Should the architect and owner rely on the adequacy, accuracy, and completeness of services, certifications, and approvals performed or provided by such design professionals?

• A. Yes, always.
• B. Only if they have specified all performance and design criteria that such services must satisfy.
• C. Never.
• D. Only if the contractor approves.

Answer: (B)

Reliance on the adequacy of design professionals’ services depends on having explicit performance and design criteria defined in the contract. When all criteria that those services must satisfy are clearly specified, the owner and architect have a clear standard to rely on: the professionals’ work, certifications, and approvals are expected to meet those defined requirements. This reduces ambiguity and assigns responsibility for communicating expectations, making it reasonable to rely on the professionals to meet the stated criteria.

If criteria aren’t specified, there’s no objective baseline to judge whether the professionals’ work is adequate, accurately completed, or complete, which increases risk and potential disputes. Relying on professionals only when the contractor approves is off the mark because contractor approvals do not establish the standards for design professional services. Likewise, relying always would bypass the needed criteria, and never would be appropriate since defined criteria can justify reliance when they exist.