A contractor receives shop drawings for structural steel that show connections different from those indicated in the contract documents. The shop drawings are stamped by a licensed engineer. What should the contractor do?
Correct Answer
B) Submit the shop drawings to the architect/engineer for review and approval
Shop drawings must be submitted to the design team for review and approval regardless of engineering stamps. The design team needs to verify compatibility with the overall design intent and coordinate with other building systems.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Shop drawings must always be submitted to the architect/engineer for review and approval, even when stamped by a licensed engineer. The design team needs to verify that any changes are compatible with the overall structural design, building systems, and project specifications. The engineer's stamp on shop drawings indicates the fabricator's engineer has reviewed the connections, but it doesn't replace the need for design team approval. This process ensures coordination with other trades and maintains the design intent of the original contract documents.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Proceed with fabrication since the shop drawings are engineer-stamped
Simply proceeding with fabrication because drawings are engineer-stamped bypasses the required review process and could lead to conflicts with other building systems or design intent, potentially resulting in costly rework or safety issues.
Option C: Request the steel fabricator to revise the drawings to match contract documents
Requesting revisions without first submitting for review assumes the changes are unacceptable, when they may actually be improvements or necessary modifications that the design team would approve.
Option D: Fabricate according to the original contract documents
Fabricating according to original contract documents ignores potentially necessary or beneficial changes shown in the shop drawings, and fails to follow proper submittal procedures required in construction administration.
Memory Technique
Think 'STAMP doesn't SKIP' - even if shop drawings have an engineer's stamp, you can't skip the submittal process to the design team.
Reference Hint
AIA A201 General Conditions, Section 3.12 - Shop Drawings, Product Data and Samples
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