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This seminar advises the actions to be taken, organisation to be set up and

the procedures to be employed for initiating and recording the actions by the
Engineer's Assistant (Resident Engineer). It has been written specifically for
use with the FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction 1st Edition 1999.
Due to its length the seminar has been posted in three sections.
THE ROLE OF THE RESIDENT ENGINEER
General
The Resident Engineer (RE) is responsible for ensuring that during the
construction stage of a project work is carried out:
in accordance with the quality required by the contract
within the stipulated time
at the correct price
The RE is responsible to the Engineer and is responsible to no one else.
The RE has no power to relieve the Contractor of any of his obligations under
the Contract.
The RE is the focus of all contact between the Engineer (and through the
Engineer, the Employer) and the Contractor on site.
The RE represents the Engineer on all matters in respect of the construction
of the Works and has a duty to keep the Engineer fully informed and to keep
meticulous records of all matters which may require or affect the Engineer's
instructions, certificates or other actions under the Contract. The RE shall
draw the Engineer's attention to all matters requiring the Engineer's actions
under the Contract in good time for such actions to be completed.
The RE should bear in mind that in all his dealings he should act fairly
between the interests of the Employer and the Contractor. He should,
nevertheless, exercise his authority towards the Contractor in such a way that
at the outset he impresses upon the Contractor that he will not accept work
inferior to that required by the Contract.
In all his dealings with the Contractor the RE should be pro-active and keep
one step ahead of the Contractor.
Safety on Site
While the Contractor is generally responsible for safety on site, the RE has a
responsibility for his own safety and that of all his staff.
All Site Staff should be trained in site safety before they go on a construction

site (Site Safety Awareness course).


RESIDENT ENGINEER'S FUNCTIONS
Functions of Resident Engineer
The functions of the Resident Engineer(RE) depend on the extent of authority
delegated by the Engineer, but will normally comprise watching and
monitoring not supervising the construction and completion of the Works.
Delegation to the Resident Engineer
The Engineer may, under of the Conditions of Contract, delegate further
powers to the RE. These further powers may be generally in respect of the
Contract or they may be in respect of particular Clauses in the Contract.
Engineer as Quasi-Arbitrator
In all cases where powers or functions are delegated to the RE, the Engineer
must retain his independent position as a quasi-arbitrator should disputes
arise. For this purpose, the Clause does not permit delegation of powers
under the Contract (Determinations).
Hierarchy
It is important that the RE is aware of the hierarchy of appeal by the
Contractor set out in the Conditions of Contract. The RE shall ensure that he
is aware of those matters which require the specific approval of the Employer
and shall not make any decision or give any direction or instruction in
connection with such matters without the requisite approval having been
obtained in writing.
Reports to the Engineer
The RE shall report to the Engineer on all matters which may have a bearing
on any decision instruction or certificate which the Engineer may be required
to execute under the Contract.
Communication with the Contractor
The RE shall only communicate with the Contractor through the Contractor's

approved agent or representative at the Works. Similarly he should only


receive communications from the Contractor through the Contractor's agent or
representative.
Communication with the Employer
There should only be direct communication between the Employer and the RE
to the extent that has been formally agreed in advance with the Engineer. In
many cases, especially where the Employer has offices on or adjacent to the
Site, the Employer will communicate with the RE and it would be undiplomatic
for the RE to refuse such communications. In these circumstances the RE
should be wary of accepting or passing on to the Contractor any instructions
from the Employer (or any of his staff) which may involve additional cost to the
Employer, either by way of varied work or claims, unless such instructions
have been given in writing by the Employer in the clear understanding that
additional cost will result. In any case, the RE should discuss such
instructions with the Engineer before implementing them.
Construction Supervision
The RE shall be responsible for the production of a Construction Supervision
Plan (CSP) for the site supervision in accordance the Requirements and
Guidance under the Quality Environment and Safety Management System of
the Territory within which his Site is based, prior to the commencement of the
Works.
The samples of forms and returns included or referred to in this manual are
representative of the forms and returns generally required by the Engineer for
the administration of a project of average complexity and cost. The RE shall
establish with the Project Manager the scope of forms and returns he should
insert in his CSP and the frequencies of submission to the Engineer should be
established with the Project Manager and prescribed in the CSP.
The RE should confirm the powers to be delegated to him prior to producing
his CSP and should ascertain that the sections of the Contract Management
Manual pertinent to those delegated powers are made available to him such

that his CSP includes his revised functions as a result of the delegated
powers.
The RE should coordinate his CSP with the Project Plan of Work produced by
the Project Manager in order that the Engineer is satisfied that the combined
plans will not result in duplication of work and that they will result in a quality
of administration and supervision appropriate to the project.
Be Prepared
The RE cannot commence the performance of his function unless he is
familiar with the documents forming the Contract.
Before work starts on Site he should ensure that he is in possession of all the
Contract Documents and all Publications, Codes and Standards referred to in
the contract documents. He should study the Drawings, Specification,
Conditions of Contract and Bill of Quantities and understand the nature and
scope of the Contract and familiarise himself with all the documents in order
that he can visualise the manner in which the work will be carried out. At this
stage the RE should refer all errors, omissions and anomalies he notes to the
Engineer, in order that both are one step ahead of the Contractor and
prepared for the Contractor's inevitable queries
From his unique position of witnessing in detail the execution of the work
designed by the Engineer, the RE can be of invaluable assistance to the
Engineer not only in providing an expert and commercially unbiased critique
of the Engineer's design and providing practical and factual information which
will guide the Engineer in his future projects, but also, by the use of accurate
and detailed records, will provide the Engineer with the specific information
required to enable the Engineer to arrive at reasonable and impartial
decisions under the Contract.
Contractor's Returns
Prior to the commencement of work on Site the RE should agree with the
Contractor the form and manner and times of submission of all returns
required to be submitted by the Contractor.
Daily returns of Contractor's and Subcontractor's labour, showing numbers
and categories of labour and details of work on which employed.
Monthly returns of Contractor's Equipment (and where employed) showing

periods of breakdown and maintenance.


Records of materials received at Site and materials used in the Permanent
and Temporary Works.
Accident reports to personnel and to the Works.
RE is Responsible for Actions of Engineer's Assistants
The Engineer should appoint any additional Assistants to the Resident
Engineer and state their duties, although, in delegating certain duties to the
Resident Engineer, there seems no reason why powers under the Contract
itself should not also be delegated, allowing the Resident Engineer to appoint
further Engineer's assistants.
The Resident Engineer is responsible to the Engineer for the performance of
his duties. He shall so arrange the duties of his assistants that their powers
will not exceed those laid down in the Conditions of Contract and such that
the RE can manage and control their actions under the Contract.
Any instruction issued within the prescribed duties and given to the Contractor
by an assistant of the RE would be deemed to have been given by the
Engineer.
The RE should make it clear to assistants seconded from the Employer that
they are subject to the limitations on their powers, and that they are not a
direct communication route between Employer and Contractor.

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