A claim is a demand for something that is due, or believed to be due, usually arising from an event, action or instruction and based on the conditions of the contract. In construction it commonly means a request for additional payment for work said to be extra to the contract, for an extension of time for completion, or for both.
The QS is usually involved in preparing, assessing or defending claims. A well founded claim identifies the contractual basis for entitlement, the cause and effect of the event, and a properly substantiated valuation. Different contracts treat claims differently: JCT contracts deal with extensions of time and loss and expense, while NEC contracts deal with most of these matters through compensation events, which change both the Prices and the Completion Date.
- Most contracts set notice periods, and late notification can affect entitlement.
- Records made at the time of the event are the best evidence.
Related terms: extension of time, loss and expense, compensation event, variation.
