About this Guide

The JCT Standard Building Contract is the longest established contract published by the JCT, and its origins can be traced back to the nineteenth century. As such, it has a long track record of adjustment in response to legislation, court judgments and evolving industry practices and is considered a benchmark against which other standard forms and bespoke contracts are frequently compared. It is widely used, and even where its use is not proposed, a thorough knowledge of the Standard Building Contract will help practitioners to understand and appraise any contract they encounter.

The fourth edition of this guide covers the latest version of the JCT Standard Building Contract, published in 2016 (previous editions covered the 1998, 2005 and 2011 forms). Some significant changes have been introduced into SBC16. The interim and final payment procedures have been redrafted to consolidate and simplify the clauses, and the result is significantly shorter and clearer than the previous version. The procedures and time limits for notification and assessment of loss and expense have also been tightened up and clarified. In addition, the contract now incorporates and updates provisions from the JCT Public Sector Supplement relating to Fair Payment principles, transparency and BIM. Provisions for performance bonds and parent company guarantees have been added, and arrangements to secure provision of third party rights/warranties from sub-contractors have been revised.

The Guide is intended primarily for consultants, such as architects or surveyors, who are advising clients on contracts and who may be acting as contract administrators. However, it is frequently used by others in the construction field, for example contractors, sub-contractors and clients, and is popular with students. It will also be of use to lawyers who need an introduction to the form or a quick reminder of its key features.

The Guide retains the structure and style of previous editions. It does not assume any prior knowledge of either SBC16 or any previous editions of the form. The subject is covered by topic, rather than a clause-by-clause commentary. Brief introductions to legal concepts are included where necessary to understand the form’s provisions. Short case summaries are included for court cases cited in the text, to help practitioners understand the context of the legal point being made. However, the Guide focuses on the form itself, its practical application and the roles of and decisions to be made by the parties and the contract administrator.