Construction Documents’ Effects on Field Issues and Accidents

Construction documents are the written and demonstrative representation of the expected finished structure. The expectation of design professionals is to provide clear, unambiguous documents for the construction team to follow, i.e. the GC/CM, their subs, and fabricator. Two case studies will be presented that illustrate construction projects where contract documents and/or shop drawings were alleged to be deficient resulting in misalignment in construction, a structural failure, and subsequent personal injury and property damage. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for discussion by structural engineer professionals after the presentation of factual evidence with respect to relevant construction documents, as-designed and as-constructed details, and resultant incident. Questions will be posed to promote thought and further discussion regarding current design and construction practices in the industry, specifically with respect to each party’s responsibilities and the standard of care. Specific incidents include a failure of a temporary weld connection of an ornamental stair steel stringer resulting in an iron worker falling over 20 feet, and ambiguous design documents and factory assembly resulting in misalignment of connection during erection of box girders.