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Hot Topic Session: Responsibility in Concrete Construction

ACI Spring 2013 Convention April 14 - 16, Minneapolis, MN
ACI WEB SESSIONS

Jeffrey W. Coleman is a trial attorney and licensed engineer (Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) who has handled large complex construction cases throughout the United States. Mr. Coleman provides advice and counsel to all parties involved in the design and construction process. While he has been involved in major cases, a majority of his practice involves advising clients on contracts, contract negotiation, claims avoidance, and early resolution of potential claims. He frequently represents companies involved in concrete construction. He is the author of the book Legal Issues in Concrete Construction published by the American Concrete Institute in 2004. He is the only attorney who is also a Fellow in the American Concrete Institute and is chairman of ACI Committee RCC (Responsibility in Concrete Construction).

ACI WEB SESSIONS

ResponsibilityinConcrete Construction
FormerBoardCommitteeRCC NowKnowAsCommittee132

HistoryandBackground NewdocumentResponsibilityinConcrete Construction

History
Organizedin1987asaBoardCommitteeRCC FirstRCCdocumentpublishedinConcrete Internationalin1995 RevisionsapprovedbytheBoardandpublishedin 2004

History
2003,BostonConvention,ChairKlormanproposesa newRCCdocument 2004,WashingtonDCConvention,thecommittee approvesunanimouslyworkonanewdocument 2008,workstartsinearnestonanewRCCdocument

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History
2010,thenewRCCdraftdocumentissharedwithTAC, commentsreceivedandincorporated. 2010,Pittsburgh,newRCCdocumentballotedtofull committeeandallnegativesresolved. 2011,TampaConvention,RCCdocumentisforwarded totheBoardforapprovalandpublication

History
AfterMUCH discussionitwasdeterminedbythe BoardandsupportedbythecommitteethattheRCC committeeshouldbecomeatraditionalACI committeeandberenamedCommittee132. Thecommitteeistheninformeditmustresubmitthe documentandstart theTACreviewprocess.

History
Aswespeakthecommittee132document ResponsibilityinConcreteConstructionisinfinal approvalstagesandreadytosubmittoTAC.

Objectives
1)DefineResponsibilitiesofthepartiestothe concretedesignandconstructionprocess. 2)Avoidassignmentsofresponsibilitythatareunfair orunrealistic. 3)Avoidtheassignmentofresponsibilitiesbythird partiesorcourtdecisions.

Introduction

Thisdocumentisintendedasa guidefordefiningresponsibilities ofthevariouspartiesinvolvedin thedesignandconstructionof concretestructuresintheUnited StatesofAmerica.

Whilethedocumentisprimarilydirectedto projectsintheUnitedStates,theguidance presentedmaybeapplicabletocontractual relationshipsaddressingconcrete constructioninotherpartsoftheworld.

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Theresponsibilities ofeachpartyinaconcrete constructionprojectshouldbeadequatelydescribedin thecontractsbetweentheparties.Thisshouldinclude responsibility fortheOwnersprojectobjectives, includingsustainability.Itisimportantthattheparty controllingthatprocess(usuallytheOwneroran Ownersrepresentative) makescertainthatthe responsibilities ofthepartiesareclear,coordinated,and consistent.Clarityandconsistencyintheresponsibilities definedinthecontractswillreducedisputes.

Thisdocumentisnotintendedtosupersedethe contractsbetweentheparties.Ifthereare inconsistenciesbetweenthepartiescontracts andresponsibilitiesdefinedinthisdocument, thenthecontractsbetweenthepartiesgovern therelationshipsandresponsibilities.

Chapters
Theuserofthisdocumentisencouragedtoalso reviewthiscommitteesreportpublishedin September1995inConcreteInternational.In particulartheCommitteecontinuestoendorsethe conceptthatresponsibilityshouldonlybeassigned whereauthorityisalsograntedandthateachparty shouldtakeresponsibilityforitsownwork.

1.Introduction 2.Definitions 3.DocumentReferencedinContractDocuments 4.ResponsibilitiesoftheOwner 5.ResponsibilitiesoftheLicensedDesignProfessional 6.ResponsibilitiesoftheGeneralContractor 7.ResponsibilitiesoftheDesignBuilder

Chapters

CommitteeMakeup
20Committeemembers RepresentationbyDesigners,Contractors, Subcontractors,SuppliersandOwnersreasonably balanced And.two Attorneys

8.ResponsibilitiesoftheSubcontractor 9.ResponsibilitiesoftheSpecialtySubcontractors 10.ResponsibilitiesoftheConcreteMaterialSupplier 11.ResponsibilitiesoftheTesting/InspectionAgency 12.ResponsibilitiesoftheConstructionManager 13.ResponsibilitiesoftheForensicConsultant 14.ResponsibilitiesoftheMultiplePrimeContractor 15.References

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Questions?
JeffreyWColeman,PE,FACI AttorneyatLaw TheColemanLawFirm,LLC Minneapolis,MN 6128778210 jwc@jwcolaw.com