MW contract?
Because of the contract value being around £250k, complexity of the project, traditional procurement route.
You have stated that you prepared the preliminaries on the project, what did you include in these?
Described the nature of the works and how these should be carried out.
What information did you include in the preambles?
Background information and objectives.
What provisional sums did you include?
Asbestos discovery.
What was the tender period?
2 week tender period and 3 week lead-in to begin works.
What did you check regarding the contractor’s insurance?
PI (negligence), public liability (accidents), all-risk (property) [covers the value of the works], in-date.
What were the variations on the project?
Chimney breast (originally localised repairs > structural works), flat roof repairs (originally localised repairs > overcoating roof, water ingress repairs).
Lintels to basement (contract instruction).
What was your role for releasing the retention at Windsor Walk?
I released 2.5% on PC. [2.5% released when Making Good Certificate issued but I left Hollis before that].
Is the Contractor’s Design Portion optional?
Yes.
What stage did you do the design to?
Stage 4 (Technical Design).
Can you provide an example of an instruction on Windsor Walk?
Removal of graffiti.
Note:
AD A (structure).
AD L (EPCs, air conditioning - conservation of fuel and power).
AD M (accessibility).
AD H (flat roof and pipework – drainage and waste disposal).
Note: Liquidated Damages could not be claimed by the client as they had suffered no direct loss. These were set at £1,000 per week in the contract, calculated as the loss suffered by the client from future rent.
Why was the project over budget?
Chimney and lintels issue.
How did you ensure the Contractor’s Design Portion was built correctly?
Contractor issued drawings which were forwarded to the Building Control Approver to ensure they met building regs.
Final Certificate and EPC consultant sign off.
[As long as you can show it meets requirements you don’t need to conduct a check of their designs e.g. building regs, EPC consultant - send details to them for them to check certificates and sign off.]
How was the budget cost calculated?
Costs from previous projects of a similar nature, BCIS [cross-checked with BCIS].
Note: Liquidated damages sum: £1,000 per week [not required on this project].
The extension of time – was that a relevant event or matter?
Relevant Event is related to an Extension of Time.
Relevant Matter related to loss and expense claim.
What would you have done if the time claimed by the contractor was deemed excessive?
Complete my own assessment of the time required and feed it back to the contractor if it was less.
What were the implications when the BSA came into force during the project?
Act partly came into force in June 2022 and fully in October 2023. Not much impact as not HRB. [Building safety regulator, accountable person].
Why was Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) used instead of Variable Air Volume (VAV)?
It’s more energy efficient.
Please explain the contractor dispute in more detail. Had they not realised the extent of the works required at tender issue?
Didn’t price for some of the works despite it being in the spec, cost of materials had increased so they wanted more fees.
Flat roof works dispute: What works had the contractor included in the tender and what works had the contractor not allowed for?
They allowed for the flat roof works but underpriced it [underestimated the extent of repairs required].
You mentioned that the contractor claimed costs which had increased since tender stage. Does the form of contract used deal with cost fluctuation in any way?
There’s no provision for cost fluctuations in MW contracts.
Contractor attempting to claim costs for variations: Did the contractor accept the fault or dispute it further?
They accepted that they had not priced it correctly and that the works were in the spec.
Who designed the M&E works on the project?
This was part of the contractor’s design portion.
What piece of legislation do the MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) ratings derive from?
The Energy Act 2011.
Who was the Principal Designer (BSA) on the project?
Not required - required from October 2023 onwards (PC was 20 September).
How did you establish the brief with the client?
Inspected the site together.
Took notes, photos.
Confirmed in writing.
[Refurbishment, ground floor structure, EPC B rating.]
What information could you have used to develop the client’s brief?
O&M manuals [none available on this job].
What advice did you give regarding fire safety in terms of design?
Fire escape door widths (775mm, 1000mm - new build).
You said as part of the client’s brief the property had to be accessible, what legislation or regulations were you working to?
Equality Act 2010, Approved Document M.
What provisions were there to ensure the property was accessible?
Accessible WC, ramps (level access), doors were wide enough (AD M).
