FEATURE
27
Role and relationship : plumbers and quantity surveyors
Plumbing Africa raised some questions for Chris Steffen , ASAQS Board Member , Professional QS and Director at Talani Quantity Surveyors to get some clarification on the role and responsibilities of the two disciplines .
There is no intention to name or blame in any way but rather seek to appreciate the two disciplines and the fit in the whole team .
What is the relationship between the QS and the plumber , if any ? If none , should there be ? The consultant quantity surveyor ’ s role on a construction project is to control and manage the costs of the entire building project . One of the activities of this role is to ensure that the main contractor gets paid for what they build / install on site . This involves checking the quantity of a particular item or element built in or installed on site , calculating the value of the work on site , and advising the client to pay this amount of moneys to the main contractor . The value of the work on site is determined by using the pricing in the contract document , this pricing may be in the form of a bills of quantities or a price breakdown for a
project which is priced on drawings and specification .
The consultant QS works closely with the main contractor ’ s QS to ensure that the main contractor is correctly compensated for the work built or installed on site . In the case of domestic sub-contractors there should be no relationship between the consultant QS and the domestic sub-contractor , the domestic sub-contractor deals with the main contractor ’ s QS to receive payment for the work they have done on site . There should be no relationship between the consultant QS and domestic sub-contractors . In most cases plumbing sub-contractors are domestic sub-contractors so there should be no relationship between the consultant QS and the domestic plumbing sub-contractor .
Especially if there is disagreement in the value of work done on site the main contractor ’ s QS will ask the consultant QS to meet directly with the sub-contractor ’ s QS , in this case the plumber ’ s QS , to resolve the matter . It is the role of the main contractor ’ s QS to deal with sub-contractors and not the role of the consultant QS . There should not be a direct relationship between the consultant QS and the plumber if they are a domestic sub-contractor . In the case of a plumber being a selected or nominated sub-contractor , then the consultant QS will have a direct relationship with the plumber .
ASAQS
Chris Steffen
I have had plumbers ( this is an exception ) who complain about quantity surveyors specifying non-SABS pipes and fittings and taps and mixers ( both categories are compulsory standards ) and either having an argument with the QS or losing the job to another plumber who does not care !
A point that must be understood here is that the specification of materials and standards that go into the construction of a building are specified by the design consultants , architect and engineers , not the consultant QS . The builder or plumber must build or install what is specified on the drawings or in the architect ’ s and engineers ’ project specifications and not what is reflected in the bills of quantities . The QS is not a design consultant . The bills of quantities are a pricing document , and architect ’ s and engineers ’ specifications and design often change from tender to construction stage .
To provide some background to the consultant quantity surveyor ’ s role : To obtain prices from builders for the construction of a building and to be able to compare them equally , consultant quantity surveyors mostly use bills of quantities to obtain pricing , which facilitates an ‘ apples for apples ’ comparison between tender submissions .
November 2021 Volume 27 I Number 9 www . plumbingafrica . co . za