A Table of Key NEC Time Periods

The key NEC time limits are eight weeks to notify a compensation event, one week to reply to it, three weeks to quote, two weeks to reply to a quotation and two weeks to answer a programme, all under the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC). The tables below set these out for NEC4 ECC, NEC3 ECC and the NEC4 subcontract (ECS).

They show the unamended forms. Z clauses often change them, and some figures are for your Contract Data, so treat this as a starting point and overwrite it with your own. To use them on a live job, see tracking periods for reply, or return to the guide to managing NEC contracts.

Compensation events

Step	NEC4 ECC	NEC3 ECC	NEC4 ECS	Clause
Contractor notifies an event	8 weeks	8 weeks	7 weeks	61.3
Reply to a notified event	1 week	1 week	2 weeks	61.4
After notice of that failure, further silence before treated as accepted	2 weeks	2 weeks	3 weeks	61.4
Submit a quotation	3 weeks	3 weeks	2 weeks	62.3
Reply to a quotation	2 weeks	2 weeks	4 weeks	62.3
Submit a revised quotation	3 weeks	3 weeks	2 weeks	62.4
Quotation failure: further silence	2 weeks	2 weeks	3 weeks	62.6
Project Manager's own assessment	The time allowed for a quotation	The time allowed for a quotation	The time allowed for a quotation	64.3
Assessment failure: further silence	2 weeks	2 weeks	3 weeks	64.4

A reply to a quotation for a proposed instruction works differently under NEC4: it comes by the date the Project Manager stated when asking (65.2). Under NEC3 it follows the normal two weeks. See NEC4 proposed instructions.

Programme and early warnings

Step	NEC4 ECC	NEC3 ECC	NEC4 ECS	Clause
First programme	Contract Data	Contract Data	Subcontract Data	31.1
Reply to a programme	2 weeks	2 weeks	3 weeks	31.3
Programme failure: further silence before treated as accepted	1 week	No such rule	2 weeks	31.3
Revised programme when instructed	Period for reply	Period for reply	Period for reply	32.2
Regular revised programme	Contract Data interval	Contract Data interval	Subcontract Data interval	32.2
First register	1 week from the starting date	No fixed period	1 week from the subcontract starting date	15.2 (NEC3: 16)
First meeting	2 weeks from the starting date	No fixed period	2 weeks from the subcontract starting date	15.2
Register updated after a meeting	1 week	No fixed period	1 week	15.4 (NEC3: 16.4)

There is no set date for an early warning itself beyond doing it as soon as you become aware. NEC sets no period for replying to a warning, so any target for that is your own.

Payment and final account

Step	NEC4 ECC	NEC3 ECC	NEC4 ECS	Clause
Payment certificate after the assessment date	1 week	1 week	2 weeks	51.1
Payment after the assessment date, unless the data says otherwise	3 weeks	3 weeks	4 weeks	51.2
Pay less notice (Option Y(UK)2)	7 days before the final date for payment	7 days before the final date for payment	7 days before the final date for payment	Y2.3
Final assessment after the Defects Certificate	4 weeks	None	4 weeks	53.1
Final assessment after a termination certificate	13 weeks	None	14 weeks	53.1

The dates for payment under Y(UK)2 work differently from the certificate clock. See the NEC payment timeline for how they fit together.

Completion and other periods

Step	Period	Clause
Certify Completion	1 week after Completion	30.2
Take over the works, if the Client doesn't opt out	2 weeks after Completion, at the latest	35.1
Certify take-over of a part	1 week after take-over	35.3
Quality policy statement and quality plan (NEC4)	Contract Data	40.2
Correct a Defect	Defect correction period in the Contract Data	44.2 (NEC3: 43.2)
Any other reply required	The period for reply in the Contract Data	13.3

Reading this table properly

• Not every form uses these. The professional service and term service forms have their own Contract Data and may use different figures, and the short forms differ more. Look up your own form rather than assuming.
• Disputes are not shown. Those periods depend on whether Option W1 or W2 applies. See time limits for disputes.
• Termination is not shown. Those periods vary between editions and forms, so read your own clause 91 and see the termination procedures page.
• Extensions are possible for many of them, but only by agreement before the reply is due (13.5, 62.5), and not for all. The Contractor's eight weeks under 61.3 isn't one of those a Project Manager can simply extend.

Related guides

• Managing NEC Contracts: A Practical Guide
• NEC Contract Reporting
• The Registers Every NEC Contract Needs
• NEC Letter Templates: What to Include
• Tracking Periods for Reply
• NEC Time Bars Explained

This guide is general information in our own words, not legal advice. Your contract and its Contract Data always govern. NEC, NEC3 and NEC4 are trade marks of Thomas Telford Ltd; Contract Status is not affiliated with or endorsed by NEC.