Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2007 - (Page 32)

Professional Practices is not so obvious how this can occur. Errors can be as simple as typographical CAD mistakes or as complex as a conceptual errors involving the fundamental requirements of the project. In the middle are errors that result from a misunderstanding by the designer about the exact conditions or requirements of the construction. There is a wide range of costs for designer errors, from minor to very expensive. It is safe to say that Designer error COs are dreaded by every designer and are a major reason that design professionals carry professional liability insurance. No easy answers There are no easy answers to the problem of COs on construction projects. There are, however, a few rules for both owners and designers that will reduce the number of errors and minimize the costs of those that do occur: 1. Allow a reasonable amount of time for the design process. Projects that have compressed design and construction schedules are those most likely to have significant COs. Look carefully at the elements that are driving an overly ambitious design or construction schedule. Often it will be observed that the elements driving the fast pace of a project will incur no liability if there are design errors or construction problems. 2. Communication between owners, users, and designers during the design process is essential to minimize COs. After the start of construction, be sure to keep the contractor involved in the communications loop. 3. Encourage review, especially designer peer review, of drawings and other project documents. A good rule of thumb is to provide review drawings to anyone who will take the time to look at them and to make comments. It is much more likely that errors will be noticed by someone who is not closely involved with the project rather than someone who is very close to the design. 4. Pay attention to the construction process; catch errors before they become major problems. This item is especially important as it will tend to limit the scope of the CO that do occur. 5. Become familiar with the CO process. Each project has specific procedures for COs; failing to follow procedures can increase project costs and cause needless delays. 6. Insist that the true reason for the CO is entered on the CO form. Failure to pay attention to this small detail may expose the designer to liability or cause an owner to bar the designer from future projects. 7. Review and track COs in terms of the overall project. COs are by necessity generated in haste; be sure that an ill conceived CO will not require additional changes at a later time. Also, it’s a good idea to be sure that the item being changed has not already been previously incorporated into the project by addendum or other construction change directives. It is probably not possible to completely eliminate COs from construction projects. Even if it were, the time and expense necessary to prepare “perfect” plans and specifications cannot be justified in terms of the overall cost to a project. The present industry standard of care in the preparation of contract documents represents a good balance between accuracy and cost of production. Although certainly not perfect, the dreaded change order is the most costeffective way to deal with the imperfect world of construction. SEE TOUCH COMPARE Don’t Miss the Building Automation & Control Showcase At TheWorld’s Largest HVAC&R Marketplace January 22-24, 2008 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Javits Convention Center, New York, New York For FREE Registration: Over 1,800 Exhibitors www.ahrexpo.com Co-sponsors: Honorary sponsor: tel: (203) 221-9232 e-mail: info@ahrexpo.com Produced and managed by: Input #220 at csemag.com/quickResponse 32 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • OCTOBER, 2007 http://www.ahrexpo.com http://www.ahrexpo.com http://csemag.com/quickResponse

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2007 Contents On the Web In the News M/E Roundtable How To Beat the Energy Codes Professional Practices Codes & Standards A Capital Job on Engineered Buiding Systems Going Green in Data Centers Overcurrent Protection: Fuses or Breakers? Third-Party Liability Management Report New Products Product Spotlight Jobs/Classifieds Specifier's Notebook

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2007

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