Construction Industry (Housing)

Common Defects in Mass Housing have been a continuous issue that made up purchaser's impression of the value of those involved in the construction industries. The problem could be because it is a BUSINESS after all.

I have not seen a clear explanation or clarification by specific professional toward public understanding of what we are all about. Let stir a bit.

Defect

There is a misconception with the use of the word ‘defect’ by layman, site staff, purchasers, or even some architect when describing undesirable quality of architectural products. Incomplete works are not defects, they are incomplete. Improper installations of materials are not defects, they are simply wrongly done. Works that were not constructed according to Architectural drawings and specifications of the Contract are not defects, they are non-compliance.

The word ‘defect’ alone carries a few categories. There is design defect, where the design causes problem to the function, or end users. There is structural defect, which does not meet or comply with the structural specification. 

There is latent defect, which only appears after certain period of time after a particular work is completed. There is patent defect, which may be identified or observed immediately after it was constructed or installed.

Architecture Business

In current environment, a good Architect will understand that in some way, even though they are trained in Architectural Theories, and awarded with Architecture Certificate, in real world, they are not in Architecture business. They are actually in Construction business. 

One point that is necessary to be understood in Construction business is that everybody is not expert in everything, but everything has to be built expertly to become a building. In carrying out his duty, An Architect is not only required to produce good design, but also he has to administer the construction contract to ensure that the Contractor delivers the design in the most acceptable quality, construction manner, and standard.

Standard

What is an acceptable Standard ? PAM Form of Contract describes that the STANDARD in the provision of the Contract is  ’… to the acceptance of the Architect…’ Now, cynically, the clause may be interpreted as; if the Architect accepted it, then the quality is met. 

Having said that, we may have to ask; is there an interpretation of quality in Construction business involving Architecture ?. Do all Contractors share the same understanding on an acceptable Standard of all Architects who administer their contract so as not to ignorantly produce or deliver work of an unnecessarily, unacceptable quality. 

In Architecture business, the description in the PAM Form of Contract may be enough, but in Construction business, the Contractor may be counting on their non-understanding of ‘acceptable standard’ of an Architect as an excuse to most of identifiable defects works, incomplete works, improper works, and non-compliance to the contract. 

By the time the Architect’s instruction reach the site to reject a work, the rectification may require removal of a few other related or completed works.

So, let us give the Contractors an example of the description of a minimum acceptable standard which they should have met, alone, without other parties’ supervision, or cross checking , and hope that we have a good quality product.

(will be posted next)