Improving the efficacy of delay notification process of construction projects in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Construction delays are a common phenomenon in construction projects that adversely affecting the time and cost targets of those projects. When there are delays, contractors tend to submit delay claims seeking time and cost adjustments to their contracts. Quite often, these claims are denied upfront due to deficiencies in the delay notification process itself. The vagueness of and ambiguities in contractual provisions too protract the notification process. This study was aimed to improve the level of success of delay claims submitted by the contractors working in the Sri Lankan construction projects that are administered in accordance with FIDIC 1999. The data required for the study were collected from a total of 248 projects, using a mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study reveals that the effectiveness of the delay notification process can be improved by identifying the delay events well in advance. To overcome the flaws of the delay notification process, it is also equally important for the contractors to be aware of contractual provisions.

Keywords:

• Contractual provisions
• delay notification process
• delay notices
• FIDIC
• mixed approach

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.