Publisher: Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-503352-4
Length: 463 Pages

Publication Date: 2011

A comprehensive and up-to-date guide to engineering and construction law and contracts, written from the perspective of practicing engineers and construction professionals. This book covers key issues through examples and case studies, minimizing the use of legal terminology, and explaining all essential legal terms in the common vernacular. The broad coverage of the textbook encompasses these and many other topics: labor, environmental, and sustainability law; professional ethics; tort law; agency relationships; real property law; firm ownership; contracts, including terms and conditions; government contracting; change orders; dispute resolution; risk management and construction insurance; and international legal issues, including arbitration.

Unlike other books that focus mainly on contracts, this book also covers the legal issues affecting engineering and construction professionals on a daily basis in their careers. Written in a clear and accessible manner, this book explains legal terms in plain language. The appendix covers sample construction contracts and engineering contracts.

The book is broken down into four sections: 1) laws and how they impact construction and engineering professionals, 2) contracts, their components, and important clauses, 3) claims, change orders, damages, dispute resolution techniques (including the legal implications of new technology such as Building Information Modeling), and 4) international law for construction and engineering professionals.

Table of Contents

Introduction. The United States and Other Legal Systems. The United States Federal and State Court Systems. United States Labor Laws that Affect Engineers and Constructors. Environmental and Sustainability Laws that Affect Engineers and Constructors. Engineering Professional Ethics. Engineering Professional Registration and the Contractor Licensing Process. Agency Relationships. Tort Law. Legal Issues. Real Property. Forms of Ownership of Firms. Forming Engineering and Construction Contracts. Contracts for Engineering and Construction Services. Contract Terms and Conditions. Specifications. Government Contracting. Change Orders and Claims. Contract Dispute Resolution Techniques. Risk Management and Construction Insurance. International Law, Contracts and Arbitration.

The Appendices provide copies of the United States Constitution; a case study on the engineering and health history of Love Canal; codes of ethics for civil, agricultural and biomedical, chemical, mechanical, electronic and electrical, and industrial engineers; samples of standard forms of agreements for contractors and engineers; and standard general conditions for construction contracts.