Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A client is only entitled to drawings in electronic format if the architect's terms of engage-
ment give that entitlement. It is becoming common for clients to ask architects to supply
their drawings in electronic format. Architects are understandably reluctant to comply be-
cause of the ease with which an electronic drawing can be manipulated. It has been known
for an architect's drawings to be significantly altered even while retaining the architect's
logo.Questionscanthenariseastowhetherthearchitectisresponsibleforpartsofthedraw-
ing which may be defective. Once a copy of the electronic version has been given by the
architect it can be difficult, in the absence of detailed forensic investigation, to show what
was contained in the original version. An architect may show what purports to be his or her
original drawing, but there is nothing to say that it was not changed after the architect was
informed of the defective element.
If the architect is engaged to carry out a full service, there should be no problem. The
client should not require electronic format, because the drawings will only serve as record
drawingsoftheworkthathasbeendone.Theproblemcomesifthearchitectisonlyengaged
to perform services up to tender stage. The client will then often ask for electronic copies to
useduringconstruction.Unlessthearchitect hasalreadyagreedtoprovidethem,therequest
should be refused. It is better for the client to be supplied with a large number of paper cop-
ies than with the electronic versions, which could be amended, the architect's logo removed
and the drawings used to seek planning permission and build on another site.
