Construction Contract Administration

I have been struggling with teaching green individuals items to look out for when on-site, particularly in the MEP and Structural realms. This is more so to let the other disciplines know of items they may want to check out for when they are on site; e.i. splines of the PT bolts being snapped or not. I've other Mechanical, Electrical, and Structural Engineers put eyes on architectural items as a courtesy in the past, and it has been wonderful to have the additional set of eyes, especially on different days, with how quickly construction can move. 

Does anyone have suggestions or a list of items to watch out for?

Thank you.

This is a great question and I can't wait to see the response from others. 

For MEP items (depending on construction progress):

• Fixtures mounted securely, square, and plumb with no leaks. Once had an entire sink rip away from the wall on final inspection. Mounted directly to the metal studs with self tapping screws and no blocking.
• Pipe / Duct insulation matches specs for thickness and material. No mysterious stains or damaged sections.
• All fire, natural gas, utility piping is either painted the correct color or marked with directional indicators (or both).
• Floor, sink, and shower drains flow freely. Once had concrete polishers knock a cover off a floor drain and fill it with wet grind concrete sludge. 
• Pipe and duct penetrations sealed and / or insulated.
• HVAC or building controls recognizing all components and communicating to network (if applicable)
• Maintenance and inspection plates on equipment (filter change housings, VRF covers) are accessible and facing the correct direction / orientation.
• No metal shavings, debris, or dust contaminants inside ductwork. Once had an HVAC contractor leave registers and louvres uncovered while other trades were working which allowed drywall dust and sawdust into the intake.
• All filters are installed / new prior to turnover. 
• All equipment grounded to bus bar or grounding ring including lightning protection system.
• Breakers labelled and not tripped or tagged.
• Conduit, wire, piping etc not in contact or rubbing where vibration could cause damage. 
• All shipping / packing / bracing dunnage has been removed from equipment.
• Emergency lights work in test mode.

I'm sure theres more out there. 

I have been struggling with teaching green individuals items to look out for when on-site, particularly in the MEP and Structural realms. This is more so to let the other disciplines know of items they may want to check out for when they are on site; e.i. splines of the PT bolts being snapped or not. I've other Mechanical, Electrical, and Structural Engineers put eyes on architectural items as a courtesy in the past, and it has been wonderful to have the additional set of eyes, especially on different days, with how quickly construction can move. 

Does anyone have suggestions or a list of items to watch out for?

Thank you.

This is a great question and I can't wait to see the response from others. 

For MEP items (depending on construction progress):

• Fixtures mounted securely, square, and plumb with no leaks. Once had an entire sink rip away from the wall on final inspection. Mounted directly to the metal studs with self tapping screws and no blocking.
• Pipe / Duct insulation matches specs for thickness and material. No mysterious stains or damaged sections.
• All fire, natural gas, utility piping is either painted the correct color or marked with directional indicators (or both).
• Floor, sink, and shower drains flow freely. Once had concrete polishers knock a cover off a floor drain and fill it with wet grind concrete sludge. 
• Pipe and duct penetrations sealed and / or insulated.
• HVAC or building controls recognizing all components and communicating to network (if applicable)
• Maintenance and inspection plates on equipment (filter change housings, VRF covers) are accessible and facing the correct direction / orientation.
• No metal shavings, debris, or dust contaminants inside ductwork. Once had an HVAC contractor leave registers and louvres uncovered while other trades were working which allowed drywall dust and sawdust into the intake.
• All filters are installed / new prior to turnover. 
• All equipment grounded to bus bar or grounding ring including lightning protection system.
• Breakers labelled and not tripped or tagged.
• Conduit, wire, piping etc not in contact or rubbing where vibration could cause damage. 
• All shipping / packing / bracing dunnage has been removed from equipment.
• Emergency lights work in test mode.

I'm sure theres more out there. 

I have been struggling with teaching green individuals items to look out for when on-site, particularly in the MEP and Structural realms. This is more so to let the other disciplines know of items they may want to check out for when they are on site; e.i. splines of the PT bolts being snapped or not. I've other Mechanical, Electrical, and Structural Engineers put eyes on architectural items as a courtesy in the past, and it has been wonderful to have the additional set of eyes, especially on different days, with how quickly construction can move. 

Does anyone have suggestions or a list of items to watch out for?

Thank you.

This is a great question and I can't wait to see the response from others. 

