Innovation, Risk and Liability

摘要

The first half of the 20th century saw a profound growth in the technology of buildings: electricity, lifts, plumbing and air conditioning, computers, welding and a host of other inventions, new materials and systems, were created, only to be radically improved in the ensuing 61 years. These new technologies have driven engineers ever higher in their quest for innovations in design and in construction. Where the proposed innovation could impact the quality or the reliability of the construction, because innovation is an essential part of progress, it is important that we innovate freely, but with thoughtfulness and with care. Of course, it is the avoidance of design failures, along with the associated litigation, that should dominate both our thoughts and our innovative designs. Avoidance of design failure can be achieved through a many-faceted approach, based largely on properly conceived and checked drawings and specifications.