Preallocation of Total Float in the Application of a Critical Path Method Based Construction Contract

Under current scheduling practices, total float time is considered "free" and does not belong exclusively to any specific party in the construction process; rather, it belongs to the project and can be used by both owners and contractors to mitigate the potentially negative impact of delays. Utilization of float is, hence, on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Within this usage protocol and guided by the Common Law's Proximate Cause principle, the party that encounters critical delays in the later stages of a project is more likely to be held responsible for delays to overall project completion time. Given these practices, float ownership and its utilization has continued to become a major source of disputes when project delays occur. The aim of this paper is to introduce the concept of float preallocation and management for critical path method based construction schedules. The principles for preallocating and managing total float include recommending contract clauses to direct its use and to explain the manner in which responsibility for any resulting delay may be assigned. The paper also introduces a bookkeeping procedure to facilitate the application of this concept on project schedules. The proposed concept continues to recognize that total float is an asset for both parties.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/8675438
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from ASCE
• Authors:
  • de la Garza, Jesus M
  • Prateapusanond, Apirath
  • Ambani, Nikhil
• Publication Date: 2007-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 836-845
• Serial:
  • Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
  • Volume: 133
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9364
  • EISSN: 1943-7862
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jcemd4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Business practices; Construction industry; Construction scheduling; Contract administration; Contractors; Critical path method; Planning methods; Project management
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction delays; Project delays
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Highways; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01081266
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 26 2007 9:57AM