Design Liability in Construction
Design liability means legal responsibility for the design of a construction project. Construction projects involve many parties with design duties like architects, engineers, contractors, and consultants. These parties can face financial damages if issues arise from their work. They may need professional insurance to cover legal costs.
Construction Design Impact
Construction design impacts safety and damage recovery. Mistakes can lead to injury or property harm. Many parties like contractors, architects, and engineers play important design roles. They have duties to avoid hazards.
Responsibilities in Design and Build Contracts
The Contractor’s Responsibility
In a design and build contract, the contractor is responsible for both the design and construction of the works. This avoids issues for the employer in determining whether the defect is from design or workmanship.
The Design Team
The design team consists of engineers and architects. Engineers ensure the product is safely and appropriately constructed. Engineers make the project efficient, reducing costs while maintaining safety. They conduct initial surveys to assess feasibility and accommodate needs. Engineers ensure legal requirements are met. The architect has overall design responsibility, and if lacking expertise, can employ specialists.
Contractor Responsibilities in Design and Construct Contracts
In design and construct contracts, the contractor procures designers or assumes responsibility for designers engaged by the principal. In this phase, EPC contractor responsibilities include designing heavy-lift plans and preserving equipment, assessing construction cost predictability, and ensuring job site safety.
Design and Build Process
Design and build involve a single party for design and construction. This simplifies the process compared to engaging designers and contractors separately. The client provides a project brief, timeline, and budget. The company then orchestrates the project from start to finish.
Principal Designer’s Role
The Principal Designer’s skills and expertise should match the project complexity and risk range. Designers affect the health and safety of construction and building users. In design and build contracts, the contractor is responsible for design and construction.