Civil Engineering Project Management (4th Edition)

The resident engineer’s duties 97
• extensions of time for completion;
• issue of substantial completion certificates, defects correction certificate
and final certificate for payment;
• notice that the contractor has abandoned or appears unable to complete
the contract;
• decisions on matters of dissatisfaction prior to adjudication or arbitration.
In addition it is often the case that the engineer does not delegate to his resident
engineer in the UK power to:
• issue variation orders (VOs) or authorize payment to the contractor for delay;
• issue interim payment certificates;
• approve the contractor’s programme for construction.
The purpose of the first of the last three exclusions is to permit the engineer (or
staff acting on his behalf) to check both the justification and the amount payable
under a proposed VO. However, if the site of construction is overseas the resident
engineer may also be given powers to issue VOs and interim payment certificates.
In this case the resident engineer would normally have appropriate staff
on site, to check proposed VOs and interim payment certificates before issue.
It is to be noted that the FIDIC conditions for overseas construction do not
restrict the powers the engineer can delegate to the resident engineer.
9.3 Usual powers delegated to the resident engineer
The usual powers and duties delegated to the resident engineer under the ICE
conditions may contain most or all of the following:
• Agreeing details of methods of construction; checking that appropriate
instructions are given and any information required by the contractor is
supplied in good time.
• Ensuring that all materials and items to be supplied by the employer under
other contracts which are to be incorporated in the works are ordered in
good time.
• Checking that materials and workmanship are satisfactory and as specified;
issuing instructions for remedying faults therein.
• Checking lines, levels, layout, etc. of the works to ensure conformity with
the drawings.
• Issuing further instructions, drawings and clarifications of detail as are
necessary to ensure satisfactory construction of the works.
• Measuring the amount of work done, checking the contractor’s interim
statements and preparing them for submission to the engineer.
• Undertaking all tests required and keeping records thereof.
• Recording progress in detail; keeping a check on the estimated final total
cost of the project.