Construction File: Use of Standard Documents Reduces Risks

When documents contain clauses that discourage contractors from bidding, raise the costs associated with bidding, add onerous risk, or limit the competition to a select few bidders, it may come at a cost to the owner. Such an outcome creates the potential for unfairness or misuse of public funds.

Quality construction depends on quality contracts, so we must work together to ensure that the proper standards are adhered to by all—not just in the construction of the project, but also in the construction of the project documents. Standard construction document conditions generally limit the risks of the contractor to those, which can be reasonably foreseen by an experienced and competent contractor. Such risks would include compliance with regulations; construction defects; sub contractor/supplier mistakes; completion dates; and labour and materials issues.

Often the contractor is asked to take on additional risks, and the bid price could be inflated to reflect these risks. Care must be taken not to accept or impose such risks indiscriminately. Inappropriate allocation might simply result in no allocation at all.

Proper allocation of risk is essential in all contractual relations. In the private sector, it is primarily the business of those parties who are signatory to the contract documents. It is assumed that such parties are operating on an even playing field, and therefore must accept or refuse risk as they see fit. With public construction, however, there is more at stake. Public agencies are expected to operate in a fair, accountable and transparent manner. It is in the public’s best interests that unnecessary litigation is avoided, and that risk is dealt with in such a manner as will best protect the public.

Using well-established industry standards when preparing construction documents will mean that those very contractors and trade contractors you wish to attract as bidders will continue to be interested in bidding.

Using Standard Document approved by the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) or Canadian Construction Association provides:

  • A fair allocation of risk
  • Clarity of obligations
  • Responsibilities acceptable to all parties

The use of standard documents results in:

  • Fewer disputes
  • Fewer delays
  • Reduction in the cost associated with drafting, implementing and bidding on projects
    with new contracts

There are industry accepted standard contracts such as the CCDC-2 that provide a balanced approach to risk allocation. We recommend the use of such standard documents. They have been expertly developed by industry in consultation with other stakeholders, including owners (4 representatives), design professionals (7 representatives), and contractors (4 representatives). Consequently, the documents provisions for risk management are appropriate and equitable.

For information on standard documents and industry standards refer to ‘A Summary Guide for BC Construction Industry Standards and Guidelines’ on the BCCA website.

Note: Standard document development is supported by the funds generated from the sales of these documents. Hence, it is in the industries best interest to ensure that any standard documents comply with the copyright requirements of the sponsoring organization.

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September 21, 2020

BCCA Releases it's 2020 Annual Report

On Friday, September 18th, The BCCA held it's Annual General Meeting and shared it's latest Annual Report which covers the fiscal period between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020.
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November 29, 2019

Inaugural Builders Code Champion Awards Celebrate Construction Sector Leadership

Nine months after unveiling the resources to help the industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector set a standard code of conduct on worksites in B.C., the Builders Code has honoured six companies for their leadership at the inaugural Builders Code Champion Awards. Hosted by the BCCA and Minerva BC at the Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria yesterday, the awards recognized companies with advanced policies and practices that seek to ensure all employees can reach their full potential in the skilled trades.
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November 26, 2019

BCCA Celebrates National Construction Day with New Worksite Behavior Training App

As part of its ongoing efforts to address bullying, hazing, and harassment on B.C. construction worksites, the BC Construction Association (BCCA) is marking National Construction Day with the beta launch of a new Builders Code Crew Training App that uses animation and humour to help construction workers recognize the difference between “Cool or Tool” behavior on the worksite.
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August 23, 2019

BCCA Welcomes Trans Mountain Announcement Resuming Work on Pipeline Expansion Project

The BC Construction Association welcomes Wednesday’s (Aug. 21) announcement by Trans Mountain Corporation President and CEO Ian Anderson that construction work on the project will resume in communities along the route, including an immediate return to work at B.C.’s Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal. According to Trans Mountain, this will see 4,200 contract workers working along the route in B.C. and Alberta in the fourth quarter of 2019.
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August 20, 2019

Builders Code Ramps Up Services Across Northern Region

New Builders Code training for site supervisors, forepersons and union business managers on how best to deal with the perpetrators and targets of worksite bullying and harassment was announced today in Prince George, along with a new local Employer Advisor for the northern region. The training, which supports the construction personnel that work most closely with tradespeople on construction sites, was announced by Northern Regional Construction Association (NRCA) CEO Scott Bone.
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July 04, 2019

Aligning the Construction and Technology Sectors

Construction is changing. With a skilled labour shortage and other pressures affecting our industry, it is more important than ever to innovate and become a future-forward construction company. New technologies that help us become more productive and efficient are critical to moving the construction industry forward, but can also feel overwhelming at times.
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June 27, 2019

Multibillion Dollar BC Construction Sector Untapped by Tech

In the midst of a sector-wide drive for greater innovation and productivity in the face of a booming industry and a looming skills shortage, a recent State of Construction Technology survey conducted by the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) shows B.C.’s construction employers are underserved by a tech sector that is largely unaware of the huge potential market they represent.
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March 19, 2019

Builders Code Expansion: First Advisor Now Available to Vancouver Island Construction Employers

