Having gone to the lengths of negotiating a building contract with sectional completion, it is key that the technical description explaining which part of the works are included in each section is clear. In Vinci Construction UK Limited v Beumer Group UK Limited, the Technology and Construction Court overturned an adjudicator’s decision regarding the enforceability of liquidated damages for delay.
Key Facts
- This case was the next instalment in the dispute between Vinci and its sub-contractor Beumer relating to works to the baggage handling system at Gatwick Airport’s south terminal. Beumer were engaged under an amended NEC 3 form of sub-contract which provided for sectional completion of the sub-contract works and liquidated damages for each section in the event the works were completed late.
- The works in Section 5 were defined as ‘Baggage’ and those in Section 6 as ‘Remaining Works’.
- Delays occurred to the works and the parties agreed to extend the sectional completion dates for sections 5 and 6 under a settlement agreement
Dispute
A dispute was referred to an adjudicator relating to the interpretation of the settlement agreement. It was common ground that the sub-contract works included baggage handling system works within a new pier building, baggage handling system works within the existing building required to make the new baggage system operational and disconnection of redundant baggage equipment. However, the allocation of those works between sections 5 and 6 was not agreed. Beumer considered that the provisions for delay damages were uncertain, inoperable and unenforceable as it was impossible to tell which works were to be completed in which section. The adjudicator agreed. Vinci disagreed and commenced Part 8 proceedings seeking a declaration from the Court that the provisions for sectional completion and delay damages were valid.
Decision of Mrs Justice O’Farrell in the Technology and Construction Court
The Judge provided a useful summary of the current law regarding contract construction including:
- in construing a particular term the Courts must have regard to the meaning of that term in the context of the whole contract; and
- the Courts are reluctant to hold a provision in a contract void for uncertainty, particularly where the contract has been performed.
The Judge held that although the references to ‘baggage’ and ‘remaining work’ were not clear, the parties had negotiated separate rates of delay damages for sections 5 and 6 and therefore must have had some understanding of the works included in each section even though they were not specifically defined. On review of the contract documents, there were two distinct phases of works – one to construct the new baggage handling system (including works to make it operational) and one to remove redundant facilities and provide associated infrastructure following completion of the new system. Accordingly the failure in the description of the sections was insufficient to render both sections void for uncertainty (which would have let Beumer off the hook for liquidated damages).
Points to note
Although the decision is unsurprising it highlights the fact that the Courts are reluctant to find a contractual provision void for uncertainty.
It is clearly important to accurately describe what is to be included within each section of works in your building contract. If that is difficult, it may be worthwhile reviewing whether the works should be divided in a different way at pre tender stage. Better that than to risk the contract being interpreted at a later stage in a way that you did not intend.
Another interesting point is that Vinci brought its claim under Part 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules rather than the usual Part 7 route. Where it is appropriately used, this is a cheaper and faster option as there is no need for significant factual evidence.