Why are details slow to come out?

The basic contractual procedure in works of this nature is fairly simplistic, party A has a requirement, party B produces a design and party C carries out the work.

Party A in this instance, the local authority, presumably requested a method of energy conservation for the tower block. Party B, consisting of an architect and consultant(s) would have produced a specification and drawings to detail the technical and aesthetic aspects of the proposed works – all would need to comply with building regulations. Having tendered for the works party C, the main contractor, would have arranged to purchase and install the work, all as the design produced by party B.

So far so good, but for the elephant in the room – cost – all parties, particularly A and C, would have been looking to carry out the work at the minimum cost.

So, the obvious questions – was a combustible material specified at design stage? If so how did it pass building regs? Are the building regs adequate? If a non-combustible material was specified but a cheaper combustible material installed, which party made that decision, A or C?

All of this information is readily available – a copy of the specification will confirm what was specified and the manufacturer of the specified material would be able to confirm its fire capability.

Party C, even if they subcontracted the work, with some little effort could find out if the material purchased was as specified or not.

So, in this day and age of electronic communication how long would it take to find out this basic information? Couple of days at most? So why isn’t even this basic information forthcoming? Is the elephant in the room actually the root of all evil?

B Woodhall

Wolverhampton