Build Contracts

1578 Words4 Pages

Summary The background of the paper is explained how the engineer, employer and the contractor work together in a contract. Traditional build contracts can be high risk, as the contractor doesn’t have control over the drawings. In comparison to a design and build contract, where they know full well that the drawings are correct to their standards. And assume all responsibility. Who’s to blame if a building is built to the specifications and drawings, and the building doesn’t stand. The contractor is responsible for constructing the design provided to it This paper also goes over some past court cases. And how they turned out the way they did The design risk can be held by any of the parties, the employer should be making sure that the contractor and the engineer are kept close at all times constantly in contact with any queries about drawings specifications, quantities, buildablility and design deficiencies to the permanent work design. It explained the finer details of how a job can go wrong and who would be responsible in what occasion, the scenarios and outcomes are all found in the Red Book. Buildablility design risk: current case law The case Thorn v the mayor and commonalty. A job was advertised, and work was to be based on certain drawings and specifications. But the drawings weren’t guaranteed to work. So the contractor employed a second engineer to check over the drawings and said that the structure will stand. So the contractor went ahead knowing that the risk and responsibility lied on their company. After work started it was discovered that the caissons wouldn’t stand at high tide. Which were in the specifications, so all work had to be carried out at low tide making the job longer and more costly. The case went to c... ... middle of paper ... ...e buildablility design risk, which could be a big risk for the employer. Or the contractor can get novation of the consultancy agreement to guarantee that the engineer is fully responsible for the specifications and drawings. The contractor could contact the employer and suggest a design and build contract, which would ensure that the contractor would be fully confident in the design, but may cost the employer more money. If none of these the contractor could get its own engineer to look over the drawings and check them, but this can also lead in further complications. After reaching all of these measures it would push up the cost of the tender package making it less likely to be accepted, but it would have a smaller risk behind the job. Bibliography Rosenberg, K., 2012. Design Risk Alloctation Under A Traditional Build Contract, s.l.: Society of Construction Law.

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