The Hardcover Risk Library

Straight answers to the questions design and technical firms actually ask, and claim scenarios that show how things go wrong.

Claim scenariosHypothetical examples, not actual claims

1–3 of 42

3D Laser Scanning & LiDARThe spools that did not fitA scanning firm captures an existing mechanical room so a contractor can prefabricate new piping. A registration error of about two inches in one…Read the scenario →
BIM Modeling & CoordinationThe duct and the beamA BIM firm hired by a mechanical contractor runs clash detection on a hospital floor. A beam soffit change arrives after the last model update and a…Read the scenario →
Geotechnical EngineersThe settlement claim six years laterA geotechnical firm prepared the report for a small residential subdivision. Six years later, several homes show cracking, and the homeowners…Read the scenario →
Environmental ConsultantsThe missed wetlandA consultant prepares the environmental permit application for a warehouse site. A small wetland area is not delineated, the agency flags it, and the…Read the scenario →
Mining & Heavy Machinery EngineersThe boom repairAn engineering firm designs a repair to a cracked dragline boom so the machine can return to service quickly. Eight months later, a crack reappears…Read the scenario →
Interior DesignersThe sofa that did not fit the elevatorA residential designer specifies and purchases a custom sectional for a high-rise apartment on the client’s behalf. It arrives, does not fit the…Read the scenario →
Document Control & Construction AdministrationThe missed revisionA hypothetical: a document control firm keeps the field set current for a general contractor on a hospital addition. A structural revision is logged…Read the scenario →
Construction Document Management & CoordinationThe drawing that never went upA hypothetical: a document control team manages the current set for a contractor on a data center. A revised equipment sheet arrives but is not…Read the scenario →
AI Plan Review & Code ComplianceThe egress widthAn architecture firm runs a multifamily set through an AI compliance tool. The report clears corridor widths, but the jurisdiction adopted an…Read the scenario →
Reality Capture & Progress MonitoringThe overpaid drawA lender uses a progress platform to confirm 60 percent completion before releasing a construction draw. The model comparison counts framing that was…Read the scenario →
Construction Contract & Risk AnalyticsThe missed notice deadlineA subcontractor relies on a contract summary showing 21 days to give notice of a delay claim. The actual clause was 7 days, buried in a supplementary…Read the scenario →
Scheduling & Forecasting SoftwareThe occupancy dateAn owner relies on a forecasting platform that shows an 80 percent chance of completion by June and signs tenant leases accordingly. The project…Read the scenario →
Design QA/QC & Peer ReviewThe reviewed retaining wallAn owner hires a peer review firm to check a civil package. The review comments focus on drainage and miss a surcharge condition on a retaining wall.…Read the scenario →
Urban & Land Use PlannersThe density that was not thereA planning firm prepares a yield study showing 48 units on a parcel under the current code. The developer closes on the land. During review, staff…Read the scenario →
Transportation & Mobility PlannersThe corridor that did not performA planning firm prepares a corridor study recommending a road diet, using counts from a single week in a holiday month. The city builds it.…Read the scenario →
Transit PlannersThe service hours that did not add upA transit planning firm prepares a network redesign the board adopts. Six months after launch, the agency finds the plan undercounted the service…Read the scenario →
TDM, Parking & Curbside ConsultantsThe garage that came up shortA consultant prepares a shared parking study supporting a 20 percent parking reduction for a mixed use project. Once the building is leased,…Read the scenario →
Public Engagement & Outreach ConsultantsThe neighborhood that was not heardAn engagement firm runs outreach for a corridor project. A community group later argues the meetings were held only in English, at times residents…Read the scenario →
Site Planning & Entitlement ConsultantsThe lots that disappearedA site planner prepares a concept plan showing 120 single family lots. A buyer closes on the land based on that count. The civil engineer then finds…Read the scenario →
Comprehensive & Policy PlannersThe plan the state sent backA firm prepares a housing element for a small city. The state finds the sites inventory relied on parcels that did not qualify, and sends the plan…Read the scenario →
Accessibility & ADA ConsultantsThe parking lot that was not surveyedAn accessibility consultant prepares a Title III survey for a retail center and a barrier removal plan the owner follows. The survey covers the…Read the scenario →
