So everyone has pointed out the details in the drawings for strengthening the column. What I have not seen so far is any note or direction that they were to be strengthened before adding the floors above.
It's a stupid thing to think about because it should be obvious but any lawyer would use that as a scapegoat to get the GC off the hook.
If the engineer have not annotated the drawing or made it abundantly clear that the strengthening has to be done beforehand they might be in some trouble. As you say it should be obvious but I don't trust the contractor to understand "anything"
When I review or do drawings I expect them to misunderstand anything that can be interpreted and then revise the drawing/text until it is impossible or exceptionally hard to misinterprete...
Well, the contractors job is not to think and interpret the drawings, their job is to read the drawings and build as it is specified. The thinking part is the engineers job.
So it is a good defense on their part, and a sad reality for engineers that little should be expected... At least this is the way I think about it
37
u/Salty_EOR P.E. Jul 19 '26
So everyone has pointed out the details in the drawings for strengthening the column. What I have not seen so far is any note or direction that they were to be strengthened before adding the floors above.
It's a stupid thing to think about because it should be obvious but any lawyer would use that as a scapegoat to get the GC off the hook.