A SHORT NOTE ON VARIATIONS UNDER FIDIC 87, FIDIC 99 and FIDIC 2017
A SHORT NOTE ON VARIATIONS UNDER FIDIC 87, FIDIC 99 and FIDIC 2017
A SHORT NOTE ON VARIATIONS UNDER FIDIC 87, FIDIC 99 and FIDIC 2017
VARIATIONS UNDER
FIDIC 87, FIDIC 99 and
FIDIC 2017
FIDIC 87
Background:
The Engineer has the authority to instruct variations to the works at any time
before issuing the Taking-Over Certificate.
Types of Variations:
Instruction by Engineer: The Engineer has the authority to issue instructions for
variations to the works at any time before the issuance of the Taking-Over
Certificate.
Variation Orders: These instructions are formally issued as Variation Orders.
Contractor’s Obligation: The contractor is obligated to comply with these
instructions.
Key Features:
FIDIC 99
Background:
The Engineer has the authority to instruct variations at any time prior to the
issuance of the Taking-Over Certificate.
Types of Variations:
Key Features:
FIDIC 2017
Background:
The Engineer can issue instructions for variations at any time before issuing the
Taking-Over Certificate.
Types of Variations:
Variation Instruction: The Engineer can issue instructions for variations. The
2017 edition provides even clearer and more detailed procedures for issuing and
managing variations.
Contractor’s Proposal: The contractor can propose variations, but they need the
Engineer’s approval.
Valuation of Variations: Detailed and explicit procedures for valuing variations.
The contract emphasizes pre-agreed rates and prices, and if these are not
applicable, a fair valuation is conducted by the Engineer. The 2017 edition offers
more comprehensive guidelines on how to value variations.
Advance Notification and Evaluation: The contractor is required to notify the
Engineer in advance if a proposed variation is likely to affect the contract price or
completion date. The Engineer must then evaluate the notification and provide a
timely decision on any adjustments.
Engineer’s Determination: The Engineer is required to make a formal
determination on the variation's impact on the contract price and schedule,
following a transparent and structured process.
Dispute Avoidance/Adjudication Board (DAAB): The DAAB, an evolution from
the DAB, is involved from the beginning and helps proactively manage disputes,
including those related to variations.
Key Features:
Conclusion
The FIDIC Red Book has evolved significantly from the 1987 edition through the 1999
and 2017 editions, with each new version providing more detailed and structured
procedures for managing variations. The 2017 edition, in particular, offers a modern and
comprehensive approach, emphasizing early notification, structured valuation, and
proactive dispute management through the DAAB. These changes reflect the industry's
growing complexity and the need for clear, transparent, and fair management of
variations in construction contracts.