Industry Seeks to Improve Retention of Skilled Tradeswomen by Addressing Worksite Behaviour. Construction employers who want to address diversity or harassment issues on their worksites but lack the human resources personnel or expertise to do so will now have access to confidential advisors with experience in HR management, mediation and conflict resolution as part of the Builders Code recently launched by the BC Construction Association and project partners.
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March 08, 2019

BC Construction Industry Introduces Worksite Conduct Standards to Improve Worker Retention

The Province of B.C. and the BC Construction Association (BCCA) marked International Women’s Day today with the launch of the Builders Code, a comprehensive program that aims to address B.C.’s skilled labour shortage by reducing harassment, bullying and hazing on construction worksites. The Builders Code defines an Acceptable Worksite and provides employers with tools, training and resources to improve and promote safe and productive worksite behavior.
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February 25, 2019

Risk Alerts Issued for Two Provincial Construction Projects

The BC Construction Association (BCCA) has today issued two Contractor’s Alerts warning BC contractors of “Onerous Bidding Conditions” on two Prince George construction projects being procured by BC Housing. The projects are a building envelope remediation on Westwood Court and renovation work on the Hart Haven Group Home at Dagg Road, both in Prince George. Total value of both projects is $9.5M - $5M on Westwood Court and $4.5M on the Hart Haven project.
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February 07, 2019

Supporting BC's Skilled Workforce

LNG Canada and the BC Construction Association (BCCA) today announced that Marissa McTavish, an electrical apprentice from Prince George, has become the 1,000th participant in LNG Canada’s Trades Training Fund (TTF) and her employer, Primus Electric, the 500th employer to sponsor an employee with the Fund.
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January 22, 2019

British Columbia Construction Association Selected to Provide Pre-Arrival Services

Pre-arrival settlement services are a key element of Canada’s immigration program. They provide newcomers, including refugees, with the information and settlement support they need to make informed decisions about their new life in Canada before they arrive, such as how to prepare for finding a job. To help deliver these important services, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be providing funding of $3.4 million to the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA).
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September 17, 2018

BCCA Integrated Membership Update 2017

There are a record-breaking number of significant issues applying pressure to BC’s construction industry this year, and BCCA is working at the provincial level to make sure industry’s concerns and recommendations are heard loud and clear.
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August 30, 2018

Response to Federal Court of Appeal's Trans Mountain Pipeline Decision

BCCA is extremely disappointed by the Federal Court of Appeal's Trans Mountain expansion project decision today which undermines Canada’s economy and role on the global stage. This blow to investor confidence comes at a time when BC is already under pressure from new tariffs, taxation, and policy directives.
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August 24, 2018

New BC Building and Plumbing Code 2018

The new BC Building and Plumbing Code will be effective December 10, 2018 and will apply to building permits applied for on or after that date. The BC Fire Code is anticipated to be adopted in the fall of 2018 and effective December 10, 2018. Buildings with permits in place under the previous 2012 BC Building Code will generally not be affected by the adoption of the new code.
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August 02, 2018

Industry Voices - Industry Must Come Together

Premier Horgan's Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is the most dangerous and disruptive policy to be introduced by any government into our industry in recent memory. Whether you are a union or an open-shop employer, your basic rights and freedoms as Canadians are being blatantly disregarded, as is government's obligation for fair, open and transparent procurement practises.
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July 27, 2018

Pattullo Procurement Strategy Takes BC Construction a Bridge Too Far

The new Pattullo Bridge Community Benefits Agreement patently illustrates what is unfair with our current government’s policy decision to mandate the nature and extent of procurement requirements in major public construction projects. For BCCA, an association that hinges its principles on fair, open and transparent procurement practices, this agreement is taking public policy in construction tendering a bridge too far.
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July 18, 2018

Response to the Province’s Community Benefits Agreement Announcement

BCCA is working with our counterparts at the local, provincial and national levels to inform government on the risks of Community Benefit Agreements, and to educate public owners on the use of fair, open, and transparent procurement processes which are an obligation and responsibility of government to taxpayers.
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June 21, 2018

Tackling the Late Payment Epidemic: What Will It Take?

"Prompt payment” is a familiar issue in the construction industry. Of course there’s nothing prompt about it. It’s the LACK of prompt payment that makes it an issue, handicapping our industry, squeezing the small contractors, and pushing risk down into the supply chain onto those who can least afford to carry it.
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May 30, 2018

Understanding Risk British Columbia (UR+ BC) Video #URBC

The Understanding Risk British Columbia (UR+ BC) symposium, hosted April 16 & 17, 2018 in Victoria BC, marked the first time the construction industry played a leadership role in bringing together builders, designers, engineers, scientists, and policymakers to tackle the challenges of hazard mitigation and increased resilience in the industrial, commercial, and institutional built environment.
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May 29, 2018

BCCA Response to Federal Purchase of Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5 Billion

Official Statement - The BC Construction Association has long been a strong public supporter of BC’s oil and gas strategy and of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline in particular, recognizing the significance of the project for the economic prosperity of British Columbia and the rest of Canada provided that all environmental safety stipulations are met.
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