Page 40 - Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook

DESIGN-CONSTRUCTION PROCESS 1.21

time-and-material basis with the accompanying Daily Work Report form, or billed on a
lump-sum or unit-price basis.
Credits or Backcharges are requests for reduction in the costs owed a subcontractor or ven-
dor for work or material eliminated, reduced by design, or to be performed or supplied by
others. This includes the recovery of costs to repair damage to the work of other trades
caused by a subcontractor. Credit or backcharge requests can be billed on a time and mate-
rial basis with accompanying Backcharge Order forms, or on a lump-sum or unit-price basis.
Approved Change Orders are prepared as the legal, written adjustment to the subcon-
tract or purchase order once a claim or credit is agreed to with a subcontractor or vendor.
This form must be signed by the contractor or vendor and countersigned by the owner
or general contractor or construction manager.
Anticipated Cost Report provides a financial overview of the project. It compares the
original budget against the actual costs of contracts and purchase orders, claims, cred-
its, change orders, and future anticipated costs not yet incurred or not yet received.

Logs
Numerous logs are required to properly track and manage a construction project. Logs are
used to track the processing of documents and building department processes, or to report
on the status of material test report results, and material status. An Internet-based con-
struction management program allows individuals in a construction firm to review the daily
job reports produced by the field personnel anytime during the day to ascertain the status
of project. This improves the communication and job management as it concerns the owner’s
knowledge on the management team’s performance handling of the project. Using an
Internet-based construction management program increases the efficiency by automating
repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Although the logs required for each project may vary,
the following are examples of typical logs used:

Consultant’s Shop Drawing Log (Table 1.5) is used by engineers and architects to track
submissions from contractors, subcontractors, and vendors. The use of this log includes
a review action notice for submissions which includes the status of submission, such as,
“No exceptions taken,” “Make corrections as noted,” “Amend and resubmit,” and
“Rejected and reviewed only for loads imposed on the structure.”
Daily Work Report (Table 1.6*) is used to record daily weather conditions, subcontrac-
tor workforce, activities and material deliveries to the site. It also records visitors to the
project and unusual incidents pertaining to the work. This log requires that the superin-
tendent logs in any meetings with subcontractors or visitors and the extent of any con-
versations pertaining to work already performed and any future work that is required.
Construction Permit Log (Table 1.7) is used to track the expiration dates of required
building department and highway department permits. In addition to this Permit Log by
tracking building permits and expiration dates, this log will also track any building vio-
lations that may occur. In tracking these building violations and adhering to city rules
and regulations on attending hearings, the project will certainly benefit from adopting
the guidelines from code enforcement agencies. In tracking these violations the
Internet-based construction management program is capable of warning the construc-
tion firm of impending hearing dates so appropriate action can be taken. Many locali-
ties have Web sites where information on various projects can be tracked. This includes
a permit status report and a violation status report. By tracking permits through the con-
struction management program and local community reporting system construction
projects will avoid any work stoppages and delays due to permitting issues.