Works Progress and Quality Management

Question 1

How do ensure quality management on a project?

Answer 1

• I undertake biweekly informal progress meetings and monthly progress meetings to observe the quality of the workmanship on site.
• If there are some works that require particular detail to be paid to workmanship or the cost of the works items is large I will ask the contractor to inform me when these works are being undertaken so I can inspect them for myself (roof works etc)..
• I ensure that all the relevant quality clauses have been included in the specification so the contractor is clear on his requirements and that they are contractually obliged to undertake them to that quality stated.

Question 2

What documents set out the quality of works for a project?

Answer 2

• The contract documents - the quality clauses in the NBS preambles / schedule of works and those contracted within the employer’s requirements (D&B)
• The JCT contracts have provisions for materials, goods and workmanship:

JCT Intermediate:

• Clause 2.1 - The contractor is obliged to carry out the works in proper and workmanlike manner and in compliance with the contract documents and the construction phase plan.
• Clauses 2.2.1 - Where and to the extent that approval of the quality of materials or goods or of the standards of workmanship is a matter for the Architect/Contract Administrator’s opinion, such quality and standards shall be to his reasonable satisfaction… i.e where description of standard of works is omitted from the specification the contractor shall provide something ‘fit for purpose’.

Question 3

How do you ensure quality of workmanship when attending site?

Answer 3

• May ask the contractor to undertake opening up works to areas of completed works - for example removing ceiling tiles to make sure fire stopping has been carried out appropriately to former penetrations etc.
• Look at the contractor’s programme and ensure that I am attending site and inspecting works at key stages, for example during roof oversheeting or during preparation of a new wearing surface in a warehouse.

Question 4

What is your understanding of the term Critical Path?

Answer 4

• The critical path is the formed of a number of sequential task and represents the longest sequence of tasks that must be completed in a specific order to complete a project by the completion date.
• Any delay to one of these tasks on the critical path will have a knock on effect to those following it, therefore some float needs to be worked into a programme to ensure a delay on the critical path does not automatically prevent completion of the works by the completion date.
• For example - roof works will need to be completed prior to decoration of a portal frame as safety netting needs to be removed prior to spraying.

Question 5

What is the Clerk of Works role?

Answer 5

• Clerk of works provides an independent assessment of the works being undertaken and will be on site to check workmanship at critical stages, provide insight on project progression and ensure works are constructed in line with the contract documents with regards to specification of materials.
• JCT standard forms of contract have a provision for the role.
• The role is coming back into use more as developers want to ensure H&S is properly considered, for example with correct specification of cladding.

Question 6

How would you value materials held off-site under a JCT IC?

Answer 6

• I would have the contractor confirm that they are happy with their Application For Payment where they are included and request a vesting certificate to prove the their ownership of the goods / the transfer of ownership of goods from the supplier to them.
• I value the % of the items as 70% as they are unfixed and still need to be installed.

Question 7

During a typical site progress inspection, explain how you recorded progress and what information you took during your inspections

Answer 7

• I would compare the works executed on site with the contractor’s programme to ensure that they are still on programme.
• I would also take the contractor’s schedule of works and work through and note any areas of concern.
• I would take particular care ensuring that works on the critical path were completed / being undertaken as per the contractor’s programme.
• I then usually ask the contractor if there are any anticipated delays to progress such as lead in times for materials or whether any delays I have observed will impact completion of the works by the completion date.

Question 8

What is the process if you suspect defective works has been closed up by the contractor? If the works were found to not be defective, is the contractor entitled to an EoT and loss and expense?

Answer 8

• The CA is permitted under the JCT contracts to instruct the contractor to open up completed work for inspection or arrange for testing of any of the work or materials if they have reasonable grounds for suspecting defective work or materials.
• CA should instruct opening up as soon as it becomes apparent that it needs actioning to prevent any additional further costs.
• If no defective works are observed - costs for opening up and testing are added to the contract sum and the contractor may be entitled to and Extension of Time and Loss and/or expense.
• If work is found to be defective, the contactor must provide a written proposal detailing how they will establish if any other defective works. If the CA does not receive this in 7 days or cannot wait they can instruct further opening up work which the contractor will have to incur the expense for even if the additional testing does not uncover any additional defective works.
• The contractor has the right to object within ten days of receipt of the instruction to undertaken additional opening up works. If the CA and PC cannot agree then the Employer and Principal Contractor may need to refer to the contractual dispute resolution processes.

Question 9

Talk me through how you would undertake a valuation?

Answer 9

• I try to ensure that progress meetings align as close to the due date of each interim valuation to ensure I can view the current progress of works and value them as accurately as possible.
• On site I will check off all works completed by observing them against the previous valuation document.
• I will then review the contractor’s Application for Payment when received and input the valuation percentages I believe are correct against all works items. I will request for vesting certificates for any offsite materials that the contractor has included within their application for payment.
• I then produce a payment certificate and issue to the employer and contractor, along with formal correspondence and the valuation document.

Question 10

What is the risk of overvaluing works?

Answer 10

If a contractor become insolvent during the project they employer will be at a loss.

Question 11

What is the risk of valuing goods off site?

Answer 11

• If the contractor has failed to pay a sub-contractor for goods or becomes insolvent then the sub-contractor could claim ownership of the materials.
• JCT deals with this by stating that all materials delivered to site cant be removed from the site without written consent by the CA - would be deemed a breach of contract and the employer could claim damages. Also those materials on or off site that have been included within a certificate become the property of the employer.