NEC4: Managing Effectively - Top Tips
NEC4 Clause 13: Communicating Correctly
NEC Contract Early Warnings: A Positive Approach to Project Management
NEC4: Contractor's Value Engineering Proposals
NEC4 Disallowed Cost Explained
NEC4 Understanding the Activity Schedule
The Role of Contract Data
NEC4: How to approach Option Z / amendments
NEC4: Programme - Getting it working for you
NEC4: Notifying compensation events and instructing quotations
NEC4: Assessing compensation events part 2 - Price
NEC4 - Taming Commercial Chaos | NEC People Conference 2025 London
NEC4: Assessing Compensation Events Part 1 - Time
Ben Walker: Decoding NEC Contracts and the Value of Site Records
Your Presenters
Ben Walker
Commercial Director, Gather
Ben Walker is Gather’s Commercial Director. His sessions focus on NEC4 contract administration and the records that support commercial decisions.
Glenn Hide
Director, GMH Planning
Glenn Hide is Director of GMH Planning and writes the CECA NEC4 Bulletin series. His sessions cover practical NEC contract administration.
NEC4 Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
What are compensation events in NEC4?
The standard NEC4 ECC lists 21 events at clause 60.1. Their effects are assessed through the compensation event process; entitlement depends on the event, the contract and the required notifications. The applicable main and secondary options, Contract Data and amendments also need to be checked.
What is the NEC4 eight-week time bar?
Under unamended NEC4 ECC clause 61.3, the Contractor generally has eight weeks from awareness of the event to notify it. Awareness that it qualifies as a compensation event is not the starting point. The time bar does not apply where the Project Manager should have notified the event under clause 61.1. Check the signed contract for amendments.
How do NEC4 early warnings work?
The Contractor and Project Manager notify the other as soon as they become aware of a matter meeting the clause 15.1 triggers. The Early Warning Register and early warning meetings support risk management. An early warning is separate from a compensation event notification. Clause 63.7 addresses assessment where an experienced contractor could have given an early warning.
What records do you need under NEC4?
Check the record requirements in your contract and Scope. Daily records of work, resources, progress, instructions and events should be connected to programmes, formal notifications and cost records. A site diary supports evidence; it does not replace a contractual notice or establish entitlement on its own.
What is the dividing date in NEC4?
Under clause 63.1, the dividing date separates the assessment of Defined Cost for work already done from forecast Defined Cost for work not yet done. For events arising from a Project Manager or Supervisor instruction, notification, certificate or changed decision, the relevant communication sets the date. For other events it is the compensation event notification date. Apply the assessment rules and relevant cost components rather than simply accepting every recorded expense.
What is Disallowed cost under NEC4?
Disallowed cost is excluded when calculating Defined Cost under the relevant cost-based options. NEC4 ECC Options C, D and E use the ten bullets at clause 11.2(26); Option F has different wording and must be checked separately. Records support substantiation, but good records do not make an otherwise excluded cost recoverable.
Why Gather
Why Gather Hosts NEC4 Webinars
Gather’s Record Management System supports the site records used in commercial reviews. These webinars give project teams a place to explore contract administration with practitioners.
Practical NEC4 discussions for construction professionals
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