What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
(OP)
I am working on an oversea project in Africa that includes a number of Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings being fabricated by a steel building supplier based in Africa. The fabricator is using an American PEMB system from one of the US's leading PEMB companies. Someone on EngTips previously referred to the type of building being used as a "tin can" such is the thinness of the steel sections flanges and webs.
My understanding was that as the Consulting Engineer (EoR) we only had to review drawings to the extent that we stamped drawings "Reviewed with Comments". The project is currently being constructed and it is becoming evident that the PEMB supplier has made some minor changes to the building, for example moving doors and columns by small distances in order to make the building suit the PEMB system.
The PEMB drawings DID show these small alterations on their shop drawings. These alterations now make the PEMB slightly different from the architectural contract drawings. The majority of the small changes the PEMB supplier made were caught in the review and a solution agreed. The thing is a few small changes were not picked up in our review.
What is bugging me is that the finger is being pointed at us (EoR) for missing in our review the changes the PEMB company made. The PEMB supplier at no point highlighted the changes and only made the changes to suit themselves and their system.
My understanding of what "Reviewed with Comments" means is that the Engineer of Record (Consulting Engineer) takes a general look at the drawings and tries to pick up any errors or changes the fabricator has made on his shop drawing. Main dimensions of the structural frame, door/window locations and mezzanine etc are checked. Ultimately I see it that we only provide comments and if the fabricator makes errors that we do not pick up it is still his responsibilty to ensure his building is as per the contract drawings.
What is your understanding of "Reviewed with Comments"? Is it different than mine?
My understanding was that as the Consulting Engineer (EoR) we only had to review drawings to the extent that we stamped drawings "Reviewed with Comments". The project is currently being constructed and it is becoming evident that the PEMB supplier has made some minor changes to the building, for example moving doors and columns by small distances in order to make the building suit the PEMB system.
The PEMB drawings DID show these small alterations on their shop drawings. These alterations now make the PEMB slightly different from the architectural contract drawings. The majority of the small changes the PEMB supplier made were caught in the review and a solution agreed. The thing is a few small changes were not picked up in our review.
What is bugging me is that the finger is being pointed at us (EoR) for missing in our review the changes the PEMB company made. The PEMB supplier at no point highlighted the changes and only made the changes to suit themselves and their system.
My understanding of what "Reviewed with Comments" means is that the Engineer of Record (Consulting Engineer) takes a general look at the drawings and tries to pick up any errors or changes the fabricator has made on his shop drawing. Main dimensions of the structural frame, door/window locations and mezzanine etc are checked. Ultimately I see it that we only provide comments and if the fabricator makes errors that we do not pick up it is still his responsibilty to ensure his building is as per the contract drawings.
What is your understanding of "Reviewed with Comments"? Is it different than mine?






RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
What does it mean in you office when you stamp drawimgs "Reviewed with Comments"?
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
1 Approved
2 Approved with comments
3 Resubmit
1 and 3 are obvious...
Usually I use #2 for minor errors that I think the detailer should revise for the record drawing but is not a critical design problem and we don't want to waste time having the drawing resubmitted and then reviewing the minor change again.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
In a project as you are describing, we send the drawings to the architect for them to review minor issues like moved doors etc. that do not effect the building performance.
Shop drawings could be a usefull tool to ensure project quality and coordination. Unfortunatley they all too often have become a tool for a contractor (most likely no performing any of the work, just managing subs) to pass coordination to someone else.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
On the project I am working on there is no Architect as the buildings are fairly basic sheds. The buildings range up to 300ft in length with 100ft span portal frames. We the engineers set out the building dimensionally so an architect was not deemed to be required.
Do I take it that General Conformance means the engineer checking the drawing is not taking responsibility for every error on the shop drawing even if the checking engineer has missed some of the errors in his review?
Would you consider "Reviewed with Comments" as having the same meaning as a "General Conformance Review."
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
I do not check every single dimension or fit of members.
If the drawings are done in-house, I will check every little detail on the structural fabrication drawings to try to eliminate future erection problems.
I don't think you should be held responsible for any mistake a detailer might make....you'd be review shop drawings longer than you'd be designing.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
A lot of times this is where they'll change up a specific detail. I just make sure that it works structurally and has the same design intent (i.e. it doesn't change the way something else is working further down the line).
Steel shops would only be stamped "Approved", "Approved as Noted", "Revise and Resubmit", or "Rejected".
