Page 111 - Civil Engineering Project Management, Fourth Edition

9
The resident engineer’s duties

9.1 The engineer’s representative on site – the
resident engineer

The ICE conditions permit the engineer to appoint an ‘Engineer’s Representative’
on site, commonly termed the resident engineer to ‘watch and supervise the con-
struction and completion of the Works’ (Clause 2(3)). The engineer can delegate
to the resident engineer ‘any of the duties and authorities vested in the Engineer’
(Clause 2(4)) with certain exceptions, which are dealt with in Section 9.2.
The resident engineer therefore has to act at all times under the direction
of the engineer, exercising only the powers delegated to him, impartially as the
engineer is required to act. He must be aware that his actions commit the
engineer, and therefore in all cases of doubt as to a proposed action, he should
first report to the engineer. He may make suggestions to the engineer, point out
difficulties and advise on their overcoming; and because he is full time on site
he should be able to forewarn the engineer of problems lying ahead. In taking
decisions he must be aware of his own technical limitations and always refer
matters to the engineer which should be put in the hands of specialists or those
more qualified to take a decision than himself.
The ICE conditions require the name of the person appointed as resident
engineer (i.e. Engineer’s Representative) to be notified to the contractor
(Clause 2(3)).
The powers which the resident engineer can exercise on behalf of the engineer
must be stated in writing to the resident engineer and copied to the contractor
(Clause 2(4)).

9.2 Powers not delegated to the resident engineer

There are certain powers which the ICE conditions do not permit the engineer
to delegate to his resident engineer. These are:
• payment or extension of time for adverse physical conditions or artificial
obstructions (i.e. Clause 12 claims);