The Station House
Planning for the Unplanned:
The Construction Contingency Allowance A contingency is a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted Ken Newell with certainty. That definition provides apt expectation regarding the Construction Contingency Allowance (CCA).The CCA is a predetermined sum of money designated for a yet to be determined issue that can change the scope of the work during the actual construction of a project. It has been stated often that construction is more an art than a science.Therefore, it is impossible to know in advance every issue or challenge that will be encountered once “dirt is turned.”The guarantee that you have before beginning construction is that you will discover unplanned items during the process. The best pre-construction planning will greatly reduce the number and complexity of the unplanned items, but eliminating them is impossible.Anyone who tells you otherwise would lie to you about other things as well.The CCA is a great tool for at least preparing for the financial challenges of discovering the unknowns during construction. What is an appropriate amount for a CCA? Historically, the CCA dedicated prior to construction will range from five to 10 percent of the anticipated construction cost. CCAs for new construction on Greenfield sites are typically at the lower end of that range, while renovations and additions to older facilities are at the higher levels. Experience shows that during the construction phase, there are four major categories of potential change of scope issues that benefit from having an
30 Fall • 2020
appropriate CCA.They are: 1. Unknown Conditions 2. Building Inspector’s Modifications 3. Project Owner Requested Changes 4. D esign Clarifications or Modifications
Unknown Conditions One of the most prominent sources of unknown conditions for new construction is what lies beneath the ground surface. Rock, unsuitable soils, contaminated materials, unexpected ground water, etc. are just a few of the surprises potentially awaiting you subsurface. Pre-design/pre-construction environmental reports and geotechnical explorations will paint an important and informative picture of what will be found
once grading commences, but it is only a broad picture.The more comprehensive the reports and explorations that you commission — the more thorough understanding of the subsurface conditions you’ll receive. Every additional soil-boring or exploration procedure adds more pre-construction expense. Most project owners try to strike a happy medium by performing “standard” explorations and then dedicating an appropriate CCA. Renovations and additions to older facilities, as implied above, have greater potential for revealing unknown conditions once selective demolition begins.Are the blueprints for the original facility available? Did the original builder actually construct the facility as it was
www.carolinafirejournal.com
designed? Have there been unknown or undocumented modifications during the life of the facility? What’s really behind that wall or under that slab? Renovations to older facilities can bring one surprise after another — many which can delay the new construction and change the anticipated scope of the work.This is why it is advisable to dedicate a CCA that is higher than that for new construction.
Building Inspection Modifications Even though a plans reviewer for the local building jurisdiction will have reviewed the construction documents prior to issuing a building permit, there remains the likelihood that the building inspector will request modifications to the plans during the actual construction
Carolina Fire Rescue EMS Journal
