This document does not contain the full text of all provisions that may bear upon a particular issue. Rather, it contains specific portions of each of three forms of construction contract general conditions assembled for purposes of comparison and discussion.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20006-5292
ConsensusDOCS™
2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, VA 22201
The National Society of Professional Engineers (Acting on Behalf of EJCDC)
1420 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2794
1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
AIA—A201 (2007)
ARTICLE 10 PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
10.3 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
10.3.1 The Contractor is responsible for compliance with any requirements included in the Contract Documents regarding hazardous materials. If the Contractor encounters a hazardous material or substance not addressed in the Contract Documents and if reasonable precautions will be inadequate to prevent foreseeable bodily injury or death to persons resulting from a material or substance, including but not limited to asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), encountered on the site by the Contractor, the Contractor shall, upon recognizing the condition, immediately stop Work in the affected area and report the condition to the Owner and Architect in writing.
10.3.2 Upon receipt of the Contractor’s written notice, the Owner shall obtain the services of a licensed laboratory to verify the presence or absence of the material or substance reported by the Contractor and, in the event such material or substance is found to be present, to cause it to be rendered harmless. Unless otherwise required by the Contract Documents, the Owner shall furnish in writing to the Contractor and Architect the names and qualifications of persons or entities who are to perform tests verifying the presence or absence of such material or substance or who are to perform the task of removal or safe containment of such material or substance. The Contractor and the Architect will promptly reply to the Owner in writing stating whether or not either has reasonable objection to the persons or entities proposed by the Owner. If either the Contractor or Architect has an objection to a person or entity proposed by the Owner, the Owner shall propose another to whom the Contractor and the Architect have no reasonable objection. When the material or substance has been rendered harmless, Work in the affected area shall resume upon written agreement of the Owner and Contractor. By Change Order, the Contract Time shall be extended appropriately and the Contract Sum shall be increased in the amount of the Contractor’s reasonable additional costs of shut-down, delay and start-up.
10.3.3 To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Owner shall indemnify and hold harmless the Contractor, Subcontractors, Architect, Architect’s consultants and agents and employees of any of them from and against claims, damages, losses and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, arising out of or resulting from performance of the Work in the affected area if in fact the material or substance presents the risk of bodily injury or death as described in Section 10.3.1 and has not been rendered harmless, provided that such claim, damage, loss or expense is attributable to bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, or to injury to or destruction of tangible property (other than the Work itself), except to the extent that such damage, loss or expense is due to the fault or negligence of the party seeking indemnity.
10.3.4 The Owner shall not be responsible under this Section 10.3 for materials or substances the Contractor brings to the site unless such materials or substances are required by the Contract Documents. The Owner shall be responsible for materials or substances required by the Contract Documents, except to the extent of the Contractor’s fault or negligence in the use and handling of such materials or substances.
10.3.5 The Contractor shall indemnify the Owner for the cost and expense the Owner incurs (1) for remediation of a material or substance the Contractor brings to the site and negligently handles, or (2) where the Contractor fails to perform its obligations under Section 10.3.1, except to the extent that the cost and expense are due to the Owner’s fault or negligence.
10.3.6 If, without negligence on the part of the Contractor, the Contractor is held liable by a government agency for the cost of remediation of a hazardous material or substance solely by reason of performing Work as required by the Contract Documents, the Owner shall indemnify the Contractor for all cost and expense thereby incurred.
CONSENSUSDOCS 200 (2007)
3.13 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
3.13.1 A Hazardous Material is any substance or material identified now or in the future as hazardous under any federal, state or local law or regulation, or any other substance or material that may be considered hazardous or otherwise subject to statutory or regulatory requirement governing handling, disposal or cleanup. The Contractor shall not be obligated to commence or continue work until any Hazardous Material discovered at the Worksite has been removed, rendered or determined to be harmless by the Owner as certified by an independent testing laboratory and approved by the appropriate governmental agency.
3.13.2 If after commencement of the Work Hazardous Material is discovered at the Worksite, the Contractor shall be entitled to immediately stop Work in the affected area. The Contractor shall report the condition to the Owner , the Architect/Engineer, and, if required, the government agency with jurisdiction.
3.13.3 The Contractor shall not be required to perform any Work relating to or in the area of Hazardous Material without written mutual agreement.
