If a contractor discovers a 6 inch discrepancy on the plans, which party should be contacted to resolve the issue?

If a contractor discovers a 6 inch discrepancy on the plans, which party should be contacted to resolve the issue?

• A. The owner
• B. The city building inspector
• C. The general contractor
• D. The architect or building designer

Answer: (D)

When a discrepancy in the plans is discovered, the design professional who prepared the documents should be consulted to resolve it. The architect or building designer owns the design intent and has the authority to interpret drawings, issue clarifications, and provide any necessary corrections or addenda. They can determine how the discrepancy should be addressed in the field and what changes, if any, are required, often through a change order or field instruction. The owner may authorize changes, but the actual resolution of design conflicts comes from the design professional. The city building inspector enforces codes and workmanship on-site, not design interpretation, and the general contractor executes the project but does not reinterpret or authorize changes to the plans without design professional input.

When a discrepancy in the plans is discovered, the design professional who prepared the documents should be consulted to resolve it. The architect or building designer owns the design intent and has the authority to interpret drawings, issue clarifications, and provide any necessary corrections or addenda. They can determine how the discrepancy should be addressed in the field and what changes, if any, are required, often through a change order or field instruction. The owner may authorize changes, but the actual resolution of design conflicts comes from the design professional. The city building inspector enforces codes and workmanship on-site, not design interpretation, and the general contractor executes the project but does not reinterpret or authorize changes to the plans without design professional input.