CONTENTS - Central Public Works Department

192 SECTION 31
SECTION 31
PAYMENT FOR SUB-STANDARD WORK
31.1 Avoidance of sub-standard work
(1) The contractors are required to execute all works according to the specifications laid down, and in
a proper workmanlike manner. The motto of the Department shall remain quality, speed and economy
in cost in the execution of any work. There shall be no compromise on the quality of work. The field
staff, namely, the Junior Engineer/Assistant Engineer/Executive Engineer, shall remain vigilant to
see that the contractor does not execute any defective/poor quality work. If, despite their vigilance
and issue of directions, certain items of work are done below specifications, and/or if they have
not been done in a proper workmanlike manner, the contractor should be immediately asked to
rectify or re-do them according to the specifications, and according to sound engineering practice.
All such defects/deficiencies in the items of works are to be noted in time and recorded in the Site
Order Book. It will be the duty of the field staff to point out such defects in the work in time during
the progress of the work.
(2) These defects should also be brought to the notice of the Executive Engineer immediately on their
occurrence by the Junior Engineer/Assistant Engineer, so that he may take timely action to issue
notices to the contractor either to rectify the defects or even to get the work dismantled and redone
if necessary as per clauses 3 and 16 of the agreement. The Executive Engineer shall also
on his own inspect the work as frequently as possible and take timely action to issue such notices
to the contractor.
(3) Every attempt should be made to issue such notices regarding the defective/deficient items
immediately on their occurrence during the progress of the work. Timely action alone can prevent
occurrence of defects/deficiencies that will be difficult or impossible to rectify later on. Where such
defects/deficiencies crop up during the maintenance period, notices for re-doing/rectifying the
same should be issued within the prescribed maintenance period.
(4) If the contractor does not rectify the defect or make good the deficiency, the work should be got
re-done or rectified through another agency, or departmentally by employing skilled labourers, at
the contractor’s cost in terms of clause 16 of the Conditions of Contract in Forms no. CPWD 7 and
8, clause 5 of Form no. CPWD 10, and similar conditions in other forms.
31.2 Acceptance of sub-standard work
(1) In general, sub-standard works should not be allowed to occur, as they reflect poorly on the
professional competence of the field staff and adversely affect the image of the Department.
(2) Acceptance of work below specifications and/or below acceptable levels of workmanship, and the
resulting payment at reduced rates for such defective/deficient works should be resorted to only
for those items where materials conforming to the required specifications are not available, or
where it is structurally impossible to get the work re-done or where in opinion of Superintending
Engineer incharge it is expedient to do so.
(3) Acceptance of sub-standard work at reduced rates should be done only under exceptional
circumstances Superintending Engineer is the competent authority to accept sub-standard work.
(4) The total value of quantities of items at agreement rate for which the Superintending Engineer
accepts sub-standard work in a contract shall not exceed 5% of the contract value. In case total
value of such items exceeds 5% prior approval of Chief Engineer would be necessary. Before a
sub-standard work is accepted by the Department, the Engineer-in-charge, after getting prior
approval of competent authority, should write a letter to the contractor, for and on behalf of the
President of India, regarding acceptance of the same and the provisional rates pending the decision