I typically always make a note for the architect to verify all dimensions and elevations. If I happen to catch something I'll make a note, though.
If you're the prime contract, then the coordination is probably your job. If not, it's someone else's.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
This is your main statement in your original post.
There are TWO issues here. As EOR your review should be focused primarily on the safety and welfare of the public. So minor changes in where a door is located shouldn't matter a bit with regard to this aspect. Instead, you would focus on the loads used in the design, connection detail quality and appropriateness, and material properties.
The second issue is one of whether the shop drawings meet the intent of the contract drawings with respect to building layout, looks and geometry. This is not an EOR issue but rather a client satisfaction issue. If the client wanted the door 3 feet from the corner and instead got one 4 feet from the corner, the question then is - what did your agreement with the client require of you in these reviews and how much do you want to bend over to keep your client happy.
One issue is engineering quality/safety/ethics.
The other is marketing/client satisfaction.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
If its a no harm, no foul situation, then you all can move on. If the owner is really upset, the PEMB needs to correct the situation and supply what you had on your drawings...
What you are experiencing is a common thing here in the USA when working with PEMB manufacturers, like drinking ice water too fast. Some good, some bad, some indifferent, but that side of the business is a lot different than mainstream structural engineering in that it is generally controlled by contractors, fabricators, owners, etc. who want a very inexpensive building per square foot and want it done yesterday. They also over-promise to the owner and under-deliver, and on the construction admin side of things they take their phone of the hook. Once they drop off the pieces to their erector set and toss you the directions they never want to hear from you again. Its like if IKEA did steel buildings....
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
....to IKEA.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
New York, NY
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
firai - it would be nice to get a definitive answer on what actual responsibility goes with the checking drawings and what "General Conformance" means in a contractual and legal dispute.
If anybody has any documentation on this I would be very interested in reading it.
Personally I have worked my whole career in the UK and Ireland and had never seen a PEMB before I started working on this current project. I do, however, have a lot of experience with prefabricated buildings, mainly precast concrete, where as a consulting engineer I have either worked for the client or been consultant to the precast manufacturer.
In my part of the world my experience is "Reviewed with Comments" means a general check to establish if the prefab building drawings conform to the intention of the design team. We try to pick up every error in our drawing check but we do not spend days checking a few drawings, it's normally a few hours, max a day, for a single level of walls and floor. I base these times on checking a floor area of around 10000 sqft of a standard apartment block, hotel etc.
a2mfk - Your post summed up my experience so far with PEMB. It's good to know I am not the only one having some difficulties with suppliers.
JAE: Your point on client satisfaction makes sense and how the client perceives who is responsible for the error is pretty important. Personally my gut feeling is to start getting tough with the PEMB supplier but I also have a feeling I will be talking to myself. The problem is some clients would automatically assume that the engineer is fully checking the shop drawings before manufacture. If things are not pinned down and formalised in terms of responsibilities at the beginning of the project it is easy for the client to make his own assumptions about what responsibility is associated with a shop drawing review. Well into the job it is not easy to start arguing with the client about what responsibilities are associated with a drawing check.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
In general, shop drawings are to be a reflection of the subcontractor's understanding of the engineer's intent. They are generally reviewed in the same context...in the manner JAE and a2mfk pointed out. Unfortunately, since you have no architect, you have taken on that role, so perhaps your review was required to pick up issues you wouldn't normally associate with a structural review. As stated, that's contractual and you'll have to check that aspect.
a2....IKEA would be pi$$ed.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
But the problem is that these practices are for usual buildings where there is an architect on board for the project. As your firm did the only layout drawings then it could probably be deemed reasonable that the client expect you to make the dimensional checks also.
Personnally, whenever there is an issue like this I respond with 'lets sort the problem out first and it will probably not be as big a problem as it appears, we can worry about who is to blame after the job is done'. And usually it is much less of an issue than first thought.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
IMO "Reviewed with Comments" are total weasel words. I see this more and more from consultants. If it is your job to approve shop drawings, for heaven sakes "approve" them. If you have minor comments, then "approve with comments". "Reviewed with Comments" doesn't really say anything. Because of this, we have started to layout the required shop drawing stamp language up front when we hire consultants.
Maybe if your company's stamp had said "Approved with Comments" instead of "Reviewed with Comments" you would have been more careful.
