Nothing new in this headline either. When an owner contracts for design services on a construction project, I would like to think they are paying for design services required on the project. The architects and engineers, along with their specialty consulting engineers, should be able to design the facility. Sadly, the design fees being paid to architects and engineers will not necessarily mean the facility will have a complete design depicted on the plans and in the specifications.
On a recent project the engineering firm of record on the project put some rather self serving notes on the Structural Framing Details drawings. The first note on many of the details stated, “Submit alternate connection details for review prior to issuing drawings.” This note was followed by a statement that indicated the fabricator must, “…design for a 12 KIP reaction…” They are shifting the structural connection design to the steel fabricator. My first thought is why didn’t the engineer design the connections? After all, they are structural engineers and they are being paid to do the project design. My second thought was the fabricator and their engineer could design it better anyway. So why bother hiring an engineer for the project design in the first place?
The lack of design on the project means the steel fabricator will be required to retain the services of a structural engineer. The design fees are an added expense to the project that will be included in the steel fabrication bid and cost the owner extra on bid day. The requirement for the fabricator to do the engineering will take extra time in the steel fabrication portion of the project. This will lengthen the time required for the fabrication. This can delay the steel erection portion of the project. Both of these actions will ultimately be paid for by the owner on the project. And the supervising/coordinating architect on the project let the engineer get away with it!
Oh, By the Way… It is likely the owner is not even aware of these statements will require them to pay extra for something that should have been included in the design fees.
