Architect's Guide to NEC4

Introduction

Over nearly three decades, the NEC has evolved from a ‘revolutionary’ new form of contract to become a mainstream standard form contract which is particularly conducive to collaborative working and contractual partnering. Use of the NEC has grown steadily in all sectors of the construction industry over its lifetime and a working knowledge of it has become essential for all architects, allied professionals, their clients and contractors involved in building projects. Following the OGC¹ endorsement of NEC3 on its publication in 2005, the use of any other form of construction contract on publicly procured projects declined to a point where no one involved in such work could afford to be ignorant of NEC3. The GCB² recommendation in ...