ABSTRACT
Delays are common in construction projects. If the contractor or someone under its control is responsible for the delay, it is for the contractor to put in place measures to rectify the situation or probably to pay damages to the employer. If the delay is caused by the employer or someone under the employer’s control and the contractor is unable to complete by the contract completion date, the contractor’s obligation is simply to complete within a reasonable time; commonly referred to as ‘time at large’. That is very unsatisfactory from the employer’s point of view and all building contracts empower the architect to give extensions of time in certain specific circumstances. Estimating extensions of time is not easy and there are problems when delays are concurrent or when instructions are given after the date the contract should have been completed. The architect is not obliged to give reasons for the extension of time although contractors always want them. Most contracts set a time limit either at or a few weeks after the completion date after which the architect has no power to give further extensions of time.