Don't beat yourself up too much. No babies died, and you learned a good lesson.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
AISC Code of Standard Practice
Specifically Section 4.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
We have legal language on our stamp that spells out what we reviewed and what we didn't and says that the contractor is still responsible to comply with the drawings. Similar language on our drawings. We review shop drawings for general compliance with the design intent only. At least that is all that we will admit to.
Of course then the lawyers show up and everyone with insurance loses.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
"4.4.1. Approval of the shop and erection drawings, approval subject to corrections noted and similar approvals shall constitute the following:
(a) Confirmation that the fabricator has correctly interpreted the contract documents in the preparation of those submittals;
(b) Confirmation that the owner's designated representative for design has reviewed and approved the connection details shown on the shop and erection drawings and submitted in accordance with Section 3.1.2, if applicable; and,
(c) Release by the owner's designated representatives for design and construction for the fabricator to begin fabrication using the approved submittals.
Such approval shall not relieve the fabricator of the responsibility for either the accuracy of the detailed dimensions in the shop and erection drawings or the general fit-up of parts that are to be assembled in the field.The fabricator shall determine the fabrication schedule that is necessary to meet the requirements of the contract."
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
I bet you have foundation upstands? Door bucks are always a problem to coordinate. Try to avoid them. Most of the time, the GC will field drill a few new bolts without to much debate, but when he has to get out the concrete saw or pay for field welding, then life gets more difficult.
Brad
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
Not Suitable, Resubmit before Fabrication
Modify as Noted, Resubmit before Fabrication
Modify as Noted, Commence Fabrication & Resubmit
Suitable, Start Fabrication, Resubmit Certified Reproducible
Other as Indicated on Transmittal
Final, No Further Resubmittal
It is used for a large design-build project and it has been 'foisted' on our office by 'others'.
I had great difficulty with this, in particular, since there is no intention for shop drawing review by the Contractor. As a member of the design-build team, the contractor was of the opinion that I was acting for the Contractor. As a solution (not a happy fuzzy one) there is a memo of understanding limiting review and responsibility. Further, I will only check the first item or one of the last two items.
For most projects, I specifically state in the General Notes:
SHOP DRAWINGS AND SAMPLES
REFER TO GENERAL NOTES FOR PARTS OF THE WORK THAT REQUIRE SHOP DRAWINGS. ALLOW 3 WEEKS FOR SHOP DRAWING REVIEW FOR EACH COMPONENT U/N
SUBMIT SHOP DRAWINGS WELL IN ADVANCE OF DELIVERY
CONTRACTOR SHALL ALLOW AND SCHEDULE FOR THREE WEEKS FOR [CONSULTANT | ENGINEER] TO REVIEW EACH SUBMITTED SHOP DRAWINGS
ELEVATIONS AND DIMENSIONS USED SHALL BE THE SAME AS USED ON THE DRAWINGS U/N
SHOP DRAWINGS SHALL SHOW ALL MATERIALS AND DESIGN, FABRICATION, CONSTRUCTION, FASTENING, AND FINISHING DETAILS AS REQD
LOCATION OF ALL CONSTRUCTION AND CONTROL JOINTS SHALL BE SHOWN ON SHOP DRAWINGS
SUBMIT SHOP DRAWINGS TO THE [CONSULTANT | ENGINEER]
THE CONTRACTOR SHALL SUBMIT 1 SET OF SHOP DRAWINGS IN DIGITAL FORMAT PRIOR TO FABRICATION FOR THE [CONSULTANT | ENGINEER]'S REVIEW. U/N, SUBMIT SHOP DRAWINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING WORK U/N:
Provide a List (Not included for brevity)
PRIOR TO REVIEW BY OUR OFFICE, SHOP DRAWINGS MUST BE REVIEWED AND COORDINATED BY THE CONTRACTOR. THEY MUST BEAR A REVIEW STAMP, DATE AND SIGNATURE SIGNIFYING HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT HIS RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-DIMENSIONS WHICH SHALL BE CONFIRMED AND CORRELATED WITH JOB SITE CONDITIONS,
-INFORMATION THAT PERTAINS SOLELY TO FABRICATION PROCESSES, MEANS, METHODS, TECHNIQUES, SEQUENCES AND PROCEDURES OF CONSTRUCTION,
-SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND PROGRAMS IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORK,
-COORDINATION OF THE WORK WITH THAT OF ALL OTHER TRADES, AND
-SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK
SHOP DRAWINGS NOT BEARING A REVIEW STAMP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE WILL BE RETURNED MARKED 'NOT REVIEWED'
SHOP DRAWINGS SHALL BE SUBMITTED AS THEY ARE PREPARED. UNLESS PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE, DUE TO SCHEDULING DEMANDS, ETC. THE [CONSULTANT | ENGINEER] CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYS CAUSED BY THE RECEIPT A LARGE NUMBER OF SHOP DRAWINGS IN A SHORT TIME PERIOD
The following is similar to our office standard Shop Drawing review stamp and is representative of many:
"Review by the undersigned is for the sole purpose of ascertaining conformance with the general design concept. No approval is given, nor is any responsibility assumed by the undersigned for the work inherent in the documents, for accuracy of dimensions, or for conformity with the specifications, data sheets or other documents. Conformance with these items remains the responsibility of the consultant, vendor, supplier, or contractor submitting the documents."
