Which doctrine states that plans and specs furnished are accurate and suitable for their intended purpose?

Which doctrine states that plans and specs furnished are accurate and suitable for their intended purpose?

• A. CMAR Contract
• B. Spearin Doctrine
• C. Step 1
• D. Constructive Changes

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that owner-provided plans and specifications are treated as accurate and suitable for construction, so the risk of design defects stays with the owner rather than the contractor. This principle comes from the Spearin Doctrine, rooted in United States v. Spearin (1916). It means if the project can’t be built or faces problems because the drawings or specs are flawed, the contractor isn’t to blame for those issues and the owner (or designer) would need to fix or redesign at their own expense. In design-build contexts, this concept still guides risk allocation: the party responsible for the design supplies accurate information, and the builder executes per that design. Other options relate to different concepts (delivery method risk-sharing, a non-applicable term, or a change mechanism) and don’t embody the idea that the provided plans are presumed accurate.

The main idea is that owner-provided plans and specifications are treated as accurate and suitable for construction, so the risk of design defects stays with the owner rather than the contractor. This principle comes from the Spearin Doctrine, rooted in United States v. Spearin (1916). It means if the project can’t be built or faces problems because the drawings or specs are flawed, the contractor isn’t to blame for those issues and the owner (or designer) would need to fix or redesign at their own expense. In design-build contexts, this concept still guides risk allocation: the party responsible for the design supplies accurate information, and the builder executes per that design. Other options relate to different concepts (delivery method risk-sharing, a non-applicable term, or a change mechanism) and don’t embody the idea that the provided plans are presumed accurate.