Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects
Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects
(OP)
I am wondering about this topic and your experience and thoughts on the matter.
Is it necessary to have a Professional Engineer supervise construction of a project? This differs from stamping a design for construction. And is it the case of the designer being the supervisor? A lot of designers know very little about construction, thus could not do this work (perhaps that is the problem / issue here?).
I am in Alberta and supervision by a P.Eng. is not a requirement, but in other provinces and states, it is. Is it a case of liability? The design may be correct, but if something goes wrong, is it really the design or is it how it was put together?
I'd appreciate some feedback please.
If this is in the wrong forum, please move it there.
Thanks in advance.
Is it necessary to have a Professional Engineer supervise construction of a project? This differs from stamping a design for construction. And is it the case of the designer being the supervisor? A lot of designers know very little about construction, thus could not do this work (perhaps that is the problem / issue here?).
I am in Alberta and supervision by a P.Eng. is not a requirement, but in other provinces and states, it is. Is it a case of liability? The design may be correct, but if something goes wrong, is it really the design or is it how it was put together?
I'd appreciate some feedback please.
If this is in the wrong forum, please move it there.
Thanks in advance.





RE: Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects
RE: Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects
Which brings up some more questions...
- Is it the architect's responsibility since the architect is the final signing authority (coordinating registered professional)?
- Would engineers put construction supervisors out of business?
- Should engineers be supervising electricians? What would happen here?
RE: Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects
Some thoughts from another part of the world (Scandinavia)
On one side you have the law, and what is common practice, on the other side the available human resources, experience
and knowledge of the single persons together.
The question is then again two: what and how much extra resources (inspectors) should we in this particular case put in as QA, what will it cost, and who takes the bill? Secondly: what are consequences if anything goes wrong, and who is paying then?
This is a common discussion and issue at all complicated engineering tasks.
Normally a contract or company policy will describe at least part of this, but obviously this is not clarified in your case.
You are lucky (or a good engineer), however, in many cases this comes up as questions 'after the deed' - after something has gone terribly wrong. Here you are in my opinion thinking the way an engineer should think: what can we do to deliver a project to the correct and safe specifications?
My advice is to make up in your own mind, as you already have started to, about the answers to the questions above. Try to back it with some estimated figures and present your recommondations for the proper forum (descision makers).
A project is always a group task, and the descision will then be taken the correct way at the correct level.
RE: Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects
(c) The practice of engineering includes...
(9) engineering for review of the construction or installation of engineered works to monitor compliance with drawings or specifications;
I don't think that implies supervising construction, or that the person that designs it is involved with inspection, but that inspection of the work can be an engineering function.
RE: Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects
RE: Re: Professional Engineers to Supervise Construction Projects