The Contractor Notifies You of Substantial Completion
What happens then? The engineer should inspect the project in the company of the owner and the contractor and evaluate their opinions as to whether or not substantial completion has been achieved. The engineer should determine for him or herself the extent of completion. The word inspect is used here rather than observation to indicate a greater intensity of observation. It involves a greater evaluation of the completed project functioning as a whole contrasted with observations of various aspects of the work. Inspection, rather than observation more properly describes the function to be performed in determining the degree of completion.

Selection by the Owner of a Competent, Dedicated and Thoroughly Honest Contractor
Much attention has been devoted in contracts to the matter of defective work. The paragraph title above along with an able superintendent on the job is the best preventive medicine to avoid defects in the work. Add in a harmonious relationship of mutual respect between the contractor and engineer and you have a recipe for success. The successful completion of untold numbers of projects is testimony to the fact that these conditions can and have been met.

Uncovering Work for Special Testing or Inspection
There are occasions when the engineer believes the work which has been covered during construction must be uncovered for special testing or inspection. It is also possible that, after uncovering and testing such work, it is found not to be defective. The owner might still be required to accept an increase in price or extension of time because of the uncovering. This should not act as a deterrent to the engineer when he believes it important that further examination of covered work be conducted.

One of the Engineer's Most Important Functions
It is issuing interpretations and clarifications of the contract documents upon which the contractors may rely. They should be in writing and consistent with the overall intent of the contract documents. This is also a way the contract documents may be supplemented or minor variations made. Should an interpretation, even though properly and fairly exercised, have an adverse effect on the contractor, they are given a chance to request a time or price adjustment if justified.

Variations to the Contract Documents
Experience teaches us that many submittals are not truly responsive to the requirements of the contract documents. They may contain variations in detail that are difficult for the reviewing design professional to detect. Contracts should require the contractor call each variation to the attention of the engineer and should receive his or her specific written approval. The approval of the engineer still does not relieve the contractor of responsibility for errors and omissions in shop drawings.

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