Construction Inspection Manual 8th Edition

William D. Mahoney

Preference :

Today, more than ever, construction requires a team effort. The escalation of costs, the need for faster scheduling and changes in the industry require full cooperation and understanding among all the parties. Successful production of the work under the traditional process requires the utmost order and efficiency to obtain the highest potential benefits. This goal can be reached only through the understanding that all parties have a mutual function and obligation to perform. Successful construction requires continuous checking, coordination, foresight, good judgment and overlapping
efforts by informed and qualified parties. The following parts reflect the Editorial Committee’s recommendations concerning the duties and responsibilities of the construction inspector, design
professional (architect/engineer), contractor/subcontractor, owner, lawyer, manufacturer’s representative and special consultants.

By definition, a contract is a legally enforceable agreement that sets forth the obligations of each party to the other. Any violation of these obligations (breach) can expose the party committing the breach to sanctions of law. The significant benefit of having an agreement is that a mutual understanding is developed by communicating expectations through clear definition of scope
and general/terms and conditions. Contracts come in many shapes and sizes. The most recognized standard document is the Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect –
AIA B141; however, many public owners, major private enterprises and design firms use their own “custom contracts”. In order to provide contracts that equitably serve the interest of both parties and meet the specific concerns of the project, amendments to both standard AIA and custom agreements are negotiated. It is of the utmost importance that the project inspector thoroughly review the agreements and the family of documents that define duties and responsibilities among the construction team composed of the owner, contractor and architect. The AIA A201/General Conditions of the Contract for Construction is the part of this family of contract documents that
establishes the ground rules for this construction team, where contractual relationships exist between the owner and the contractor and the owner and the architect but not between the contractor and the architect. Additionally, the supplementary conditions are prepared to modify the provisions of the general conditions in order to meet the particular requirements of the project by changing, adding to or deleting this document. The general conditions can also be drafted as “custom general conditions” by many public owners and major private enterprises.