3.13.4. The Owner shall be responsible for retaining an independent testing laboratory to determine the nature of the material encountered and whether the material requires corrective measures or remedial action. Such measures shall be the sole responsibility of the Owner, and shall be performed in a manner minimizing any adverse effects upon the Work. The Contractor shall resume Work in the area affected by any Hazardous Material only upon written agreement between the Parties after the Hazardous Material has been removed or rendered harmless and only after approval, if necessary, of the governmental agency with jurisdiction.
3.15.5 If the Contractor incurs additional costs or is delayed due to the presence or remediation of Hazardous Material, the Contractor shall be entitled to an equitable adjustment in the Contract Price or the Contract Time.
3.13.6 To the extent not caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the Contractor, its Subcontractors and Sub-subcontractors, and the agents, officers, directors and employees of each of them, the Owner shall indemnify and hold harmless the Contractor, its Subcontractors and Sub-subcontractors, and the agents, officers, directors and employees of each of them, from and against all claims, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any dispute resolution process, to the extent permitted pursuant to Paragraph 6.6, arising out of or relating to the performance of the Work in any area affected by Hazardous Material.
3.13.7 MATERIALS BROUGHT TO THE WORKSITE
3.13.7.1 Material Safety Data (MSD) sheets required by law and pertaining to materials or substances used or consumed in the performance of the Work, whether obtained by the Contractor, Subcontractors, the Owner or Others, shall be maintained at the Worksite by the Contractor and made available to the Owner, Subcontractors and Others.
3.13.7.2 The Contractor shall be responsible for the proper delivery, handling, application, storage, removal and disposal of all materials and substances brought to the Worksite by the Contractor in accordance with the Contract Documents and used or consumed in the performance of the Work.
3.13.7.3 To the extent caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the Contractor, its agents, officers, directors and employees, the Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Owner, its agents, officers, directors and employees, from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any dispute resolution procedure, arising out of or relating to the delivery, handling, application, storage, removal and disposal of all materials and substances brought to the Worksite by the Contractor in accordance with the Contract Documents.
3.13.8 The terms of this Paragraph 3.13 shall survive the completion of the Work or any termination of this Agreement.
ENGINEERS JOINT CONTRACT DOCUMENTS COMMITTEE (EJCDC) C-700
1.01 Defined Terms
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22. Hazardous Environmental Condition – The presence at the Site of Asbestos, PCBs, Petroleum, Hazardous Waste, or Radioactive Material in such quantities or circumstances that may present a substantial danger to persons or property exposed thereto.
23. Hazardous Waste – The term Hazardous Waste shall have the meaning provided in Section 1004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. § 6903) as amended from time to time.
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4.06 Hazardous Environmental Condition at Site
A. Reports and Drawings: The Supplementary conditions identify those reports and drawings known to Owner relating to Hazardous Environmental Conditions that have been identified at the Site.
B. Limited Reliance by Contractor on Technical Data Authorized: Contractor may rely upon the accuracy of the “technical data” contained in such reports and drawings, but such reports and drawings are not Contract Documents. Such “technical data” is identified in the Supplementary Conditions. Except for such reliance on such “technical data,” Contractor may not rely upon or make any claim against Owner or Engineer, or any of their officers, directors, members, partners, employees, agents, consultants, or subcontractors with respect to:
1. the completeness of such reports and drawings for Contractor’s purposes, including, but not limited to, any aspects of the means, methods, techniques, sequences and procedures of construction to be employed by Contractor and safety precautions and programs incident thereto; or
2. other data, interpretations, opinions and information contained in such reports or shown or indicated in such drawings; or
3. any Contractor interpretation of or conclusion drawn from any “technical data” or any such other data, interpretations, opinions or information.
C. Contractor shall not be responsible for any Hazardous Environmental Conditions uncovered or revealed at the Site which was not shown or indicated in Drawings or Specifications or identified in the Contract Documents to be within the scope of the Work. Contractor shall be responsible for a Hazardous Environmental Condition created with any materials brought to the Site by Contractor, Subcontractors, Suppliers, or anyone else for whom Contractor is responsible.
D. If Contractor encounters a Hazardous Environmental Condition or if Contractor or anyone for whom Contractor is responsible creates a Hazardous Environmental Condition, Contractor shall immediately: (i) secure or otherwise isolate such condition; (ii) stop all Work in connection with such condition and in any area affected thereby (except in an emergency as required by Paragraph 6.16.A); and (iii) notify Owner and Engineer (and promptly thereafter confirm such notice in writing). Owner shall promptly consult with Engineer concerning the necessity for Owner to retain a qualified expert to evaluate such condition or take corrective action, it any. Promptly after consulting with Engineer, Owner shall take such actions as are necessary to permit Owner to timely obtain required permits and provide Contractor the written notice required by Paragraph 4.06.E.
