Delays are a common challenge in construction projects, often leading to disputes, financial losses, and strained relationships between stakeholders.

Managing delays in complex projects requires a proactive approach, robust planning, and effective communication.

Some delay analysis reports looks impressive but that’s all they do. Delay expert Andrew McKenna looks into two key cases and explores why delay analysis needs to match reality.

In construction disputes, expert witnesses play a crucial role in presenting evidence and analysis to support claims related to project delays.

Delay analysis is a vital process in construction disputes. When a project runs late, everyone involved—clients, contractors, and subcontractors—wants to know why. That’s where delay experts come in.

In construction project management, scheduling is crucial for timely and efficient project completion. A common practice involves applying constraints to activities within the schedule, particularly mandatory start and finish constraints.

Delay analysis is a means to understand why a construction project took longer than planned and how those delays affected the project.

To effectively manage and resolve these issues, it's crucial to establish a clear causal link between the cause of a problem and its effect on the project.

The critical path represents the longest sequence of dependent activities that determine the shortest possible duration to complete a project.

In many projects, non-contestable works fall directly on the critical path. When they’re delayed, the ripple effect is felt across the entire program.

Acceleration following failure by the Employer to recognise that the Contractor has encountered Employer Delay for which it is entitled to an extension of time...

A simplistic, retrospective methodology, which in its simplest form compares the as-built program to the planned (baseline) program.

Infrastructure, residential, and commercial construction projects can potentially impact natural habitats, affecting flora and fauna.

The NEC contract prescribes that an extension of time, delay and quantum be determined prospectively. The NEC contract requires the contractor to maintain an up-to-date program.

The term “Contract Program” is often used in reference to the Construction or Contractor’s Program. The Construction (or Contractor’s) Program is basically the execution plan and timeline of how the works under the Contract will be carried out and measured. It should consider the key sequences of work and resource dependencies. It should also, depending on the Contract, identify the critical path and the relationships between the planned activities and interfaces.

This article considers the contractual requirements regarding the most appropriate and accepted method of delay analysis in the commonly used Australian Standard General Conditions of Contract.

A lot has already been written about various delay analysis methodologies. The purpose of this article is to summarise the pros and cons of the most commonly accepted methodologies and highlight where they might best be used.

A common question when demonstrating entitlement to an Extension of Time is, who owns the float?

When considering who owns the float, one first must understand the various definitions of 'float' typically associated with construction projects. Secondly, one must understand the applicable contractual clause relating to claiming an extension of time.

An independent delay expert needs to be impartial when engaged in providing early delay and planning advice, so clients understand their actual liabilities or opportunities.

Delay analysis is not the “dark art” it is often perceived to be. It is simply how to prove the purported delaying events impact (the cause) on time (the effect). The analysis must provide a clear and succinct distinction of the chain of events that have hindered progress and ultimately caused the delay(s) to completion.