7 items you should document to prepare for COVID-19 delay claims

Everyone in construction are asking the same questions right now: What will be the magnitude of delay impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic? And how will that translate in terms of days and dollars?

Figuring out the answers to these questions require information, and lots of it. The industry is in a unique position to document all progress to date and to record all that is yet to come. Compiling as much data related to project impacts as possible now can put you in better positions to determine the real impact later.

What is worth documenting?

In short, whatever you can. We are firmly in unknown territory regarding COVID-19 impacts, and there is no way to predict when the pandemic will end. Collect enough information to be used in a forensic (i.e., retrospective) analysis so that, when this is over, you can understand the final impacts.

Make sure that you have everything you will (or might) need to document the closure or slow down. Draw a line in the sand by defining what your current project status is now and keep track of effects as the pandemic continues. A future delay analysis using a robust data set will allow decision-makers to determine the merit, magnitude and compensability of any submitted claims.

Every project will have its own unique impacts and requirements. But generally, documenting the following can help you develop the timeline and potential exposure for COVID-19:

Remember to also examine the ripple effects. Not only for projects at large, but also for the affected suppliers and manufacturers that may be struggling to get their production facilities back to full operating volume and meet supplier agreements.

Five ways to maximize downtime

Beyond tracking impacts, use the shutdown or slowdown time to complete tasks you wish you had more time for. For starters, you can:

Document, document, document

It’s an unusual time for construction, and the entire sector will soon be faced with a surge of delay claims to wade through. Remember, above all, to document everything. Data will be the most important asset in determining the COVID-19 delay impacts.

If you have questions regarding COVID-19’s effects on your project agreements or any other contract solutions needs, contact our General Contract Solutions team to find out the ways we can help.

Andrew Dick
Project Risk Management Consultant