HB Engineering

22/03/2026

14/03/2026

Variation Orders under Ethiopian Public Procurement Law (Very Important for Engineers) 📑

In public construction projects, a Variation Order (VO) is a formal instruction that changes the original contract scope after the contract has been signed.

Variations are regulated under Ethiopia’s public procurement framework such as Public Procurement and Property Administration Proclamation No. 649/2009 and subsequent directives used by government institutions.

Variation orders are common in construction because design, site conditions, and project needs can change during implementation.

⸻

What is a Variation Order?

A Variation Order is an official written instruction issued by the client or engineer to:
• Increase or decrease quantities
• Change specifications
• Modify design
• Add new work items
• Remove certain works

The contractor must implement the change only after official approval.

📌 Important: Verbal instructions are not legally valid.

⸻

Common Types of Variation Orders in Construction

1️⃣ Quantity Variation

Changes in quantities of BOQ items.

Example:
• Excavation quantity increases due to deeper soil conditions.

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2️⃣ Design Change

Changes made to drawings or specifications.

Example:
• Changing foundation type due to weak soil.

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3️⃣ Additional Work

New work that was not included in the original contract.

Example:
• Adding drainage structures or retaining walls.

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4️⃣ Omission of Work

Certain items in the BOQ are removed.

Example:
• Removing a planned parking area.

⸻

Reasons Variation Orders Occur

1️⃣ Incomplete design during tender stage
2️⃣ Unexpected site conditions
3️⃣ Client scope changes
4️⃣ Errors in BOQ or drawings
5️⃣ Technology or material changes

Good design preparation reduces variation orders.

⸻

Variation Limits (Important for Engineers)

In Ethiopian public procurement practice:

📌 Variation orders generally should not exceed about 25% of the original contract price without special approval.

If variation exceeds the allowed threshold:
• Higher authority approval is required
• In some cases re-tendering may be required

This rule protects government projects from major scope manipulation.

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Procedure for Issuing Variation Orders

Typical steps include:

1️⃣ Site engineer identifies the change
2️⃣ Consultant/engineer prepares variation proposal
3️⃣ Cost evaluation and justification prepared
4️⃣ Client approval obtained
5️⃣ Formal variation order issued
6️⃣ Contract price and schedule adjusted

Proper documentation is essential.

⸻

Risks of Poorly Managed Variation Orders

Poor variation control can cause:
• Project cost overruns
• Contract disputes
• Delays in project completion
• Corruption risks in procurement

Many failed projects suffer from excessive variation orders.

⸻

Best Practice for Engineers

To manage variations effectively:

✔ Prepare complete designs before tender
✔ Conduct detailed site investigation
✔ Review BOQ carefully
✔ Document all changes formally
✔ Analyze cost impacts before approval

📌 Good engineers minimize variations; great engineers manage them professionally.

⸻

💬 Discussion Question for your page:
What is the most common reason for variation orders in construction projects in your experience?

12/03/2026

👉What is the responsibility of Office Engineer on Building Construction

1. The Pre-Construction Pillar (Estimation & Procurement)
Before a single shovel hits the ground, the Office Engineer is deep in the numbers. They translate the abstract architectural vision into a shopping list.
* Quantity Take-offs: Using structural drawings to calculate the exact volume of materials required (V = \sum(Area \times Depth)).
* Procurement Logs: Tracking long-lead items. If a specialized glass facade takes 16 weeks to manufacture, the Office Engineer must ensure the order is placed at least 18 weeks before it's needed on-site.
* Subcontractor Vetting: Reviewing technical bids to ensure the plumbing or electrical contractor actually has the capacity to do the work specified.
2. The Active Construction Pillar (Change Management)
Once construction starts, the Office Engineer becomes the "Gatekeeper of Information."
* Managing RFIs (Request for Information): When the site crew finds a conflict (e.g., a structural beam blocking a ventilation duct), the Office Engineer drafts a formal RFI to the architect asking for a solution.
* Shop Drawing Review: They check the detailed drawings provided by fabricators (like steel trusses) against the original architectural plans to ensure they match perfectly before fabrication begins.
* Progress Documentation: They compile "Daily Logs" into "Monthly Progress Reports" for the client, often including photos and percentage-complete metrics.
3. The Financial Pillar (Cost Control & Closeout)
This is where the Office Engineer protects the company's profit margin.
* Valuations & IPCs: They prepare the Interim Payment Certificate. This involves proving to the client that "40% of the 2nd-floor slab is poured," therefore "X amount of dollars" should be released.
* Variation Orders (VOs): If the client decides to change a wall color or move a door, the Office Engineer calculates the extra cost and time, ensuring the contractor is paid for the additional work.
* As-Built Drawings: At the end of the project, they update the original blueprints to reflect exactly how the building was constructed (including any field changes), creating a final record for the owner.
Key Deliverables
An Office Engineer’s success is measured by the quality of their Documentation Trail:
* Transmittals: Records of every document sent or received.
* Material Submittals: Approved samples of every tile, paint, and pipe used.
* Payment Applications: The formal request for money based on verified work.
> The Reality: While a Site Engineer deals with the "physical" gravity of the building, the Office Engineer deals with the "legal" gravity. If a document isn't signed or a change isn't tracked, the project loses money—regardless of how well the building stands.

