Special Inspection
Special Inspection
(OP)
I am the SER on a project currently being constructed. The Architect basically abandoned the job a few months ago for unknown reasons. One item I'm concerned with is the specified (by myself) special inspection of masonry. At the onset of construction this requirement has been ignored by the general contractor, masonry sub and the architect for the age old reason - "We've never done that before". I'm still doing my periodic observations and writing / distributing the observation reports per contract with the Architect (unpaid of course) - each time making referance to this issue. The Architect (having bailed out) doesn't respond at all and construction continues. What's next - ?? - There's no code enforcement group involved due to location.






RE: Special Inspection
Cover your @ss in as many ways as possible is about all you can do. Talk to your liability insurer. You have done the standard of care as the SER but want enough ADDITIONAL ammunition if the thing ever goes to litigation or if the public is harmed due to lack of the required inspections. Write a stern professional letter to the owner (and maybe carbon copy their lending institution) with delivery confirmation.
You may also wish to consider termination of your services if you are not being paid for the Construction Administration. Non-payment is a material breach of contract and is usually deemed good grounds for termination of contractual obligations.
RE: Special Inspection
RE: Special Inspection
That being said, I went to our "building Official" once and was politely told "not that many buildings actually fall down." This being the state that had the Hartford Civic Center collapse, the Mianus River Bridge collapse, and La Ambiance collapse. I like to say that Connecticut has the best "full scale destructive testing program in the United States".
The architect on your project may have run into some of the problems you are encountering and decided it was in his best interest to get out of the picture ASAP.
No inspector (or engineer)can do his job properly without the support of the owner, engineer, and officials charged with enforcing the applicable building codes.
I am happy to say the incident I mentioned is not the typical response I get from my clients.
Best regards - Al
RE: Special Inspection
RE: Special Inspection
RE: Special Inspection
The SER has informed the contractor that he has to hire an independent testing lab to
1) verify the placement of resteel with a pacometer
2) chip out sections to verify size and lap length of vertical bars
3) obtain cores to verify grout strength
The contractor just about came unglued. Hey what can I say. The Special Insp program requires the contractor to notify the SI that when work will start. If the contractor fails to notify the SI that he needs inspections, its on him not me.
RE: Special Inspection
Special Inspectors must be hired by the Owner.
RE: Special Inspection
The sad fact is, in areas without a code enforcement entity, you're pretty much left leaving a paper trail with letters. You can't, as the Engineer of Record, make an owner do the Special Inspection or hire someone to do it.
RE: Special Inspection
RE: Special Inspection
I read many of you questioning whether jimzpe should or could take on the responsibility of performing the special inspections himself.
I have been told that special inspections (or any 'inspection') are not part of what our insurance considers the standard scope of work for new construction projects. This means that if we were to perform an 'inspection' we would have to have a seperate contract with the owner in order to be covered.
I could be wrong (or mistating the situation), b/c I have heard this information second hand. I am trying to learn more about the insurance/liablity side of the business.
RE: Special Inspection
RE: Special Inspection