FIDIC contract cheat sheet for main contractors
Navigate a FIDIC main contract through clear submissions, payment records, change procedures and timely claims, with the correct book and edition in view.
by Jack Butler-Kettle · About 5 min readShare
Before you start
Use this as a quick operational checklist, not a complete contract summary. Keep the signed form, amendments and project dates beside it.
For contractors using the Red, Yellow or Silver Books, 1999 or 2017 editions, including identified reprints and amendments. Green Book and subcontract procedures differ. Red and Yellow use an Engineer; Silver has a different administration structure. FIDIC's 2017 summary explains those distinctions. Governing law matters.
Working in another role? See the sheet for subcontractors or clients.
Step-by-step guide
1. Map design risk, authority and communications
Do this: Record design and performance duties, access, programme, securities and insurance. Identify the authorised administrator, notice address and communication method. Read Particular Conditions alongside General Conditions.
Watch for: A familiar book colour does not establish the agreed risk allocation. Amendments can move responsibilities; check the FIDIC Golden Principles.
Main-contract and subcontract administration support can help turn the agreed terms into a working diary of duties and notices.
2. Track statement, certificate and payment separately
Do this: Follow Clause 14 as amended: submit the supported statement, track the certification or assessment stage, then payment. Reconcile advance recovery, retention, currencies and other adjustments.
Watch for: Certification and payment are separate events. Do not apply UK payment-notice rules automatically to an international contract or copy interim dates into final payment.
3. Process instructions and variations explicitly
Do this: Identify who may instruct. Follow the procedure when an instruction changes the work, submit the valuation and explain time effects. Keep the instruction and claim requirements distinct.
Watch for: Do not assume a changed drawing agrees the price. FIDIC's 2017 summary explains edition-specific procedures for disputed variation instructions.
4. Notify claims before the full detail is ready
Do this: Give the required claim notice and diarise detailed submissions. Standard 1999 contractor claims and 2017 time or payment claims generally require notice within 28 days. This runs from actual or expected awareness of the event. FIDIC explains the trigger.
Watch for: The editions differ, including detailed-claim periods and challenge procedures. Check amendments, exceptions and local law; continue records and updates while effects develop.
5. Protect the final account and dispute position
Do this: Track tests, taking over, defects, final statements, discharge and security release. Record determination and dissatisfaction deadlines. Follow the applicable dispute-board, amicable-settlement and arbitration provisions.
Watch for: A final discharge can affect remaining claims. The 1999 DAB and 2017 DAAB procedures should not be treated as interchangeable. See FIDIC contract checks.
Before you finish: Write down the next action, its owner, deadline and delivery method. Get advice on uncertain rights before an irreversible step.
Worked example
The facts
Fictional example: a FIDIC contractor encounters an event that may delay completion, but its cost is not yet known.
What happens
It checks the event, applicable notice trigger and recipient, then issues the required notice without waiting for a final price.
It preserves contemporary records and follows the separate detailed and continuing-claim requirements.
What this shows
Early notice and later substantiation perform different jobs. The contractor does not mistake an incomplete valuation for permission to miss notification.
FIDIC main contractor briefing template
Fill the blank briefing from the executed agreement and its amendments. Have the contractual contact, deadlines and responsibilities checked, then issue a dated version to the team.
Free blank template for your own project. The completed example is shown below. No email address required.
View the completed example
Completed fictional example
Westhaven refurbishment · 14 October 2026 · Version 1.0
Project and contract
- Project / package
- Westhaven refurbishment / internal works
- Our role / party
- Main contractor / Alder Mere Projects Ltd
- Selected form / edition
- FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction, 2017 Red Book
- Amendments / controlled copy
- Signed contract plus amendments schedule rev 2, held in contract folder
- Briefing owner / checked
- Commercial lead; checked 14 October 2026; briefing revision 1
- Contractual contact / route
- Engineer; named contact and notice category in signed communications schedule
Site-team operating sheet
Scroll across if needed to read the whole record. A dash means no value has been entered.
| Area | Completed project briefing | Record / owner |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and authority | Coordinate the main works and interfaces. Keep each subcontract scope, notice route and recovery position separate from the main contract. | Scope rev C; document register / project lead |
| Payment | Maintain separate main-contract and subcontract payment diaries. Assess each subcontract on its own terms; reconcile upstream and downstream positions. | October application deadline 20 Oct 12:00; checked project diary / QS |
| Changes | Record written instructions, the agreed valuation route and any separate claim or notice requirement. Check the actual Particular Conditions and amendments. | CH-07: relocation instruction I-07; price and time unresolved / QS |
| Delay and records | Check the executed contract claim procedure, trigger and particulars requirements. Support time and cost separately with contemporary records. | Access restriction 7–8 Oct; D-07/08, AL-07/08, programme P-02 / planner |
| Completion | Track project and sectional completion, defects and both sets of final accounts. Check extension decisions and prerequisites before assessing delay damages. | Handover HR-01; as-built drawing outstanding / project lead |
Live actions and dates
Scroll across if needed to read the whole record. A dash means no value has been entered.
| Action | Checked project date / source | Owner / evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm CH-07 submission | 16 Oct 2026; review action, not a universal notice period | QS / issued submission and receipt |
| Submit October application | 20 Oct 2026 12:00; project payment schedule P rev 2 | Accounts lead / APP-10 and delivery proof |
| Resolve incomplete handover | 16 Oct 2026; close-out action CO-02 | Design lead / accepted as-built drawing |
Fictional project briefing. Dates and responsibilities shown are illustrative project entries, not standard-form defaults. This original summary does not reproduce or replace the contract. Check every clause, recipient and deadline in the actual executed documents.