Contracts
Contract mechanisms for time and money
Every question on this site eventually returns to the same place: what does the executed contract, as amended, actually say. This section is the map of the mechanisms.
The rule that governs this whole section
Standard forms are routinely amended, by Z clauses under NEC and schedules of amendments under JCT, and by Particular Conditions under FIDIC. Every default described in this section can be different on your project, including every time period. No contract wording is reproduced anywhere on this site.
- Notices and time barsTrigger, recipient, form, content, clock, continuing events, particulars, waiver and consequence.
- Extension-of-time mechanismsHow the main forms move a completion date, and what each requires before they will.
- Liquidated damages, caps and terminationWhat an LD clause is, what it is not, and why termination complicates it.
- Governing law, seat and forumThree different questions that are frequently answered as if they were one.
- JCT: delay, time and loss and expenseRelevant Events and Relevant Matters, and the separation of time from money.
- NEC: early warnings and compensation eventsOne mechanism for time and money, with the least forgiving notification window in common use.
- FIDIC: claims, notice and the engineerThe international form the GCC and much infrastructure work is built on.
Where the record comes in
Every mechanism on this page turns on evidence: what happened, what was known and when. A record built as the job happens is worth more than any argument assembled afterwards. Construction Metric keeps that record automatically, from the messages, photographs and voice notes a site team already sends.
Built by AI Metric
The analysis on this site is only as fast as the evidence behind it. AI Metric builds bespoke systems for consultancies, contractors and claims teams: document and correspondence triage, event registers assembled from the project record, programme and cost reconciliation, and drafting support that always cites the document it came from. Built for review by your own experts, never to replace their judgement.
General explanation of how contract mechanisms, analysis methods and legal principles generally work. It is not legal or contractual advice, not an opinion on any project, and no standard-form contract wording is reproduced anywhere on this site. Standard forms are routinely amended, so every default described here, including every time period, can be different on your project. Your executed contract, as amended, and the governing law and forum always control. Deadlines may already be running: if an event has occurred, preserve your position and take qualified advice.