Classifying Construction Defects: A Comparative Study of the U.S. and the Republic of Lithuania

A Classification of Defects in Construction Works: Comparative Legal Aspects Sigitas Mitkus Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania Nancy J. White Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan The scholarly literature on defects in construction works uses several different means of classification. Most of them are based on technical factors. However, a number of legal criteria offer an alternative basis for categorizing construction defects. This research identified nine legally significant criteria. In this study, the significance of each suggested classification for construction defects is briefly outlined and the corresponding documentation and statutory and case law are analyzed for the U.S., Lithuania, and some other countries. Further research is needed to analyze each of these classifications further. For easier practical use of the classifications, special datasheets are provided.