Using "Professional Judgment" on a Site Visit
So much of what an engineer can do for an owner during construction depends on the frequency and extent of visits to the site. The engineer cannot and is not expected to check every aspect of the work but is limited to spot checking, selective sampling and other methods of general observation using their professional judgment. It does not involve supervision or control but the owner expects and is entitled to a certain degree of assurance about the work as a result of the engineer's construction phase services. If the owner desires a greater degree or more thorough observation, he may negotiate for it.

An Essential Step Frequently Overlooked by Contractors
Most engineering firms have different procedures to be followed in the submission, review and approval of shop drawings. But all most certainly require the contractor approve each submittal from their subcontractors or suppliers before passing it on to the engineer. Unfortunately this step is frequently overlooked by many contractors who do no more than pass on to the design professional whatever has been submitted by the subcontractor or supplier and sometimes it is a great deal more than has been asked for.

Just a Bunch of Baloney
For fear of litigation some have advised engineers and architects not to indicate "approval" of a reviewed submittal. The advice is to use some other term like "reviewed", "checked", "examined", "accepted", "no objections" or even "not rejected". One attorney has characterized those words as "just a bunch of baloney". To say that these terms are anything short of "approval" in the eyes of the law, the owner or the public is misleading to everyone other than the engineer and his insurance company. Call it what you will but the engineer's actions in this regard amount to approval or disapproval, there is no halfway. Approval, however, is intended for a limited purpose and sometimes subject to a specifically expressed condition.

The Dimensions on Structural Drawings Should Be:

• Adequate for bidding, shop drawing preparation and construction
• Internally consistent and verified with architectural drawings
• Explicitly shown on the documents
• Provided as needed for clarity and document interpretation.

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