E. Contractor shall not be required to resume Work in connection with such condition or in any affected area until after Owner has obtained any required permits related thereto and delivered written notice to Contractor: (i) specifying that such condition and any affected area is or has been rendered safe for the resumption of Work; or (ii) specifying any special conditions under which such Work may be resumed safely. If Owner and Contractor cannot agree as to entitlement to or on the amount of extent, if any, of any adjustment in Contract Price or Contract Times, or both, as a result of such Work stoppage or such special conditions under which Work is agreed to be resumed by Contractor, either party may make a Claims therefor as provide in Paragraph 10.05.
F. If after receipt of such written notice Contractor does not agree to resume such Work based on a reasonable belief it is unsafe, or does not agree to resume such Work under such special conditions, then Owner may order the portion of the Work that is in the area affected by such condition to be deleted from the Work. If Owner and Contractor cannot agree as to entitlement to or on the amount or extent, if any, of any adjustment in Contract Price or Contract Times as a result of deleting such portion of the Work, then either party may make a Claim therefor as provided in Paragraph 10.05. Owner may have such deleted portion of the Work performed by Owner’s own forces or others in accordance with Article 7.
G. To the fullest extent permitted by Laws and Regulations, Owner shall indemnify and hold harmless Contractor, Subcontractors, and Engineer, and the officers, directors, members, partners, employees, agents, consultants, and subcontractors of each and any of them from and against all claims, costs, losses, and damages (including but not limited to all fees and charges of engineers, architects, attorneys, and other professionals and all court or arbitration or other dispute resolution costs) arising out of or relating to a Hazardous Environmental Condition, provided that such Hazardous Environment Condition: (i) was not shown or indicated in the Drawings or Specifications or identified in the Contract Documents to be included within the scope of the Work , and (ii) was not created by Contractor or by anyone for whom Contractor is responsible. Nothing in this Paragraph 4.06.A shall obligate Owner to indemnify any individual or entity from and against the consequences of that individual’s or entity’s own negligence.
H. To the fullest extent permitted by Laws and Regulations, Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless Owner and Engineer, and the officers, directors, members, partners, employees, agents, consultants, and subcontractors of each and any of them from and against all claims, costs, losses, and damages (including but not limited to all fees and charges of engineers, or other dispute resolution costs) arising our of or relating to a Hazardous Environmental Condition created by Contractor or by anyone for whom Contractor is responsible. Nothing in this Paragraph 4.06.H shall obligate Contractor to indemnify any individual or entity from and against the consequences of that individual’s or entity’s own negligence.
I. The provisions of Paragraphs 4.01, 4.03, and 4.04 do not apply to a Hazardous Environmental condition uncovered or revealed at the Site.
COMPILATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PROVISIONS FROM THE GENERAL CONDITIONS DOCUMENTS OF AIA A201-2007 AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECT (AIA) and CONSENSUSDOCS 200 (2007) ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS (AGC) AND THE CONSTRUCTION OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (COAA) and EJCDC C-700 ENGINEERS JOINT CONTRACT DOCUMENTS COMMITTEE
About the Presenter
STEVEN K. METCALF
Partner, McDonald & Metcalf, L.L.P.
Chairman, Construction Law Group
telephone (918) 430-3703 • fax (918) 430-3770
smetcalf@mmmsk.com
Mr. Metcalf holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University and a law degree with honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law. After ten years in construction management and estimating with a nationally recognized general contractor/construction manager, Mr. Metcalf has devoted his 18 years in the practice of law to representing owners, architects, developers, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in virtually every kind of construction dispute. The range of services Mr. Metcalf regularly provides include drafting and negotiating construction contracts, advising clients regarding claim documentation and preparation, advising clients in various aspects of project management, defending and prosecuting lien claims, litigating and arbitrating various construction contract, claim and defect disputes, and otherwise representing clients in a wide range of disputes involving various project types and delivery methods. Mr. Metcalf has significant experience in both simple and complex multi-party construction litigation, assists construction clients in challenging OSHA citations, and enjoys the highest rating (AV) awarded by the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory for legal ability and ethical conduct.
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