Dashpivot article – What is a clerk of works
What is a Clerk of Works?
What is a Clerk of Works?
A Clerk of Works (also known as a site inspector or construction inspector in some regions) is a professional responsible for ensuring that work carried out on a construction project adheres to the specifications and plans agreed upon by the client and contractor.
The Clerk of Works represents the interests of the client in terms of quality control and assurance throughout the construction process.
What does a Clerk of Works do?
A Clerk of Works plays a pivotal role in overseeing construction projects and ensuring that they are executed in line with the client's specifications and established industry standards. Here's a more condensed breakdown of their core duties and responsibilities:
- Regular Inspections: Conduct frequent site inspections to verify that work aligns with the project's design specifications and quality requirements.
- Quality Assurance: Ensure that the materials and workmanship meet the predefined quality standards. They might take samples, run tests, or employ other verification methods.
- Documentation: Maintain detailed records of the construction's progress, including any deviations from the original plans or issues that arise during construction.
- Reporting: Regularly report to the client or the client's representative, updating them on the project's status, potential concerns, and any deviations from the agreed-upon specifications.
- Communication: Serve as a bridge between the client and the construction team to ensure clear understanding and communication regarding the project's requirements and expectations.
- Problem Resolution: Identify, document, and facilitate the resolution of any issues or discrepancies between the actual work and the project specifications.
- Safety Oversight: Ensure that the construction site adheres to all safety regulations and that all activities are carried out in a manner that prioritizes safety.
- Compliance: Ensure that work is compliant with local building codes, environmental standards, and any other relevant regulations.
- Feedback: Provide feedback and recommendations regarding any aspect of the construction process, materials, or the work of subcontractors.
- Final Inspection: Before project handover, ensure that all work has been executed as per the agreement and that any defects or issues have been addressed.
Overall, a Clerk of Works is primarily concerned with the quality of work, ensuring that a construction project aligns with the specifications, plans, and industry standards, and that it meets the client's expectations. They act as the client's eyes and ears on the construction site, providing an essential layer of oversight and quality control.
What is a Clerk of Works report?
A Clerk of Works report is a document or series of documents produced by the Clerk of Works that details the observations, findings, and recommendations made during their inspections of a construction project. The report is usually prepared for the client or the client's representative to keep them informed about the progress, quality, and any issues related to the construction.
A typical Clerk of Works report should include the following sections:
- Introduction: Brief description of the project, location, date of inspection, and any other pertinent details.
- Scope of Work Inspected: Detailed overview of the specific areas, phases, or aspects of the construction that were inspected during the reporting period.
- Observations: Detailed notes on what was observed, including the quality of the work, adherence to specifications, workmanship, materials used, and any deviations from the planned work.
- Issues Identified: Any problems, discrepancies, or deviations from the contract specifications and plans. This section should also indicate any non-compliance with regulations or standards.
- Recommendations or Actions Taken: Suggestions for rectifying identified issues or details about actions that have already been taken to address them.
- Photographs or Visual Evidence: Pictures can provide a visual record of specific issues, progress, or areas of concern. These are especially useful to back up observations or to give the client a clearer understanding of the situation on-site.
- Safety Observations: Notes on any safety concerns or violations observed during the inspection. This might include unsafe work practices, hazards, or failures to follow safety protocols.
- Progress Update: An overview of the project's progress in relation to the planned timeline. This section might also include any potential delays and their causes.
- Other Remarks: Any other pertinent observations or notes that might be relevant to the client, such as interactions with contractors, environmental considerations, or other site-specific concerns.
- Conclusion/Summary: A wrap-up of the report's main points, reiterating any significant concerns or issues that need to be addressed.
The frequency of these reports can vary based on the client's needs, the complexity of the project, and the phase of construction. Some projects might require daily reports, while others might be weekly or bi-weekly.
The primary purpose of the Clerk of Works report is to keep the client informed, ensure transparency, and maintain a written record of the construction project's progress and quality. It's a tool that helps in decision-making, accountability, and ensuring that the project meets the agreed-upon standards and specifications.
See an example of what a clerk of works report should look like below.
Use and customise this digital clerk of works report template
Use a digital Clerk of Works report
Ensure you're capturing all of the information your client needs by using this standardised clerk of works report template.
The digital clerk of works report comes pre-built with all of the fields and sections you need to capture project progress, description, weather, photographic evidence, signatures and more.
Share completed clerk of works reports as professionally formatted PDF or CSV with your company logo and brand colours.
Capture signatures quickly and easily using digital eSignatures via manual sign on mobile or tablet, or fully contactless signatures by QR scanning a digital ID.
Build processes around Clerk of Works reporting
A digital Clerk of Works report app specifically tailored for this function can significantly enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of reporting processes.
Take photos and videos of project progress and attach them directly to your clerk of works report with automatic timestamps, geotagging, photo markup and smart tags.
Access your digital clerk of works report on mobile or tablet on site so you can capture all the information when it's right in front of you.
Automated workflows make it easy to request, record and sign off on clerk of works reports, with automatic notifications for each stage.
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