SCALE OF CHARGES FOR CONSULTING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
The Scale of Charges and Methods of Payment set out herein are those usually in operation amongst Consulting Struc- tural Engineers, who are not connected with any firm of con- tractors and who receive remuneration for their services solely and directly from their Clients,
The Charges given under the Sections numbered I, II, III, IV, and V are to be considered separate from and indepen- dent of one another.
The interests of both Engineer and Client will always be best served when the terms of remuneration are agreed before any work is undertaken.
I. Reports, Advisory Work and Surveys
Not infrequently a comprehensive lump sum to cover all the services required is agreed beforehand.
Failing such lump sum agreement, the following fees calculated on a time basis will be charged:
For inspections, professional advice, opinions and reports: A basic tee dependent upon the standing and ex- perience of the Consulting Engineer of from 3 guineas per hour upwards, with a minimum fee of 6 guineas, plus travelling and hotel expenses.
In addition the time necessarily spent in travelling will be charged at one half of the above hourly rates.
Should circumstance be such as to require surveys and or investigations calling for the services of the Engineer's staff, such services will be charged for in addition, plus travelling and out-of-pocket expenses.
Payments become due on the delivery of the report.
II. Technical Evidence
(a) For "qualifying," considering documents, preparing proof of evidence, attending consultations, appearing before Parliamentary Committees. Courts of Law, Arbitration Tribunals, and Official Enquiries: The usual fee is from 13 3s. per hour varying in accordance with the standing of the Engineer and the importance of the case-six hours being equivalent to a day's attendance.
(b) To the above remuneration (a), a charge for the time spent by the Engineer's Assistants can be added, the rate being dependent on the standing and experience of the Assistants concerned.
In addition to (a) and (b) time occupied in travelling is charged for at the above hourly rate, as well as hotel and travelling expenses and other necessary disbursements.
Payments become due on completion of the service or from time to time as may be mutually arranged.
III.
Constructional Work
(a) This Section covers charges for:-
Drawing up the Engineer's Scheme with Specifications and Contract Drawings (of which the Client is entitled to two copies).
Advising on tenders.
Instructing the Contractors, General supervision during construction.
Issuing such payment certificates as the contract may require.
(b) The Scale of Charges under this Section is as follows (subject, however, to the qualifications and conditions (c) to (i) set out below):-£25 plus,
(i) For Reinforced Concrete, 7 per cent on the total
cost of the work.
(ii) For Structural Steelwork, 6 per cent on the total
cost of such work.
(iii) For other work, 6 per cent on the total cost of such
work.
(c) The above Scale of Charges to be conditional on the following:
Authority to give orders on his Clients behalf on the occurrence of constructional emergencies. Authority to order such variations, additions and omissions as the Engineer may consider desirable in the interests of his Client within the sum or sums allowed for in the contract, or within any increased sum which the Client may have authorized in writing.
Instructions, either specific or implied, from the Client or his properly authorized agent for variations or additions, to be considered sufficient authority for any consequential additional expenditure.
(d) Under the above Scale of Charges the assumption is that the work is of normal character, free from exceptional difficulties, and that the sum on which the percentages are to be calculated includes the cost of such operations as are necessary to enable the work to be carried out, including (but without limiting the scope of this proviso) excavations, founda- tions, asphalting, timbering, shoring, etc.
It therefore does not apply in circumstances involving demands on the Engineer's time and attention out of propor- tion to the estimated or actual cost of the work; including
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alterations and additions to existing works. In such cases the remuneration payable should be either on a higher percentage rate or on a basis similar to that provided for in Section II.
(e) The Engineer is entitled to remuneration on all work carried out to his Specification and or Drawings over and above that contemplated when fixing the original fees."
(f) Remuneration for works varied or abandoned in whole or in part at the request or instructions of the Client or his agent, after such work has been designed to be charged at two thirds of the scale fee, and the full fee on any work executed.
(g) The Engineer is entitled to charge the Client with all reasonable out-of-pocket, travelling and hotel expenses incurred by him or his authorized Assistants, including Inspec- tors (if required) on behalf of his Client.
(h) In the event of the abandonment or postponement of any of the work on which the Engineer has been engaged but for which his Specification and or Drawings have not been completed, so that the payment under the above Scale of Charges would not be appropriate, the remuneration of the Engineer shall be based on the services rendered and the expenses to which he is, or has been committed, such remuneration being due on the notification of the said aban- donment or postponement.
(D) The Scale of Charges does not cover the following services:
Services specified in Sections I and II above.
Providing additional copies of contract drawings over and above those referred to in Section III (a) above.
Reproduction by lithography or otherwise of any docu-
nient.
Travelling and hotel expenses.
Salaries and expenses of such Resident Engineers, Clerks of Works, and Inspectors as the Engineer may deem necessary for proper inspection of the work,
Cost of testing materials.
Taking out and supplying of Bills of Quantities.
Final measurements of the contract works.
Preparation of bar lists, bending sheets and or shop details.
Preparation of statements of additions and deductions.
Services consequent on the failure of a Contractor to complete his contract.
Consideration of or adjudication on Contractors' claims for
extras.
Attendance at Arbitration or legal proceedings in con- nexion with the contract.
Alterations consequent on, or necessitated by, unforeseen circumstances.
Negotiations with third parties other than contractors.
Consideration of Parliamentary Bills, and Acts affecting or likely to affect the site or works.
Fees of specialists employed with the consent of the Client.
Payments under this Section become due as follows:
Two thirds of the agreed fee or percentage on completion extent of the Specification and Contract Drawings to an sufficient to enable tenders to be invited.
Further payments on account of the balance to be made on the request of the Engineer during the progress of the work, in the proportion the value of the works executed to date of the request bears to the total cost.
On the completion of the works, or the termination of the agreement, the final balance, if any, due to the Engineer shall be paid to him, being either the balance unpaid of the agreed fee or in the case of the agreed fees such amounts unpaid, if any, as will, with amounts already received, make up:
(i) The agreed percentages on the actual cost of all works executed under the Engineer, whether com- prised in the original specifications and drawings or not.
(ii) Two thirds of the agreed percentages on the cost of of such portions of the work for which specifications and or drawings were prepared by the Engineer but which were not carried out or, if carried out, were not carried out or certified by him. Such value shall be deemed to be the Engineer's estimate for the work, or if any tenders have been obtained during his employment, the amount of the lowest bona fide tender or tenders received for such portion of the work, whichever is the less.
IV. Bills of Quantities, Etc.
For Bills of Quantities the usual charge is from 11 to 21 per cent (depending on the magnitude and complexity of the work) calculated on the total estimated cost for abandoned work or total actual cost if executed.
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