Construction Contract Administration

This is a bit self serving since Im the chair of the Building Performance KC, but I think the CCA KC should do some crossover with the BPKC and even COTE and other sustainability focused KCs. I think we talk so much about the design and specification side of air tightness, adding lots of insulation, detailing flashing and structural thermal breaks for continuous exterior insulation, etc but it is so complex to get these systems installed correctly and to work with the subs in the field to make it all come together. With high performance exterior wall assemblies becoming more of a focus on the design side, we need to understand how to review these installations, what pre-installation meetings to have, how to deal with inexpereinced subs or GCs, which mock ups are critical and which ones you can live without etc. 

The issue for me is that in a perfect world, you call for pre installation conferences and have all experienced subs and site supers and manufacturer's reps and everyone is well versed and you can have a million mock ups and whatnot but when do you ever have time or fee or get lucky enough with your GC / CM for that situation to happen? If you only have fee to be on site x number of times per month and the construction schedule cant accomodate a mock up for every condition, what do you prioritize? Design only counts if it can be executed! Theres no points for drawing a building that performs. You have to build a building that performs!

This is too broad to broach in one class or series but I think this is very important ground to cover and will only be more so in the coming years

Thank you for this input, Jessica. That is a topic we have discussed in our office often - best practices for specifying much of what you mentioned (mock-ups, testing, pre-installation meetings, etc.) and the subsequent implementation and quality control. I'll add it to the list of discussion with the CCA KC.

I'd love to hear from some more folks about other feedback and suggested CCA content. What else are people looking to discuss or learn more about?

Thank you for this input, Jessica. That is a topic we have discussed in our office often - best practices for specifying much of what you mentioned (mock-ups, testing, pre-installation meetings, etc.) and the subsequent implementation and quality control. I'll add it to the list of discussion with the CCA KC.

I'd love to hear from some more folks about other feedback and suggested CCA content. What else are people looking to discuss or learn more about?

This is a bit self serving since Im the chair of the Building Performance KC, but I think the CCA KC should do some crossover with the BPKC and even COTE and other sustainability focused KCs. I think we talk so much about the design and specification side of air tightness, adding lots of insulation, detailing flashing and structural thermal breaks for continuous exterior insulation, etc but it is so complex to get these systems installed correctly and to work with the subs in the field to make it all come together. With high performance exterior wall assemblies becoming more of a focus on the design side, we need to understand how to review these installations, what pre-installation meetings to have, how to deal with inexpereinced subs or GCs, which mock ups are critical and which ones you can live without etc. 

The issue for me is that in a perfect world, you call for pre installation conferences and have all experienced subs and site supers and manufacturer's reps and everyone is well versed and you can have a million mock ups and whatnot but when do you ever have time or fee or get lucky enough with your GC / CM for that situation to happen? If you only have fee to be on site x number of times per month and the construction schedule cant accomodate a mock up for every condition, what do you prioritize? Design only counts if it can be executed! Theres no points for drawing a building that performs. You have to build a building that performs!

This is too broad to broach in one class or series but I think this is very important ground to cover and will only be more so in the coming years

You might want to consider looking at CSI's Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA) program.

https://www.csiresources.org/certification/ccca