How contractors can limit the cost of extreme weather
Summary
The article argues that extreme heat is increasingly affecting construction costs, productivity and programme certainty, with many organisations lacking dedicated weather-adaptation budgets. It highlights how standard contract mechanisms, including NEC4 and JCT, may not automatically provide relief unless weather conditions meet specific thresholds, making proactive planning and record-keeping essential.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors involved in project monitoring, defect assessment or contract administration need to understand how hotter summers can affect delivery, cost and delay claims. The piece also reinforces the importance of weather evidence, risk allocation and early warning processes when assessing project impacts.
Key points
- More than half of construction leaders surveyed reported higher project costs from heat.
- Fewer than four in 10 organisations have a budget for weather adaptation.
- NEC4 compensation for weather depends on exceptional recorded conditions; delays from heat are not automatically compensable.
- JCT uses the less precise term 'exceptionally adverse weather conditions'.
- Contractors are advised to plan exposed work, use early warnings and keep clear weather and productivity records.
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