Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1.13 The clerk of works
These notes have been abstracted from a publication by the Institute of Clerk of
Works and Construction Inspectorate - version 2 March 2010.
Main responsibility of the clerk of works
Their main responsibility is to make sure that work is carried out to the client's stand-
ards, specification and schedule. In most cases, the specifications are prepared by
architects or engineers employed by the client. The clerk of works makes sure that
the correct materials and workmanship are used and that the client is given quality
work and value for money.
The clerk of works is either on site all the time or at least makes regular visits. They
need to be vigilant in their inspections of a large range of technical aspects of the
work. This involves:
●
becoming familiar with all the relevant drawings and written instructions, check-
ing them and using them as a reference when inspecting the work
●
making visual inspections
●
taking measurements and samples on site to make sure that the work and the
materials meet the specifications and quality standards
●
being familiar with legal requirements and checking that the work complies with
them
●
having a working knowledge of health and safety legislation and highlighting
shortfalls observed to the person(s) concerned.
Clerks of works are not only inspectors, but also superintendents. This means that
they can advise the contractor about certain aspects of the work, particularly if
something has gone wrong. They can also agree to minor changes. However, they
cannot give advice that could be interpreted as an instruction, particularly if this
would lead to additional expense. Any verbal instructions must be confirmed by the
architect.
They keep detailed records of various aspects of the work, which they put together
in regular reports to the architect or planner and to the client. Records include
details of:
●
progress and any delays
●
the number and type of workers employed
●
weather conditions.
