Architects, engineers and surveyors.
WHO DOES WHAT
- Architect: design and coordination
- Structural engineer: structure and its calculation
- Services engineers: electrical, mechanical, plumbing
- Quantity surveyor: measurement, cost and payment
- Land surveyor: setting out and boundaries
WHY IT MATTERS TO A CONTRACTOR
Their drawings are what you build from, and errors become your problem.
WHAT TO CHECK IN ANY DRAWING SET
That drawings are consistent with each other That dimensions add up That services do not conflict with structure That what is shown is buildable
WHAT TO DO ABOUT DISCREPANCIES
Raise them before building, in writing.
WHY IN WRITING
It establishes who was responsible for the resulting cost.
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Resolve a discrepancy yourself without instruction.
WHY
You become responsible for the outcome.
WHAT TO REQUEST
Written instruction for anything ambiguous.
WHAT A QUANTITY SURVEYOR PROVIDES
Independent measurement and valuation.
WHY THAT CAN HELP CONTRACTORS
It produces payment applications that are harder to dispute.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT SETTING OUT
Who is responsible, and from what reference.
WHY IT MATTERS ENORMOUSLY
A building set out incorrectly cannot be corrected cheaply.
WHAT TO VERIFY
Boundaries, before building near them.
WHY
Building over a boundary produces litigation and sometimes demolition.
WHAT TO VERIFY ABOUT ANY PROFESSIONAL
Registration with their body.
WHAT TO KEEP
Every drawing revision, dated.
WHY
Building to a superseded drawing is a common and expensive error.