For MEP items (depending on construction progress):

• Fixtures mounted securely, square, and plumb with no leaks. Once had an entire sink rip away from the wall on final inspection. Mounted directly to the metal studs with self tapping screws and no blocking.
• Pipe / Duct insulation matches specs for thickness and material. No mysterious stains or damaged sections.
• All fire, natural gas, utility piping is either painted the correct color or marked with directional indicators (or both).
• Floor, sink, and shower drains flow freely. Once had concrete polishers knock a cover off a floor drain and fill it with wet grind concrete sludge. 
• Pipe and duct penetrations sealed and / or insulated.
• HVAC or building controls recognizing all components and communicating to network (if applicable)
• Maintenance and inspection plates on equipment (filter change housings, VRF covers) are accessible and facing the correct direction / orientation.
• No metal shavings, debris, or dust contaminants inside ductwork. Once had an HVAC contractor leave registers and louvres uncovered while other trades were working which allowed drywall dust and sawdust into the intake.
• All filters are installed / new prior to turnover. 
• All equipment grounded to bus bar or grounding ring including lightning protection system.
• Breakers labelled and not tripped or tagged.
• Conduit, wire, piping etc not in contact or rubbing where vibration could cause damage. 
• All shipping / packing / bracing dunnage has been removed from equipment.
• Emergency lights work in test mode.

I'm sure theres more out there. 

I have been struggling with teaching green individuals items to look out for when on-site, particularly in the MEP and Structural realms. This is more so to let the other disciplines know of items they may want to check out for when they are on site; e.i. splines of the PT bolts being snapped or not. I've other Mechanical, Electrical, and Structural Engineers put eyes on architectural items as a courtesy in the past, and it has been wonderful to have the additional set of eyes, especially on different days, with how quickly construction can move. 

Does anyone have suggestions or a list of items to watch out for?

Thank you.

Michael, I'm concerned about what is and is not part of the professional Standard of Care to which architects are held legally accountable. I've practiced architecture since 1988 in California, Utah, New England, Indiana, South Carolina, Washington, North Dakota, and a few projects here and there in other states. And on every project I worked on in that time and those places, the items you mentioned have been considered far beyond our Standard of Care. In the states where I have practiced, this list would be considered an "inspection" list and inspections are clearly outside the average architect's capabilities and responsibilities. I wouldn't even hold the mechanical and electrical engineers to this standard, out of a desire to not expand our professional Standard of Care beyond the level at which the average architect is capable of performing.

That doesn't mean we ignore construction defects that we notice. Our professional Standard of Care requires us to notify the builder and the owner of any such defects. However, I've never practiced in a jurisdiction in which this level of scrutiny was expected.

I'm curious to know how the experiences of other architects on this forum, practicing in other states, have differed from my experiences.

This is a great question and I can't wait to see the response from others. 

For MEP items (depending on construction progress):

• Fixtures mounted securely, square, and plumb with no leaks. Once had an entire sink rip away from the wall on final inspection. Mounted directly to the metal studs with self tapping screws and no blocking.
• Pipe / Duct insulation matches specs for thickness and material. No mysterious stains or damaged sections.
• All fire, natural gas, utility piping is either painted the correct color or marked with directional indicators (or both).
• Floor, sink, and shower drains flow freely. Once had concrete polishers knock a cover off a floor drain and fill it with wet grind concrete sludge. 
• Pipe and duct penetrations sealed and / or insulated.
• HVAC or building controls recognizing all components and communicating to network (if applicable)
• Maintenance and inspection plates on equipment (filter change housings, VRF covers) are accessible and facing the correct direction / orientation.
• No metal shavings, debris, or dust contaminants inside ductwork. Once had an HVAC contractor leave registers and louvres uncovered while other trades were working which allowed drywall dust and sawdust into the intake.
• All filters are installed / new prior to turnover. 
• All equipment grounded to bus bar or grounding ring including lightning protection system.
• Breakers labelled and not tripped or tagged.
• Conduit, wire, piping etc not in contact or rubbing where vibration could cause damage. 
• All shipping / packing / bracing dunnage has been removed from equipment.
• Emergency lights work in test mode.

I'm sure theres more out there. 

I have been struggling with teaching green individuals items to look out for when on-site, particularly in the MEP and Structural realms. This is more so to let the other disciplines know of items they may want to check out for when they are on site; e.i. splines of the PT bolts being snapped or not. I've other Mechanical, Electrical, and Structural Engineers put eyes on architectural items as a courtesy in the past, and it has been wonderful to have the additional set of eyes, especially on different days, with how quickly construction can move. 

Does anyone have suggestions or a list of items to watch out for?

Thank you.