OPINION : Miscommunication by Built environment Professionals leads to suprises during the construction phase

Construction Professional Zuko Peter shares his opinion on why he believes site visits, investigations, and communication are vital for successful project delivery. According to him collaboration and ethics are key for professionalism and quality construction projects.

In the construction industry, there is a growing trend among architects and structural designers that undermines our professionalism. They often neglect geotechnical reports and instead rely on outdated drawings from their archives, which they provide to clients. This practice has significant consequences for contractors, leading to numerous requests for information (RFIs) and multiple revisions of blueprints.

For example, when a contractor is given a trench depth and later encounters hard rock, they must pay additional costs for machinery to break it, which could have been avoided through a geotechnical survey. Architects and designers often dismiss geotechnical surveys as a waste of time. Additionally, there are discrepancies between the levels on site development plans (SDPs) and the actual terrain, resulting from the use of gadgets instead of on-site investigations.

Recently, I received a drawing that specified two different concrete covers for the same item. The bending schedule indicated a 75 mm cover, while the foundation drawing notes stated a 50 mm cover. Furthermore, the bending schedule was for five bases, while the foundation drawing showed only four bases. This inconsistency resulted in the omission of an entire set of steel for the fifth base, leading to additional costs.

In another instance, a structure had to be demolished due to the presence of a swamp or wetland caused by a high water table. I was instructed to perform dewatering, which was not included in my original pricing. A variation order was proposed, but I declined, arguing that I could not have foreseen this issue without a site visit and briefing, especially considering the existence of a building that concealed the wetland.

It is disheartening that professionals within our industry are engaging in practices that compromise our integrity. We often complain about the infiltration of unqualified individuals into our field, yet we are undermining ourselves by failing to adhere to ethical standards. We cannot expect contractors to perform miracles when they are not provided with accurate and comprehensive information.

It is imperative that we, as professionals, uphold our responsibilities and collaborate effectively to ensure the successful execution of projects. We must prioritize site visits, thorough investigations, and open communication to avoid costly mistakes and maintain the credibility of our industry.

Zuko Peter is a construction professional with over 12 years of experience in various positions within the civil and building sectors. He holds a National Diploma in Building Engineering, providing him with a strong foundation in the field.

If you have a hardhatOPINION on this issue or any other hardhatINDUSTRY related issue send it to us here
You can follow our WhatsAPP channel for informative content on the hardhatINDUSTRY and updates on hardhatVACANCIES. Click here to view and follow.