Technology, AV & Security ConsultantsThe cameras that did not see the doorA technology consultant designs access control and video surveillance for a medical office building. A rear service door is shown with a card reader…Read the scenario →
Historic Preservation ConsultantsThe windows that cost the creditA preservation consultant prepares the Part 2 application for a warehouse conversion. The approved scope repairs the original steel windows. During…Read the scenario →
Elevator & Vertical Transportation ConsultantsThe audit before the fallA vertical transportation consultant performs an annual maintenance audit for an office building and reports the escalators in fair condition, noting…Read the scenario →
Healthcare & Medical Equipment PlannersThe scanner that needed a bigger roomA medical equipment planner prepares room data sheets for a new imaging suite using the manufacturer’s planning guide for one CT model. The hospital…Read the scenario →
Foodservice & Kitchen ConsultantsThe hood that did not match the lineA foodservice consultant designs the kitchen for a new hotel restaurant. Late in design the owner adds a charbroiler, and the consultant updates the…Read the scenario →
Subsurface Utility Engineering & LocatingThe duct bank that was two feet overA SUE firm delivers quality level B designating for a road widening, with two test holes at level A. A contractor bores a new storm line and hits a…Read the scenario →
Construction Loan Monitors & Draw InspectorsThe draws that ran aheadA loan monitor certifies monthly draws on a $22 million apartment project. The borrower runs out of money at what the reports called 78 percent…Read the scenario →
Cultural Resources & NEPA ConsultantsThe site under the parking lotA firm completes a Phase I archaeological survey for a solar project and finds no significant sites. Grading uncovers a buried habitation site in an…Read the scenario →
Telecom & Tower EngineersThe mount that was not what the drawings showedA tower engineering firm completes a mount analysis using a mapping report and approves new antennas. The mapping missed a corroded connection.…Read the scenario →
Power, Utility & Transmission EngineersThe study that missed an upgradeAn engineering firm prepares an interconnection study for a 120 MW solar project and reports network upgrades of about $4 million. After the…Read the scenario →
Bridge & Rail EngineersThe rating that did not match the steelA firm inspects and load rates a county truss bridge and reports it can carry legal loads. The rating used plan dimensions rather than measured…Read the scenario →
Arborists & Urban Forestry ConsultantsThe oak that was rated lowA consulting arborist completes a basic tree risk assessment for a homeowners association and rates a large oak as low risk. Eight months later a…Read the scenario →
Owner’s RepresentativesThe budget the owner relied onA hypothetical: an owner’s rep prepares a project budget for a developer and recommends moving forward. Bids come back well over the number, the…Read the scenario →
Utility Coordination ConsultantsThe relocation that held up the buildingA hypothetical: a utility consultant advises a developer on relocating overhead lines across a vacant lot and prepares the design the utility…Read the scenario →
Fire InvestigatorsThe dryer nobody else got to seeA property insurer pays $1.2M on a house fire and hires an investigator to support subrogation. The investigator places the origin at the laundry…Read the scenario →
Fire Protection EngineersThe flow test from four summers agoA fire protection engineer designs the sprinkler system for a 180,000 square foot distribution building using a flow test the utility provided four…Read the scenario →
Professional LiabilityThe retaining wall detailAn engineering firm details a site retaining wall. Two years after completion the wall tilts, and the owner claims $180,000 to rebuild it plus legal…Read the scenario →
Contractors Professional LiabilityThe curtain wall anchorsA design-build contractor delegates the curtain wall anchor design to a specialty engineer. Two years after completion, water intrusion is traced to…Read the scenario →
Cyber LiabilityThe invoice that never arrivedA 20-person architecture firm’s project manager receives an email that looks like it came from a client, asking for updated wire instructions. The…Read the scenario →
General Liability & Property (BOP)The bag on the job siteAn engineer sets a laptop bag down during a site walk. A visitor trips over it and breaks a wrist, then sues the owner, the contractor and the…Read the scenario →
Workers’ CompensationThe freelance architectA small firm pays a freelance architect $50,000 over the year as a 1099 contractor. At audit, the carrier asks for the freelancer’s workers’…Read the scenario →

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