CONSTRUCTION CLAIMS AND DISPUTES - CAUSES AND COST TIME OVERRUNS/

Avoiding construction claims and disputes requires understanding of th e contractual terms, early nonadversarial communication, and understan ding of the causes of claims. The present paper addresses the latter i ssue by presenting the results of a pilot study undertaken by the Univ ersity of Calgary and Revay and Associates Ltd. This paper examines, a mong other things, the causes of claims, delays, and cost overruns on 24 projects in Western Canada. Projects investigated in this study inc luded civil, institutional, high-rise apartment building, and petroche mical. To identify some of the critical elements in construction contr acts, the investigative process also included determining the causes o f claims, categories of compensation for claims, and contract clauses quoted in claims. Results of this pilot study indicated that critical elements in construction contracts relate to changes/extras, disputes, soil/site conditions, and delay. It is the writers' opinion that spec ial attention to factors identified in this study will help industry p ractitioners in minimizing the risk of contract disputes. Further, the present paper also suggests several essential steps an owner can take to minimize risks.