12/03/2026

👉Bar Bending Schedule

🚧Just like any other schedules, bar bending schedule is most important part of any project.

⏺It helps in doing reconciliation of steel and controlling the wastage at site.

⭐️If bar bending schedule (BBS) is not prepared at site, then contractor and its workmen tend to cut and and bend bars without quantifying it and leads to more wastage due to over doing it.

🏷Engineer who going to use this sheet for doing BBS should aware of following;

- Should be able to read the structural and architectural drawings.

-Should know where the lapping of bar is to be done.

- Should know how to calculate number of bar as per spacing in any given member.

- Basic knowledge of using excel sheet.

10/03/2026

👉Slump Test

💫The slump test is a standard method used to determine the workability and consistency of fresh concrete by measuring the vertical settlement after removing the slump cone.

🏷Types of Slump:

1️⃣ Zero Slump:

⏺A slump condition where the concrete shows no measurable settlement after the cone is lifted.

📜Meaning:

📍Very stiff mix
📍Very low workability
📍Requires mechanical vibration

2️⃣ True Slump:

⏺A slump condition where the concrete settles uniformly downward while maintaining its general shape.

📜Meaning:

📍Good cohesion
📍Proper workability
📍Most acceptable result in structural concrete

3️⃣ Shear Slump:

⏺A slump condition where one side of the concrete mass slips or shears off.

📜Meaning:

📍Poor cohesion
📍Possible segregation
📍Test should be repeated

4️⃣ Collapse Slump:

⏺A slump condition where the concrete completely collapses and spreads out after lifting the cone.

📜Meaning:

📍Very high workability
📍Excess water
📍Not suitable for normal structural concrete unless specially designed

🎲For Site Summary:

1. Zero slump → Too stiff
2. True slump → Correct
3. Shear Slump → Unstable
4. Collapse slump → Too wet

🔰On site, we always aim for a true slump unless the design specifies otherwise.

09/03/2026

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05/03/2026

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Building the future

27/02/2026

How To Measure Slump Test Result

★Required Tools

1.Slump cone (300 mm height)
2.Tamping rod (16 mm dia, 600 mm long)
3.Base plate
4.Scale / measuring tape

★Step-by-Step Procedure

Place the slump cone on a clean, flat, non-absorbent base.

Fill the cone in 3 equal layers.

Compact each layer with 25 strokes using the tamping rod.

Level the top surface by striking off excess concrete.

Lift the cone vertically upward slowly (in 5–10 seconds).

Concrete will subside (slump) after removing the cone.

★ Measuring the Slump

Measure the vertical difference between:
the original height of the cone (300 mm)
and the highest point of the slumped concrete

👉 This difference is called the Slump Value.

Slump(mm) = 300 - Height of Slumped concrete

★ Types of Slump

True Slump ✅ → uniform subsidence (valid result)

Shear Slump ⚠️ → concrete slides sideways (repeat test)

Collapse Slump ❌ → too wet mix (invalid)

★Standard References

ASTM C143

Bureau of Indian Standards IS 1199

★Typical Slump Values

25–50 mm → mass concrete
50–100 mm → RCC beams & slabs
100–150 mm → pumped concrete

Related Hashtag:

24/02/2026

A recently reported Russian law prohibiting public insults toward Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Qur’an has attracted significant international attention. The measure is framed within Russia’s broader legal architecture addressing extremism, public order, and the protection of religious harmony in a multi-faith society. Officials and commentators suggest the legislation aims to prevent actions that could incite hostility or disrupt social stability, particularly given the country’s sizable Muslim population.
Legal analysts note that such provisions sit at the intersection of competing principles: safeguarding religious communities from hate or provocation while preserving freedom of expression. Supporters argue that stronger protections can reduce the risk of sectarian tension and violent backlash, whereas critics caution that broadly defined restrictions may raise concerns about overreach, selective enforcement, or constraints on legitimate public discourse.
The development also reflects a wider global conversation about how states balance pluralism, civil liberties, and social cohesion in increasingly diverse societies. Similar debates have emerged in multiple jurisdictions, underscoring the complexity of crafting laws that both protect religious dignity and uphold open expression. As international observers assess the implications, the measure highlights the ongoing challenge of reconciling respect for faith traditions with democratic norms and human rights frameworks.