A clerk of works or clerk of the works (CoW) is employed by an
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
or a client on a
construction site
Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Press 2009 and com ...
. The role is primarily to represent the interests of the client in regard to ensuring that the quality of both materials and workmanship are in accordance with the design information such as
specification
A specification often refers to a set of documented requirements to be satisfied by a material, design, product, or service. A specification is often a type of technical standard.
There are different types of technical or engineering specificati ...
and
engineering drawing
An engineering drawing is a type of technical drawing that is used to convey information about an object. A common use is to specify the geometry necessary for the construction of a component and is called a detail drawing. Usually, a number of ...
s, in addition to recognized quality standards. The role is defined in
standard forms of contract such as those published by the
Joint Contracts Tribunal The Joint Contracts Tribunal, also known as the JCT, produces standard forms of contract for construction, guidance notes and other standard documentation for use in the construction industry in the United Kingdom. From its establishment in 1931, J ...
. Clerks of works are also the most highly qualified
non-commissioned tradesmen in the
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...
. The qualification can be held in three specialisms: electrical, mechanical and construction.
Historically, the clerk of works was employed by the architect on behalf of a client, or by local authorities to oversee public works. The clerks of works can also be employed by the client (state body/local authority/private client) to monitor design and build projects where the traditional role of the architect is within the design and build project team.
''Maître d'oeuvre'' (master of work) is a term used in many
Francophone
French became an international language in the Middle Ages, when the power of the Kingdom of France made it the second international language, alongside Latin. This status continued to grow into the 18th century, by which time French was the l ...
jurisdictions for the office that carries out this job in major projects; the
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel (french: Tunnel sous la Manche), also known as the Chunnel, is a railway tunnel that connects Folkestone (Kent, England, UK) with Coquelles ( Hauts-de-France, France) beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. ...
project had such an office. In
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, the term used is ''direttore dei lavori'' (manager of the works).
Origins of the title
The job title is believed to derive from the 13th century when monks and priests (i.e. "clerics" or "clerks") were accepted as being more literate than the builders of the age and took on the responsibility of supervising the works associated with the erection of churches and other religious property. As craftsmen and masons became more educated they in turn took on the role, but the title did not change. By the 19th century the role had expanded to cover the majority of building works, and the clerk of works was drawn from experienced tradesmen who had wide knowledge and understanding of the building process.
The role
The role, to this day, is based on the impartiality of the clerk of works in ensuring that value for money for the client - rather than the contractor - is achieved through rigorous and detailed inspection of materials and workmanship throughout the building process. In many cases, the traditional title has been discarded to comply with modern trends, such as site inspector, architectural inspector and quality inspector, but the requirement for the role remains unchanged since the origins of the title.
The clerk of works is a very isolated profession on site. He/she is the person that must ensure quality of both materials and workmanship and, to this end, must be absolutely impartial and independent in decisions and judgments. He/she cannot normally, by virtue of the quality role, be employed by the contractor - only the client, normally by the architect on behalf of the client. His/her role is not to judge, but simply to report all occurrences that are relevant to the role.
Clerks of works are either on site all the time or make regular visits. They must be vigilant in their inspections of a large range of technical aspects of the work. This involves:
* making sure that work is carried out to the client's standards, specification, correct materials, workmanship and schedule
* becoming familiar with all the relevant drawings and written instructions, checking them and using them as a reference when inspecting work
* making visual inspections
* taking measurements and samples on site to make sure that the work and the materials meet the specifications and quality standards
* being familiar with legal requirements and checking that the work complies with them.
* having a working knowledge of health and safety legislation and bringing any shortfalls observed to the attention of the resident engineer.
* advising the contractor about certain aspects of the work, particularly when something has gone wrong, but this advice should not be interpreted as an instruction
Notable clerks of works
*
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer (; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for ''The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He wa ...
(1343–1400) was an English author, poet, philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier, diplomat and Clerk of the King's Works.
