Legalese Architects must be prepared to justify decisions made in administering a contract

摘要

I was recently struck by the depressing thought that much legislation fails to address the problems it aims to cure, and often has the reverse effect. Adjudication, courtesy of the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, may be a case in point as far as architects are concerned. The process was intended to provide a quick (usually within 28 days), cost-effective solution to disputes that arise during building contracts which might otherwise cause them to shut down with losses mounting every day, making the problem more difficult to solve. The worry for consultants was that, because the process is so quick and the referring party can choose when it starts, it might be used as an ambush.