ABSTRACT
The central purpose of extension of time is to keep a definite completion date in a contract, rather than to allow the original date simply to be replaced by a reasonable but uncertain date when there is some default by the employer which places time at large. Standard forms include procedures for granting an extension of time and invariably go through submission of an initial notice giving general details, submission of supporting details and sometimes further details to provide more up-to-date information. The responsibility for deciding on the validity and then granting an extension of time to the contract generally lies with the architect, engineer or supervising officer. The appropriate method of extending time was the ‘net’ method, i.e. the architect should start with the existing completion date and postpone it to the extent which he considered fair and reasonable, having regard to the delay caused by the requirement to execute the variation instructions.
