Design Review Ethics
Design Review Ethics
(OP)
A contractor approached me and asked that I review a set of (2) story residential plans that he received from an owner as the owner has retained him for construction purposes. He has approached me because he is concerned about the lack of detail and is questioning the loads. These plans were engineered for vertical loads only. The contractor has asked me to completely re-design the home.
Do I need to contact the engineer of record to inform them that I am reviewing their plans and am re-designing the home that they have already drawn? The snow and dead loads used in the calcs are incorrect. I think I do need to inform them that I am reviewing them at a minimum.
Do I need to contact the engineer of record to inform them that I am reviewing their plans and am re-designing the home that they have already drawn? The snow and dead loads used in the calcs are incorrect. I think I do need to inform them that I am reviewing them at a minimum.






RE: Design Review Ethics
What I would suggest, is that you could provide a design review of the structure, a report of sorts, outlining all your concerns and issues, pointing out the errors you believe are true, and then submit to the contractor (your client) who can then forward that to the owner.
RE: Design Review Ethics
Michael.
"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved." ~ Tim Minchin
RE: Design Review Ethics
RE: Design Review Ethics
RE: Design Review Ethics
In so doing, it may turn out that there were mitigating circumstances of which I was not aware. Depending on his response, I would proceed as deemed appropriate.
BA
RE: Design Review Ethics
The first thing I told him was that I would first want to call the EOR to talk it through and let him know that I'm involved in the project. In this case, I may be making suggestions that he would have to accept as the EOR because the owner doesn't want to switch EORs.
What I really wanted was for him to handle the matter with the owner and GC so I wouldn't have to be involved, but it's a professional courtesy that may also be called for by engineering boards.
There was one technical issue I noticed so far, unrelated to the backfill $ that the owner is focused on, that I will put in a separate thread.
RE: Design Review Ethics