What are Variations in construction?

refer to any changes or modifications to the agreed upon work in a construction project. These changes can include additions, omissions, or substitutions to the work. Variations are also known as change orders in the construction industry. In modern construction, it is common for clients to revise their designs or for funding issues to arise, leading to the need for change orders.

However, contractors should not be required to change the fundamental nature of the work without their agreement. The FIDIC 1999 contract states that the engineer, or the client's representative, can issue a variation order before the practical completion of the project. The contractor is then required to carry out the variation unless they are unable to obtain necessary materials.

The contractor can also submit a written value engineering proposal at any time to accelerate the project, reduce costs, improve performance, or provide other benefits to the client. If the proposal is approved, the contractor must design the relevant part and any reduction in the contract value will be assessed by the engineer before determining the contractor's fee. The variation procedure in the construction industry involves the submission of a notice of variation by the contractor, the assessment of the variation by the engineer, and the issuance of a variation order by the engineer if the variation is approved.

Variations in construction refer to any changes or modifications made to the agreed upon work in a construction contract. These changes can include additions, omissions, or substitutions to the original work. In the modern construction industry, changes to the initial design of a project are common due to the introduction of new technologies and materials, as well as client revisions and funding issues.

It is important for contractors to agree to changes that fundamentally alter the nature of the work, and for clients or consultants to not omit work without the contractor's agreement. According to the FIDIC 1999 contract, the engineer (the client's representative) can issue a variation order before the practical completion of a project, but the contractor is only bound to carry out the variation if they are able to obtain the necessary materials.

The contractor can also submit a value engineering proposal at any time in order to accelerate the project, reduce costs, improve performance, or provide other benefits to the client. If the proposal is approved, the contractor will be responsible for designing the relevant changes and any reduction in the contract value will be assessed by the engineer under the FIDIC sub-clause 3.5. The variation procedure in the construction industry involves obtaining approval for any changes or modifications to the agreed upon work and ensuring that the necessary adjustments are made in the contract.