May the architect be required to provide exhaustive inspections or take responsibility for work under the contractors' responsibilities?

• A. Yes, the architect must perform exhaustive inspections.
• B. No.
• C. Yes, but only for critical components.
• D. Only with a written mandate.

Answer: (B)

No. The architect administers the contract by observing the work for general conformance to the contract documents and coordinating information, not by performing exhaustive inspections or taking responsibility for the contractor’s means, methods, or workmanship. Site visits are intended to identify major discrepancies and ensure overall alignment with the plans and specs; the contractor remains responsible for how the work is done and for its quality. If issues arise, the architect can request corrections and issue interpretations, but this does not transfer responsibility for the finished quality to the architect. A separate written mandate is not required for the architect’s typical observational role.