NEC4 Blog
Practical guides, insights, and lessons from working with NEC4 contracts — written by a practising professional for engineers, QSs, and contract managers.
NEC4 Risk Register and Early Warning: A Practical Walkthrough
The Risk Register (clause 15) and Early Warning (clause 16) are not optional paperwork—they are your primary tools for controlling cost and programme
NEC4 Defined Cost: What Counts and What Doesn't Under the Schedule of Cost Components
Defined Cost under NEC4 is not simply "what you spent" — it's strictly what the contract says you can recover, calculated using either the Schedule of
NEC4 Dispute Resolution: Adjudication, Tribunal, and How to Avoid Both
NEC4’s dispute resolution hierarchy is adjudication first, then tribunal (litigation or arbitration) – but both cost time, money, and relationships.
The NEC4 Project Manager: Powers, Duties, and Common Pitfalls
The NEC4 Project Manager holds significant unilateral powers under the contract, including the ability to change the Scope, assess compensation events
NEC4 Option A vs Option C: Which Pricing Mechanism Fits Your Project?
**Option A (Priced Contract with Activity Schedule)** is best for well-defined, low-risk projects where scope is fixed and the Employer wants cost cer
NEC4 Programme Management: Why the Accepted Programme Is Your Most Important Document
The Accepted Programme is the single source of truth for time, payment, and risk allocation under NEC4 ECC.
NEC4 Early Warning vs Compensation Event: Know the Difference or Lose Money
Early Warnings are about notifying potential issues *before* they happen; Compensation Events are about notifying actual cost/time impacts *after* the
NEC4 Clause 63: How Compensation Events Are Assessed — Defined Cost, Fee, and Forecast
NEC4 Clause 63 sets out how compensation events are valued using **Defined Cost**, **Fee**, and **forecast** — not actual costs.
What is an NEC4 Compensation Event? A Practical Guide
Everything you need to know about NEC4 compensation events — from Clause 60.1 triggers to notification deadlines, assessment, and common pitfalls that cost contractors thousands.
The NEC4 8-Week Time Bar: Why Clause 61.3 is the Most Expensive Trap in Construction
The Clause 61.3 time bar is absolute — no exceptions, no discretion. Learn how the 8-week notification deadline works, when the clock starts, and how to protect your entitlement.
NEC4 vs Traditional Construction Contracts: Key Differences Explained
How does NEC4 differ from JCT, FIDIC, and other traditional contract forms? A side-by-side comparison of compensation events, programme management, risk allocation, and dispute resolution.
More NEC4 guides coming soon. Have a topic you'd like covered? Let us know.