Further information

Forms, letters, checklists and precedents

Most organisations have their own forms and precedents and the practitioner should check to see if these are available. Many projects (particularly large projects) have a computerised document management system. The forms and precedents in these systems must be used. A training course needs to be attended before these electronic management systems can be used effectively.

RICS and RIBA produce a wide variety of JCT contract administration forms and proforma.

isurv contract administrator allows you to select the type of JCT contract you wish to run, and then the system automatically selects the correct standard contract administration forms from over 200 templates, including the JCT 2016 templates. Ready-made proforma are cheap and prepared by experts and it is suggested that they be used rather than project staff preparing their own.

David Chappell's book Contractual correspondence for architects and project managers provides some 160-model letters (with commentary) for use on JCT contracts and comes with a CD containing these letters.

JCT Digital Service

Almost all the JCT contracts are available as electronic documents via the JCT Digital Service. This service allows JCT documents to be both edited/amended and to have the required information typed direct into the various JCT proforma (articles, recitals, etc.). Editing is automatically highlighted via underlining. There are also advantages in terms of storage and electronic transfer.

Regular users will find the service saves time and manpower and is probably cost effective for most medium and heavy users of the JCT.

Further guidance

The JCT website provides considerable information, including:

• available JCT contracts;
• JCT contract developments and changes;
• guidance notes;
• collateral warranties;
• various proforma (e.g. bonds) and contract amendments, many of which are available as free downloads;
• JCT 2016 Contract Administration packs and
• building information modelling (BIM).

The JCT also produces guides for virtually all of their contracts and these are also listed on the JCT website. These guides are very useful and most come with a checklist at the back that will help with contract formation. The JCT Minor Works Guide is incorporated into the Minor Works Contract.

Sarah Lupton has written many of the official JCT guides and her book Which Contract? is useful guidance on contract selection. The book provides an outline of all the major UK construction contracts including JCT contracts.

isurv includes commentary on a range of contract administration topics as well as summaries on the different types of contracts available. isurv also holds a full list of RICS professional standards and guidance PDFs. RICS library is also another good source of information.

The Local Government Task Force provides a useful mini guide titled A Guide to Standard Forms of Construction Contract, which provides a brief outline of the most popular JCT forms, especially their risk profile.

The Society of Construction Law is a professional body that has numerous publications on construction legal matters that relate to the JCT contracts. Access to these paper is via the internet and requires membership.