Final Acceptance of Contract Work D-2 April 1987

D-2, April, 1987
Final Acceptance of Contract Work

It is recommended that the following procedures be observed:

As the work nears completion, the Contractor shall review the requirements of the Contract Documents, shall inspect the work, and shall inform all parties involved of work to be corrected or completed deeming the project substantially complete.
Upon receipt of a written statement from the Contractor signifying that work is substantially complete and containing the list of items to be corrected or completed, the Architect will visit the site to verify. If the Architect agrees that the work is substantially complete in accordance with the Contract Documents, he will make a pre-final inspection in the presence of a representative of the Contractor and will prepare a "Certificate of Substantial Completion".
The Architect will confirm the list of required corrections and attach the punch list to the Certificate of Substantial Completion. The Contractor shall divide the list into each trade, with provision on the list for indicating satisfactory completion by checking or punching. When the Contractor has satisfied himself that all items on the list have been satisfactorily corrected or completed, the Contractor shall notify the Architect in writing and make Application for Final Payment.
The Architect will make the final inspection to confirm the Contractor's statement and, based upon the condition of work inspected, the Architect will take appropriate action.
Punch list work should not delay normal issuance of Architect's Certificates, including Certificates for reduction and/or elimination of retained percentage due the Contractor, provided a sum sufficient to complete remaining work is withheld.
6. Since it is the Contractor's judgment as to when to notify the Architect of "Substantial Completion", and to minimize the list of items to be completed, the "Substantial Completion" should be established as the date the Owner can occupy and utilize the work or a designated portion for its intended use.
The Architect/Engineer shares a responsibility to make the Contractor aware, throughout the course of the work, of conditions known to him that would eventually become punch list items if not promptly corrected, thus minimizing corrective work and reducing the number of final punch list items.
It is also the intention of this recommendation that, whenever possible, there should be only one complete punch list developed and that the items on the list should be corrected or completed by the Contractor within a reasonable and stipulated number of days after issuance.
When the Contract Documents are satisfied and the punch list is completed, the Architect will promptly issue a final Certificate for Payment representing his acceptance of the work.

Revised April 1987
Reviewed January 1987

Approved April 1976