* John Louth was appointed first clerk of works of the
Board of Ordnance
The Board of Ordnance was a British government body. Established in the Tudor period, it had its headquarters in the Tower of London. Its primary responsibilities were 'to act as custodian of the lands, depots and forts required for the defence ...
by
Henry V Henry V may refer to:
People
* Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026)
* Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125)
* Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161)
* Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227)
* Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...
in 1414 along with Nicholas Merbury, Master of Ordnance. The
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
,
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...
and
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) was a corps of the British Army. At its renaming as a Royal Corps in 1918 it was both a supply and repair corps. In the supply area it had responsibility for weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equip ...
can all trace their origins to this date.
*
William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham (; 1320 or 1324 – 27 September 1404) was Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. He founded New College, Oxford, and New College School in 1379, and founded Winchester College in 1382. He was also the clerk of ...
,
Lord Chancellor
The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. The ...
and
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester in the Church of England. The bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. The Bishop of Winchester has always held ''ex officio'' (except dur ...
(1323–1404) was Clerk of the King's Works.
* William Dickinson, Clerk of the King's Works from 1660 to his death in 1702 and Controller Clerk at Windsor Castle. His son,
William Dickinson, was architect and Deputy Surveyor of
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...
under
Sir Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren PRS FRS (; – ) was one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history, as well as an anatomist, astronomer, geometer, and mathematician-physicist. He was accorded responsibility for rebuilding 52 churches ...
.
* James Needham, was appointed Clerk of the King's Works on 30 April 1530, and during that and the two following years devised and superintended the building alterations at Esher, York Place, and
Westminster Palace
The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parli ...
. In September 1532, he was engaged in the ‘re-edifying’ of St. Thomas's Tower within the
Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...
, and was occupied on that and other works in the Tower during the next three years. In April 1533, he was appointed by grant Clerk and Overseer of the King's Works in England.
The Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate of Great Britain Incorporated
The ICWCI - motto: ''Potestate, Probitate et Vigilantia'' (Ability, Integrity and Vigilance) - is the professional body that supports quality construction through systematic inspection. As a membership organisation, it provides a support network of meeting centres, technical advice, publications and events to help keep members up to date with the ever-changing construction industry.
Post-nominals for members are FICWCI (Fellow), MICWCI (Member) and LICWCI (Licentiate).
History
The Institute was founded in 1882 as the Clerk of Works Association, becoming the Incorporated Clerk of Works Association of Great Britain in 1903. In 1947, its name was amended again to the Institute of Clerks of Works of Great Britain Incorporated, a title it retained until 2009 when it was expanded to the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate of Great Britain Incorporated.
The organisation was founded to allow those who were required to operate in isolation on site, a central organisation to look after the interests of their chosen profession, be it through association with other professional bodies, educational means or simply through social intercourse among their own peers and contemporaries. Essential to this, as the Institute developed, was the development of a central body that could lobby Parliament in relation to their profession, and the quality issues that it stands for.
Though the means of construction, training of individuals, and the way individuals are employed have changed dramatically over the years, the principles the Institute originally formed for remain sacrosanct. Experience in the many facets of the building trade is essential and, in general terms, most practitioners have ''come from the tools'', though further third level education in the built environment is essential.
'Building on Quality' Awards
The Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate hold the biannual Building on Quality Awards, and nominations are accepted from all involved in quality site inspection regardless of whether they are members of the Institute. Judging is based on the Clerk of Works' ability, his/her contribution to the projects he/she is involved with, his/her record keeping and reports, and his/her commitment to the role of Clerk of Works.
Awards given in each category are Overall Winner, Highly Commended and Commended. The Overall Winner is chosen from all categories and is widely considered the highest accolade that can be awarded to a clerk of works in recognition of his work. Newly introduced in 2013 was the Peter Wilson Memorial trophy, which has now had two deserving recipients. The trophy was donated by the Cumbria and North Lancashire Chapter to the ICWCI in memoriam of Vice President Peter Wilson FICWCI.
