Every site visit produces a document. That document is the field report, sometimes called a Site Observation Report or Construction Observation Report. It is the primary written record of what the architect observed on site, what was discussed, what directives were issued, and what conditions existed at the time of the visit.

This is not optional administrative busywork. The field report is a legal document. If a dispute arises about what the architect observed, when they observed it, what conditions existed, who was on site, or what was said -- the field report is the evidence. A well-documented field report protects the architect. A missing or vague field report creates liability exposure.

The CE exam tests field report documentation primarily through questions about what must be included in a field report, the appropriate language to use when documenting observations, the significance of weather and site conditions, the role of photographs, and distribution requirements. The exam will present scenarios where incorrect or incomplete field report practices create risk, and ask you to identify the problem or the correct approach.

This topic covers what goes into a field report (the content), how to document observations accurately without creating unintended liability, the role of weather and site conditions documentation, workforce tracking, progress photography best practices, and who receives the report after it is prepared.