Claims, Variations & Dispute Avoidance
Overview
Variations and claims are a normal part of construction and engineering contracts, but when they are poorly managed they lead to delays, cost overruns and long, expensive disputes. Missed notices, weak records and unclear instructions often decide the outcome more than the merits of the case, and both clients and contractors pay the price in time, money and damaged relationships.
This course explains how to manage variations, prepare and assess claims for time and money, and avoid disputes, with reference to standard forms such as FIDIC. Participants learn to value variations, analyse delay events, keep the records that support or defend a claim, and respond to claims fairly. They also explore early warning, negotiation and dispute boards as practical ways to resolve issues early.
Who should attend
Contract managers, quantity surveyors, project and site managers, engineers, claims specialists, and staff in client organisations and public works departments who administer contracts.
Training methodology
Interactive presentations, practical exercises, case studies, group discussions, role-plays where relevant, and a personal action plan that participants apply in their own work.
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the contractual basis for variations and claims
- Manage variation instructions, valuation and approval
- Prepare and assess delay and cost claims
- Keep the records needed to support or defend a claim
- Use early warning, negotiation and dispute boards to avoid disputes
Course outline
Day 1Contracts, Risk and Change
- How contracts allocate risk between the parties
- Key features of standard forms such as FIDIC
- Why change is inevitable in construction projects
- Notice requirements and contractual time bars
- Roles of employer, engineer and contractor
- Review: common problems in your projects
Day 2Managing Variations
- What legally counts as a variation
- Variation instructions and who has authority
- Methods for valuing variations fairly
- Keeping variation registers and approval records
- Preventing unauthorised and undocumented changes
- Exercise: value a variation instruction
Day 3Delay and Disruption Claims
- Common causes of delay on projects
- Critical path, float and programme updates
- Extension of time entitlement and assessment
- Dealing with concurrent delay events
- Disruption and loss of productivity claims
- Workshop: analyse a real delay event
Day 4Cost Claims and Evidence
- Main heads of claim for additional payment
- Prolongation costs and other additional costs
- Records, programmes and correspondence as evidence
- Preparing a clear, well-supported claim submission
- Assessing and responding to contractor claims
- Exercise: assess a contractor's claim
Day 5Dispute Avoidance and Resolution
- Early warning and collaborative working practices
- Negotiating claims to a fair settlement
- How dispute avoidance and adjudication boards work
- Overview of mediation, adjudication and arbitration
- Capturing lessons learned for future contracts
- Build your dispute avoidance action plan
