VA hires the best A/E firms in the country and yet we exp erience repeated
errors and omissions on every project. These are not new or unusual items,
but they consistently get past A/E and VA quality assurance reviews and result
in construction change orders. Please review your project documents and
make sure you do not make these mistakes.
Structural, Contract Document Phase :
o Do not repeat spec items in General Notes on the drawings.
o Coordinate slab depressions with other trades; slab depressions should preferably be shown
(located and sized) on structural drawings.
o Coordinate size and location of mechanical shafts with mechanical drawings.
o Carefully locate control joints and construction joints in the ground floor slab in the area of
floor depressions and housekeeping pads.
o Check floor slab deflection on both sides of expansion joint where floor framing spans
perpendicular to each other.
o Coordinate miscellaneous structural supports, e.g. emergency generator stacks, trash and
linen chutes, facias and soffits, roof hatches, uni-strut systems, skylights, mechanical
equipment, ducts, and pipes etc. with respective trades.
o Verify existing conditions including floor elevations on additions and alterations' projects
(Remark: In a few instances new steel framing did not fit due to existing conditions surveyed
inaccurately).
o Special attention should be paid to typical details which are repeated several times to arrive
at the best and most economical solution; examples of such details: Spandrel beams
supporting brick masonry or precast concrete facia, Interstitial hanger support device etc.
VA hires the best A/E firms in the country and yet we experience repeated
AEQA 10-95
Department of Veterans Affairs
Facilities Management Office
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