The Building Team

The Employer
The employer, who is also called the client or building owner, is the organization or person who
commissions the construction project and who pays the cost of the work, as certified by the Engineer's
certificates.
The Engineer / Consultant
The Engineer is usually regarded as the leader of the building team. The Engineer is normally wholly
and entirely responsible for the preparation of the contract, including the formulation of designs for
the project. He is acting on behalf of the employer. He is virtually in sole control of the project until
the contract is signed and once work has started on the site, he is responsible for ensuring that the
contractor carries out the whole of the work in accordance with the contract and to the Engineer’s
reasonable satisfaction.
He is one of the principal parties to the contract and he comes into direct contact with the majority of
persons connected with the work at one stage or another. Much of the success of a project depends on
the way in which the Engineer performs his functions.
The Engineer is normally the only member of the building team with an overall view of the project,
and his functions usually include liaison with the employer, representatives of local authorities and
statutory bodies, and with other consultants and specialists. Liaison with the contractor will start at an
earlier or later stage depending on the type of contract.
The Engineer's first task, after appointment, is to discuss with the employer his building requirements.
This often emerges as a list of needs, commonly referred to as 'the brief’. It frequently happens that
the employer is uncertain of his requirements, and the Engineer helps in formulating them.
When both site details and the principal building requirements are known, preliminary designs can be
prepared. In preparing preliminary schemes it is generally necessary to consider the comparative costs
of alternative proposals, and a quantity surveyor should be appointed.
The Engineer's procedure then follows a logical sequence, often on the following lines:
(1) Preparation of preliminary schemes, including estimates, as part of feasibility study.
(2) After approval by the employer, an outline planning application will be submitted.
(3) Preparation of sketch plans and approximate estimates.
(4) Preparation of structural and services schemes either by consultants or specialist sub-contractors.
(5) Preparation of cost plan in consultation with quantity surveyor.
(6) Preparation of working drawings and invitations for tenders from specialist suppliers and sub-
contractors, if these items are to be dealt with as prime cost sums.
(7) Preparation of bills of quantities, wherein the Engineer should maintain close contact with the
quantity surveyor.

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(8) During the period of bill preparation, suitable contractors will be invited to tender. To enable them
to reach a firm decision, they will be informed of the general nature of the work, the date when bills
will be available, and dates for submission of tenders and completion of work.
(9) Formal invitation to tender with full documentation.
(10) Receipt of tenders, advice to employer on selection of contractor and preparation of contract
documents.
(11) Supervision of construction work.
(12) Certifying payments to the contractor throughout the contract.
(13) Issuing variation orders and other Engineer's instructions as necessary.
(14) Directing how provisional sums are to be spent.
(15) Securing the remedying of defects at the end of the defects liability period.
(16) Certifying the final account.
The Engineer acts as expert adviser and agent for the employer. In his capacity as agent for the
employer, the architect enters into many contractual obligations. Where the Engineer is named in the
agreement, the contractor is justified in treating every order received from the Engineer as a direct
order from the employer.
In the preparation of designs, supervision of work and associated activities, the Engineer owes the
employer a duty to exercise such reasonable and proper care, skill and judgment, as could reasonably
be expected from a professional man in his position.
The Quantity Surveyor
Construction cost, construction management and construction communications are all key problem
areas for an employer who has commissioned an important building or engineering project. A quantity
surveyor is professionally trained, qualified and experienced in dealing with these problems on behalf
of the employer. He is essentially a cost expert whose prime task is to ensure that the project is kept
within the agreed budget.
The services cover such aspects as preliminary cost advice and cost planning, preparation of tender
documents, advice on type of contract and method of obtaining tenders, negotiations with contractors,
valuation of work in progress and settlement of the final account. He will at all times need to
collaborate very closely with the Engineer.
Consulting Engineers
On large and complicated building projects, it is customary for the Engineer to recommend to the
employer the appointment of consulting engineers, usually specialists in structural work and
mechanical and electrical engineering services, etc.
Other Consultants
Other consultants who may be engaged include landscape architects, interior designers, acoustic
consultants, environmental engineers, etc.

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Project Managers
On some very large projects, a project manager is appointed by the employer to take overall control of
the project from inception to completion and to co-ordinate the work of all members of the building
team. This procedure should secure maximum efficiency and enables the employer to obtain all
information concerning the project from one person, who is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the
scheme.
The Contractor
The contractor is the person or firm who undertakes to complete a building project in accordance with
the contract documents on behalf of the employer. He is accordingly one of the most important parties
to a building contract and should have full control of all operations on site, including the work carried
out by nominated sub-contractors, with whom he has a direct contractual relationship by means of
sub-contracts. All instructions and payments to nominated subcontractors must come through the
main contractor.
The contractor is required to comply with all statutory requirements affecting the works and to give
all notices that may be legally demanded. He must insure the building operations against fire and
possible injury to persons or property. He has to attend to many matters of considerable complexity
and has many obligations under the terms of the contract. He receives all his instructions through the
Engineer but has dealings with other parties to the contract, such as the quantity surveyor, when he
measures and values completed work.
The contractor maintains close contact with the clerk of works in his supervision of the work. The
contractor employs personnel to take charge of work on the site and for large projects there can be a
site agent.
The contractor often employs a quantity surveyor to safeguard his financial interests.
The Sub-contractor
It is generally possible to achieve a cheaper and higher standard of workmanship by employing
specialist sub-contractors to undertake special classes of work. The main contractor is responsible for
all operations on the site and sub-contractors must look to him for instructions and payment. There is
no contractual relationship between the employer and the sub-contractor. For this reason, it is
imperative that a sub-contract is entered into between the main contractor and the sub-contractor to
safeguard the interests of the main contractor.
The Supplier
Building suppliers supply building materials and components to contractors and sub-contractors. The
Engineer may specify the use of certain materials to be obtained from nominated suppliers.
The Clerk of Works
The clerk of works is appointed by and acts as inspector on behalf of the employer, but he carries out
his duties of detailed day-to-day inspection and issues verbal instructions only under the directions of
the Engineer, who subsequently confirms them in writing in the form of an Engineer's instruction.