RICS in Scotland: Appointing an employer's agent and quality inspector - February 2001

Design and Build Contracts are used widely in the construction industry and whilst guidance and forms of agreement for consultants relating to the more traditional forms of building contract exist, there appears to be no similar document available in Design and Build.

In Design and Build Contracts there requires to be both an Employer’s Agent and a Quality Inspector. These roles may be carried out by a single consultant, two different consultants, in-house by the employer, or by any combination of the three.

The Guide is set out in such a manner to accommodate this. The Guide is split into several Schedules for ease of use.

• current best practice on the selection of consultants
• schedules of services, fees and terms of appointment for Employer’s Agents
• schedules of services, fees and terms of appointment for Quality Inspectors

This is a practical guide based on the likely requirements that Employer, Employer’s Agents and Quality Inspectors need to communicate clearly and concisely with each other throughout the various stages of the development process. It provides standardisation that will hopefully benefit the construction industry in its ongoing quest for greater efficiency as set out in the Egan Report.