Specialist subcontractor
‘Specialist contractor’ is a very broad term that describes a contractor appointed to carry out activities in the development of a built asset that involve specialist construction knowledge and skills. This is as opposed to a ‘general contractor’ who will typically have a range of general construction knowledge and skills.
Typically, general contractors are tier 1, main contractors, working directly for the employer and are in overall charge of construction works. Specialist contractors are generally tier 2 subcontractors working for the main contractor to carry out a specialist part of the construction works. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as ‘specialist subcontractors’.
However, the construction supply chain is increasingly complex and varied, and so a specialist contractor might be employed directly by an employer (for example to remove asbestos from a building). Similarly, a general contractor might be employed by a main contractor to carry out general construction works on their behalf and so might be referred to as a ‘subcontractor’.
To further complicate the supply chain, specialist subcontractors may have their own suppliers of materials, labour and components, and in some cases, these suppliers may be larger, more general contractors, than the specialist contractor.
The even wider term 'specialist' may be used to refer to specialist contractors, specialist suppliers (such as suppliers of specialist materials or plant) or specialist consultants (such as specialist designers).
The definition of what constitutes ‘specialist’ is not clear, however, examples of areas that might involve a specialist subcontractor could include:
- Cladding and glazing.
- Specialist finishes.
- Building services.
- Information and communications technology.
- Lifts and escalators.
- Fire protection.
- Drilling.
- Piling.
- Flooring.
In addition to providing construction services, increasingly, specialist subcontractors undertake aspects of technical design. Earlier engagement with specialist subcontractors is also possible, and it is common during the ‘developed design’ or ‘detailed design’ stage for the project team to consult with specialist subcontractors to begin to address specific aspects of the design.
Early design input can be secured from specialist subcontractors before the supply contract has been agreed by:
- Informal agreement.
- Writing a closed specification that could only be satisfied by the specialist subcontractor.
- A two-stage tender process where the specialist subcontractor's design services are procured in the first stage along with agreed rates, overheads and profit for the products or services to be supplied in the second stage.
It is important that appointment documents make it clear who has responsibility and liability for different aspects of the design at different stages of the project and the level of detail that they will be expected to produce. Where building information modelling (BIM) is being used, handover of an element of the design to a specialist may require a 'change of ownership' procedure for those parts of the model.
A design co-ordinator may be appointed with specific responsibility for co-ordinating and integrating specialist subcontractors' designs.
The National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC) brings together specialist trade organisations representing businesses engaged in planning, design, construction, refurbishment, and maintenance.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Back-to-back provisions in construction contacts.
- Collaborative practices.
- Contractor.
- Domestic sub-contractor.
- Named specialist work.
- Named sub-contractor.
- Nominated sub-contractor.
- Procurement route.
- SPC 2000.
- Specialist contractors.
- Sub-consultant.
- Trade contractor.
- Works contractor.
[edit] External references
- Gray, C and Flanagan, R (1989) The changing role of specialist and trade contractors. Ascot: Chartered Institute of Building.
Featured articles and news
Soil moisture content, construction and landscaping
The effects, of low and high rainfall on soil and buidlings.
Sustainability or sentimentality in the refurbishment sector.
Has the pendulum now swung too far ?
Negative impacts of political instability on projects
Expected by 64% of the respondents in nationwide survey.
BSRIA Market Intelligence Reports
World Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) 2022
Statement of health and early intervention.
The importance of regular check-ups
And related links on DB.
Sustainable urban drainage systems SUDS
Rooflights, skylights, roof windows and Part L
Shedding some light on the new Building Regulations.
Interview with historic built environment surveyor.
Upgraded membership category now requires assessment.
The average kinetic energy of molecules
Temperature in buildings, explained on DB
Women and unequal pay in project management
Main barrier to entering the profession, new study reveals.
IHBC’s response to Parliamentary Committee
On Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill.
Finalists for 2022 CIOB Awards revealed
Over 70 managers and organisations shortlisted for the 14 awards.
Types of building sensors on BD
From biometric to electrical current, chemical and more.
Government mandates detectors in rented homes
Changes are due to come into force on 1st October 2022.
80% of major government projects are rated red or amber
Heed advice and insight of this report IPA tells the government.
The end of the games but continued calls for action
From the Commonwealth Association of Architects.
Sustainable urban drainage systems SUDS