2019 Award Winners
* Overall Winner - David Pugh MICWCI (Audley St George's Place Retirement Village, Edgbaston)
* Peter Wilson Memorial Award - Jon Tucker (Russell Hotel, London)
* Rex S. Reynolds Memorial Award - David Bristow FICWCI (Littleport Academy, Ely)
2017 Award Winners
*Overall Winner - Joel Trimby MICWCI (Ulster Hospital redevelopment project, Northern Ireland)
*Peter Wilson Memorial Award - William Tarling FICWCI (The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art, Newmarket, England)
2015 Award Winners
*Overall Winner - Trevor King MICWCI (Boldrewood Campus, University of Southampton)
*Peter Wilson Memorial Award - Roy Burke MICWCI (Stratford Halo, London)
2013 Award Winners
*Overall Winner - Frank Miller MICWCI (Twin Sails Bridge, Poole, Dorset)
*Peter Wilson Memorial Award - Anthony Smith FICWCI (Taff Bargoed Park and Lakes, Merthyr Tydfil)
2011 Award Winners:
* Overall Winner - Brian Duncan MICWCI (
Hanover Lodge
Hanover Lodge is a Grade II* listed house at 150 Park Road, London NW1, overlooking Regent's Park. It was designed by the architect John Nash, and built for General Sir Robert Arbuthnot. Since then, it has been home to several notable people ...
Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London)
* New Build / Refurbishment - Tony Hood (Mossley Hill, Newtownabbey)
* New Build - Mark Heggs MICWCI (University of Leicester)
2009 Award Winners:
* Overall Winner - Les Howard MICWCI (New Eircom Headquarters, Dublin)
* New Build – Peter McGuone FICWCI (Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry)
* Refurbishment – Peter Airey MICWCI (Eden Court Theatre, Inverness)
* New Build / Refurbishment – Allan Sherwood MICWCI (The Spa, Bridlington)
* Civil Engineering – Mike Readman FICWCI (A590 High and Low Newton Bypass, Cumbria)
* Special Judges Award – Carol Heidschuster MICWCI (Lincoln Cathedral)
ICWCI meeting centres
Cumbria and North Lancashire, Deeside, Devon and Cornwall, Dublin, East Anglia, East Midlands, East of Scotland, Gibraltar, Home Counties North, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, London (North and South), Merseyside, North Cheshire, North East, Northern, Northern Ireland, Nottingham, Scotland, South Wales, Southern, Staffordshire and District & Western Counties
Clerks of works in Canada
The earliest record of a clerk of works in Canada was John Mactaggart who was the clerk of works for the Rideau Canal project in 1826. John MacTaggart was a British civil engineer and the chief clerk of works in charge of the project, reporting to Lieutenant-Colonel John By. John Morris was a notable clerk of works in the mid-1800s, completing several notable projects such as University College, University of Toronto, (1856–59), Parliament Building, the Departmental Buildings, and Government House.
During the renovations to Pembroke City Hall, W. J. Moore was clerk of the works for the addition in 1912 and J. L. Morris for the alterations in 1914.
See also
*
Quality control
Quality control (QC) is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. ISO 9000 defines quality control as "a part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements".
This approach places ...
*
Quality management system
A quality management system (QMS) is a collection of business processes focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction. It is aligned with an organization's purpose and strategic direction (ISO 9001:2015). I ...
*
Quality assurance
Quality assurance (QA) is the term used in both manufacturing and service industries to describe the systematic efforts taken to ensure that the product(s) delivered to customer(s) meet with the contractual and other agreed upon performance, design ...
References
External links
Clerk of Works position gives peace of mind on ProjectsThe Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction InspectorateClerk of Works.caBiography - MORRIS, JOHN
{{Construction overview, state=collapsed
Construction trades workers
Civil engineering
Quality control
Product certification
Architecture occupations