Reviewed
Reviewed as Noted / Modified
Revise and Resubmit
Not Reviewed
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
Unfortunately the client sees it that the PEMB supplier and the engineer should get the building right and as such are not that concerned about excuses for errors. Their view on checking is that if the consulting engineer checks a fab drawing then the engineer takes on the responsibility for any errors. It isn't fair in my opinion but that's the way it is.
Of course we have contract documents/specifications that spell out the responsibilities of the PEMB supplier but it reality these carry very little weight with the client who just wants the job done with a minimum of problems or arguing between the different parties. At the moment I am just sorting out the problems, which in reality are not that difficult to fix. Still though it is annoying to fix problems that I don't see as being of our making.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
I had a conversation today with a very senior engineer who has 40 years experienced in structural engineering. His view was that any document recerawing must by thoroughly checked. A thoughough check should be done even if the contact states the review is only to ensure the prefabricators drawing are in general conformance with the design intent of the engineer.
The senior engineer I spoke to, who does a lot of court expert witness work, told me that judges do not automatically acccept what is written in contract documents and specification as being legally binding. He told me about a recent case where a roof blew off in the wind. The roof was a specialist sub conrator design and constrution. The EOR had clearly stated in documents that the contractor was fully responsible for all aspects of the roof design and construction. Unfortunately for the EOR the judge did'nt see it that way. In the mind of the judge the EOR had received drawings and he was negligent for not fully checking all sub-contractor drawings and documents. In the end the EOR had to take a portion of the financial hit for the roof structural failure.
I am certainly going to be more careful and do much more thourough checks in thfuture. Taking a view that a check is only to ensure the shop drawings are in general conformance with the design intention may leave an EOR open to a legal challenge.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
The situation that you describe is a delegated design. The design is being farmed out, but the EOR has an obligation to check everything. They should be sending shops and calcs that meet design criteria that are spelled out in your contract documents and specs. You can't farm out part of the design and then stick your head in the sand.
I think that's different than a coordination item, such as a door that moved, that doesn't impact the overall structural safety.
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
I've been on some 'large' projects, where the owner, acting as contract administrator has accidentally failed to issue specifications with the project.
Dik
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
Just try to sort things out and don't make fuss about responsibilities , liabilities etc. etc. - that would only complicate things.
From what you said it is obvious that the discrepancies evidenced
are minor.Solution should be quite easy and harmless.
By the way, since an architect is not involved who was it that pointed out those changes ?
As far as the scepticism on PEMB buildings, my 17 year of experience in a contracting company dealing with the project management and erection of PEMB buildings has not left me with much negative feedback or results.
I would say that the PEMB system is intented for a rather specific market mainly where large no storey and free span surfaces are required...
RE: What Does Stamping Drawings "Reviewed With Comments" Mean to You?
How many people check everything down to the screws when they review shop drawings?
I am working in Ireland and we pretty much have the same procedures as the UK. We don't really have PEMB's here and if they are used they would most likely be imported. In the industry here the stamp "Reviewed with Comments" means pretty much all the responsibility is on the subcontractor to ensure the he delivers a building which is as per the Architects/Consulting Engineers drawings. We used to fully approve steel drawings for fabrication but that type of review ceased to be given more than 15 years ago.
The point I was making is that the construction industry may have it's own understanding of what a certain type of review means and have contracts, specifications and drawings to back that up but in a leagal challenge the judge may take a different view entirely. A judge may not view industry procedures and docs as being legally binding.