In the context of conflicts detected between standards, what should a consultant do?

• A. Reference The Standards To Identify Conflicts Without Enforcing Them.
• B. Enforce All Standards On The Project.
• C. Ignore The Standards.
• D. Create New Standards For The Project.

Answer: (A)

When conflicts between standards arise, the correct approach is to identify and document the specific standards involved and where they conflict, so everyone can see the source of the inconsistency. The consultant uses those references to surface the issue, but does not enforce the standards on the project; enforcement decisions come from the contract, the owner, and the design team. After flagging the conflicts, the next step is to communicate them and present options to resolve them—such as clarifying which standard governs, selecting the more protective or project-appropriate requirement, or requesting an interpretation or modification through RFI, addenda, or substitutions. Keeping a conflicts log and clearly marking in drawings and specifications which requirement applies helps everyone track the resolution. The final decision should follow the project requirements and the authority having jurisdiction, not the consultant imposing multiple standards. Enforcing all standards would create contradictions; ignoring standards would be negligent; creating new standards is beyond the consultant’s authority.