Starting and Completion

(Clause 30.1)

The contractor is not permitted to start work on the site until the first access date, and the work is to be completed on or before the completed date:

• This is the primary obligation as to time

• Access dates are identified by the employer in part one of the contract, as well as ‘the first access date’

• The Contractor notifies when, in his opinion the works have been completed

• The Project Manager decides the date of Completion. The Project Manager certifies Completion within one week of Completion. (Cl. 30.2)

Deciding and Certifying Completion

The two important and distinct provisions of this Clause are:

• The project Manager decides the date of completion

• The project manager certifies completion within one week of completion

The New Clause to NEC 3

It requires the contractor to:

Do the work so that the condition stated for each key date is met by the key date.

• It is not clear if the purpose of the clause is to formally state the contractor’s obligation in respect of key dates

• It is thought that one purpose of the clause is to put key dates on the same contractual footing as sectional completion dates

• It is doubtful if this is the case as there is no requirements in clause 30.3, or else where in NEC 3, that the project manager should certify achievement of key dates.