Review of as-built Condition (not EOR) 1

[mfstructural]

I received a called from a potential client. He is the steel contractor on a project and has complete the erection of the steel. He is asking me to come out and inspect the as built structure and verify that it matches the drawings. I asked him how come the EOR has not come out or if they've been out and he said not that he knows of and that he was told to find his own engineer to verify. Has anyone ever come across something like this? I am interested in doing it but I feel like there would have to be a contract with disclaimers regarding my responsibility. I also feel like some of the liability is then transferred to me. Just looking for suggestions on how to navigate this because I haven't come across it. If it helps I'm in the Chicago area.
Thanks,

 

[dold]

Generally there would be a Special Inspector hired by the GC to perform all such inspections. Depending on the size of the project and the Jurisdiction's ordinances there may be a Special Inspections Program written into the contract docs, where that inspector would be the only entity approved to perform the inspections. I'd do some homework before getting involved.

 

[JStephen]

I'd try to be very certain of what exactly they're after when it's all said and done.
Some aspects simply can't be verified after the fact (weld inspection, for example), so you're limited as to what you can certify, and they may be looking to cover their backsides on something they missed in the original work.
Usually, there would be "construction observation" which is a general look-see to see if there are any obvious problems, but not intended to check every detail. The preferred person for that is someone already very familiar with the drawings.
And there would be more detailed inspection, as dold describes above.
To "verify that it matches the drawings" sounds like the latter. The "EOR has come out" sounds like the former.

 

[dhengr]

Mfstructural:
This seems like a pretty squirrely proposition to me, particularly if you do not have a long-term working relationship with this steel contractor (fabricator, erector, whatever). More and more, it seems that we are brought/enticed into a project, primarily as the insurer of last resort. For a few thousand dollars they buy your involvement and your insurance coverage if anything does go wrong. I would certainly talk with my insurance carrier about this job, and how they will cover it. You know nothing about the project and its design and construction at this point, so there are going to be a good number of hours just beginning to get up to speed on the status of the project. When these contractors don’t have the foresight, experience, construction knowledge, haven’t really read their contract, etc. etc. and then at the last minute try to find this kind of help or service, it sounds kinda fishy to me. I would be very careful what you are getting into and what their hold harmless agreement with you will be.

Edit… If they want a blessing, they should talk to their local bishop and make a donation. The bishop is in that business, most PE’s are not.

 

[miningman]

I would research the Algo Mall failure in Ontario a few years ago , as well as the resultant litigation and consequences........ all down to the failure of structural steel that was not visible to an inspector

 

[dold]

Algo Mall is a great example, albeit not quite the same as OP's situation, of getting roped into some sort of inspection/certification/opinion on a project wherein the client 'may or may not have' knowledge of prior deficiencies (as per my knowledge of that event). Heck, at this point, OP, do you know if you're even the first engineer the steel shop has contacted, or contRacted? Don't be the second-opinion-nice-guy... Not trying to spook you, but this sort of stuff does happen, unfortunately. I'd check with AOR/EOR at the very least.