CE-Practice test Question
During an inspection of a 200-unit residential project, an architect notices that the overall length of kitchen cabinetry in accessible units is shorter than designed. The contractor informs the architect that when the cabinets arrived, the 32-inch-wide cabinets had been replaced with 28-inch-wide cabinets due to an oversight in the architect's review of the shop drawings.
The owner wants to occupy the area as soon as possible and insists on accepting the cabinets as-built. The AHJ requires that the narrower removable cabinets allow 30-inch-wide clear floor spaces.
Who is responsible for the error?
| A. | Owner |
| B. | Architect |
| C. | Contractor |
Correct answer: C
Can you please explain why Architect is not at fault in this situation
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Ultimately, it is the contractor's responsibility to confirm that the shop drawings match the design intent in terms of quantities and measurements. The architect has the contract documents and construction set to reference for the design intent (in this case, 32" wide cabinets). The contractor should have caught this discrepancy before submitting the shop drawings to the architect for their review, see excerpts from A201 contract below:
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In the first paragraph you have 3 important clues.
1. "accessible unit": there are additional requirements for cabinet sizes, so design changes aren't allowed without approval & confirmation of compliance.
2. "shorter than designed": the architect's construction drawings (the design) overrule any shop drawings or memo's, field conditions, product shortages, etc. Any changes to the design have to be approved by the architect.
3. "architect's review of shop drawings": the architect review is cursory. the contractor is responsible for accuracy.
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