First conversation:
“will the railings be for stairs inclined at 30° or 45°?”
“Who cares? No one will notice.”
We noticed.
Railings at an angle, no camera tricks.
The second conversation
Young Client Engineer “Go fabricate the railings correctly!”
Wise Contractor “Well, we need a variance order, which will take 2 weeks, which will delay your schedule, which will need the plant GM’s approval, which will flag up your mess up to top management, ruining your perfect KPIs… Aren’t your performance appraisals happening next week? No one will notice. The stairs are still safe, aren’t they”
Client Engineer “Umm, Ok then, carry on.”
Wata - Malaysian Oil and Gas Engineer 
Sharp eagle eyed and well said WATA…
2nd conversation happens all the time…
Clients and contractors…
Well, nobody notices or cares when you do it right. This is because the ‘old’ client engineers are just like the ‘young’ client engineer…only older.
The smarter ones know that client ‘engineers’ don’t really know anything and either stop being client engineers or just continue drawing the paycheck.
Client 1 comment:
..we want to save money on this project, so let’s cut out PDMS from this design job
Client 2 comment:
..ok, so we’ll spend less money now but we’ll spend more money later fixing the screw ups and delaying the project
Client 1 comment:
..ok, so what are the risks to the project?
Hmmm, I wonder will we milk more money out of this client?
haihhh…seriously, we do not need codes and standards for these cases (there is actually)…it is common sense
if it were me “what if i construct the railings at your house exactly like this..how do you feel? bloody stupid is it??”
they are my client. i shall try to milk them instead.
but i did not build the stairs, don’t look at me.
Lol… good one.
You’ve also seen the railings in front of MEM right? the one that side-stepped following the stairs…
zzeed: I would take photos, only I suspect I’d be slammed down on the tarmac, and be prosecuted for taking exploratory photographs.
i am meeting them on tuesday. this facility shall stay in the dark annals of jabba (note that annals are spelt with 2 “n” for you cheeky buggers out there).
they are big enough to swallow me alive. fear the reprisal.