ABSTRACT
The best safeguard for any architect is to be able to demonstrate to a court that their inspection duties were carried out in an organised manner, having regard to what the courts have said. The contractor has undertaken to carry out the Works in accordance with the contract, not to carry out the Works to as low a standard as possible unless the architect notices. The architect's knowledge of the skill and experience of the contractor is an important factor; more time must be spent inspecting the work of an inexperienced contractor. An architect who is appointed to inspect at fixed intervals or for a fixed number of inspections can safeguard against liability for failure to inspect something important only by ignoring the fixed intervals or numbers of inspections and simply inspecting when it is appropriate to do so. Supervision, however, not only covers inspection, but also the issuing of detailed directions regarding the execution of the Works.
