Construction Delay Analysis: A Practical Overview
An introduction to records, methods and schedule-based delay assessment.
What is construction delay analysis?
Delay analysis examines whether events affected planned or forecast completion and how they interacted with the project critical path.
Why contemporaneous records matter
Daily reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, change notices and regular schedule updates help establish what occurred and when.
Choose a method appropriate to the evidence
There is no single method that fits every project. The contract, quality of updates, timing of the assessment and available records influence method selection.
Distinguish delay from entitlement
A schedule impact is not automatically a contractual entitlement to additional time or compensation. Contract interpretation and legal issues require appropriate specialist advice.
Act early
Maintain consistent schedule updates, record causes and effects promptly and communicate changes according to the contract.