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Shop Drawings: How to Manage Risk and Reduce Liability By: Nikunj Patel - Hi-Tech Engineering Services The landscapes in the construction industry are changing. Competition is stiff, and hence designers and engineers face the challenge of fitting in the best quality work, and high value delivery model within the slashed budgets of their clients. To add to their woes, the construction claims environment is also getting increasingly aggressive. This is why it has become exceedingly important to effectively manage risks and reduce liabilities. Shop drawings, is one such crucial aspect of a construction project that warrants special attention when it comes to risk management and reducing liabilities.
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Role of Designers and Engineers should be restricted to:
Deciding what items require shop drawings Finalizing who will be retained for shop drawing preparation Scheduling the shop drawing submissions, and making sure it is done on time Identifying who all will review and approve the shop drawings
Shop drawings contain comprehensive construction details including all the specifications, diagrams, schedules, illustrations and information that are specifically assembled by a contractor. Now these shop drawings that the contractor prepares need to meet the contractual terms and conditions of the project, and the contractor is liable for breach of any contractual obligations. Here it is very critical that designers and engineers do not get involved in this process (i.e. in creation of shop drawings), as their involvement makes them liable to the contractual obligations as well. Instead, the designers and engineers can constructively contribute by managing and scheduling shop drawing submissions. Assigning a reviewer to review shop drawings is a good strategy. Using a pre BIM shop drawing management technique of color coding the changes, comments and contributions made by contractors and sub contractors the reviewer manages and coordinates the shop drawing changes and revisions. This is an easy and streamlined way where the reviewer decides whether the shop drawing is ready for further review and assessment or needs to be sent back to the contractor for modifications. Managing risks and reducing liabilities by defining roles and responsibilities within contracts: It is important that your contracts contain defined roles for each member involved, i.e. the contractor, reviewer and the design professionals. A design professional approves the content that comes from the contractor, however designer cannot be considered liable for the shop drawings. Similarly, the reviewer is obliged to ensure things like ‘the same place is not occupied by multiple fixtures’, and his approval is an indication that the shop drawings availed from the contractors and sub contractors are workable. All this should be clearly specified within the contract. It is very important to avoid delays and mid project confusions in order to execute the project efficiently. For this, designers and engineers should conduct a pre-construction meeting with the contractors. In these meetings, it should be conveyed loud and clear, that the sole liability of shop drawings lies on the contractors. Design professionals only review but do not generate shop drawings. This makes it clear to every member involved as to what their role in a particular project is, and hence allows them to act with responsibility leaving no gaps for misunderstandings and flawed handling of project. For more information about shop drawing services visit: http://www.hitechengineeringservices.com/shopdrawings.php
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Copyright @ 2014 Hi-Tech Engineering Services. All Rights Reserved