You receive shop drawings for structural steel that show connections different from the original design. The drawings are stamped by a Florida licensed engineer. What is your responsibility as the general contractor?
Correct Answer
D) Submit to the architect/engineer of record for review
Even engineer-stamped shop drawings must be submitted to the architect/engineer of record for review and approval. The design professional needs to verify that changes are compatible with the overall structural system and design intent.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The architect/engineer of record (AOR) maintains overall responsibility for the project's design integrity and must review all changes to ensure compatibility with the complete structural system. Even though the shop drawings are stamped by a licensed engineer, they represent modifications to the original design that could affect other building components, load paths, or design assumptions. The AOR needs to verify that these changes don't compromise the overall structural performance, building code compliance, or design intent. This review process protects both the project integrity and establishes proper liability chains.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Accept the drawings since they're engineer-stamped
A general contractor typically lacks the structural engineering expertise to properly evaluate whether connections are structurally sound or compatible with the overall design, and making such determinations exceeds the contractor's scope of professional responsibility.
Option B: Approve the drawings if they appear structurally sound
While the engineer's stamp indicates professional responsibility for the specific connection design, it doesn't guarantee compatibility with the overall building design, other structural elements, or the original design intent that only the architect/engineer of record fully understands.
Option C: Reject the drawings and demand compliance with original design
Automatically rejecting engineer-stamped drawings without proper review could delay the project unnecessarily and may reject potentially superior solutions, as the changes might represent improvements or necessary field adaptations.
Memory Technique
Think 'AOR = Authority Over Revisions' - the Architect/Engineer of Record always reviews design changes, regardless of who stamps them.
Reference Hint
Florida Building Code Chapter 1, Section 107 - Submittal Documents, and AIA Contract Documents regarding shop drawing review procedures
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