Magazine Articles
The Commercial Contracts & Legal Department has written this series of articles for the "Electrical & Mechanical Contractor" magazine. These form a useful information resource for members because they provide clear guidance on day to day problems of contract management. The date in brackets indicates when the article was published in the magazine.
1. Contract Killer
This revisits the commercial basics of running a construction project. (March 2002)
2. Quotation Marks
What should you consider when tendering for a project? (May 2002)
3. Getting in on the Act
The Construction Act can protect contractors and their payments, but how is it applied? (July/August 2002)
4. Working to contract
With the contract won, how can you be sure that everything goes to plan and you are paid as agreed? (October 2002)
5. The day job
Dayworks is the latest topic in our contract management series. (December 2002/January 2003)
6. Dealing with disputes
How do you resolve a dispute? The options are explained in this final article in the basics of contract management series. (March 2003)
7. The valuation process
When is a price not a cost? Martin Wade clarifies the differences between the terms and what they mean in construction projects. (May 2003)
8. Best intentions?
How do Letters of Intent affect contractual agreements? This looks at the pitfalls of the seemingly simple procedure. (July/August 2003)
9. Broken promises
A firm's insolvency will cause problems throughout the supply chain. Are you prepared for the worst? (October 2003)
10. Under warranty?
What risks do signing warranties and bonds pose to contractors? This article uncovers the complexities of such agreements. (December 2003/January 2004)
11. Everybody out
A view from the sharp end on the suspension of works. (March 2004)
12. Determination at work
When can a construction contract become Determined and how will this affect your responsibilities? (May 2004)
13. The right time to give Notice
How important is it to issue a Notice at the start of a Determination process? (July/August 2004)
14. Payment procedures
What are the options for those in payment disputes? The subtleties of set-off, counterclaim and abatement are explained. (October 2004)
15. Waste not, want not
An update on the legislation of the WEEE Directive. (October 2004)
16. Private practice
Confused about PFI, PPP, DBFO and BOOT? This gives all you need to know about the Private Finance Initiative and its various offshoots. (December 2004/January 2005)
17. What sort of subbie are you?
What it means to be a subcontractor. (March 2005)
18. Sharp practices
Contracts are often riddled with clauses that can trip up the unwary. Here's some advice on what to watch out for. (May 2005)
19. Bidding for Glory
Be prepared for the increased use of electronic tendering. (July 2005)
20. The Name's Bond
New financial regulations have changed the way the ECA's warranty and bond schemes operate. (October 2005)
21. One for the LADs
This brings us up to speed on the ins and outs of liquidated and ascertained damages. (December 2005/January 2006)
22. The new scheme on the block
The tax system for the construction sector is about to undergo a radical overhaul - a look at how the changes differ from the old regime. (June 2006)
23. Keeping compliant
How will the new CIS affect your tax obligations? Ken Tracey warns how easily your gross payment status can be lost. (July/August 2006)
24. Status symbols
The conclusion to the series on the new CIS contains a warning to contractors: do you know the true employment status of staff on your projects? (September 2006)
25. Contract killers
Paul Jackson casts a critical eye over the latest series of contracts from JCT. Is the simplification and modernisation good news for M&E contractors? (October 2006)
26. Trust Nobody
The NEC3 calls for strategic and practical management changes. Paul Jackson explains why the unprepared could be in for an expensive shock. (November 2006)
27. Expand and Contract
Paul Jackson takes a look at ECA contracts. (December 2006/January 2007)
28. What's in a claim?
This article provides a commentary containing typical claim heads and guidelines for submission. (January 2007)
29. The go between
In the first of a series of features on alternative dispute resolution, Ken Tracey takes a look at mediation. (February 2007)
30. Arbitration
Want to resolve your disputes by impartial tribunal without the costs or delays? Paul Jackson shows you how. (March 2007)
31. The Adjudication Generation
Paul Jackson shows you how to ensure justice is dished out swiftly by helping you make the most of the adjudication procedure. (April 2007)
32. Resolution revolution
Ken Tracey welcomes in the next generation of Alternative Dispute Resolution. (May 2007)
33. WEEE Warning
Afraid that the new WEEE Directive is going to hit you where it hurts? With a few precautions, installers can rest assured, says Martin Wade. (June 2007)
34. Practical Completion
What exactly does practical completion entail? Putting all the pieces together is far less clear cut than you might think, says Paul Jackson. (July/August 2007)
35. Running the Risk
Ken Tracey helps subcontractors get to grips with insurance. (September 2007)
36. NEC Programme Works
To ensure that the works proceed safely and economically it is wise to plan what resources are going to be used. Paul Jackson provides tips on how to do this.
37. NEC Works Programming Requirements
While the previous article introduced the concept of planning compared with programming, in this article Paul Jackson considers other NEC programming requirements and the ways in which they may be presented.