Abortive work in building design and construction - Revision history

Editor at 09:21, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T09:21:29Z

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	[[File:Abortive_work.jpg\|link=File:Abortive_work.jpg]]		[[File:Abortive_work.jpg\|link=File:Abortive_work.jpg]]

−	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted. A similar term which may be used in the context of construction project planning is nugatory, which more specifically describes work that is of no value or consequence. Whilst similar terms the nuance is that abortive work is work which fails, failed to reach the intended outcome or was cut short (aborted), whereas nugatory work is useless, invalid, or work of no consequence.	+	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted. A similar term which may be used in the context of construction project planning is nugatory, which more specifically describes work that is of no value or consequence. Whilst similar terms the nuance is that abortive work is work which fails, failed to reach the intended outcome or was cut short (aborted), whereas nugatory work is useless, invalid, or work of no consequence. See also Nugatory work in building design and construction

	Abortive work can occur at any stage of a project, relating to the tender process, the work of consultants or construction.		Abortive work can occur at any stage of a project, relating to the tender process, the work of consultants or construction.

Editor at 09:21, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T09:21:07Z

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	* Change control procedure		* Change control procedure
	* Cost control.		* Cost control.
		+	* Nugatory work in building design and construction.
	* Remedial work.		* Remedial work.
	* Scope creep.		* Scope creep.

Editor at 08:50, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T08:50:13Z

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	[[File:Abortive_work.jpg\|link=File:Abortive_work.jpg]]		[[File:Abortive_work.jpg\|link=File:Abortive_work.jpg]]

−	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted. A similar ~~trm~~ which may ~~vbe~~ used in the context of construction project planning is nugatory, which more specifically describes work that is of no value or consequence. Whilst similar terms the nuance is that abortive work is work which fails, failed to reach the intended outcome or was cut short (aborted), whereas nugatory work is useless, invalid, or work of no consequence.	+	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted. A similar term which may be used in the context of construction project planning is nugatory, which more specifically describes work that is of no value or consequence. Whilst similar terms the nuance is that abortive work is work which fails, failed to reach the intended outcome or was cut short (aborted), whereas nugatory work is useless, invalid, or work of no consequence.

	Abortive work can occur at any stage of a project, relating to the tender process, the work of consultants or construction.		Abortive work can occur at any stage of a project, relating to the tender process, the work of consultants or construction.

Editor at 08:18, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T08:18:08Z

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	[[File:Abortive_work.jpg\|link=File:Abortive_work.jpg]]		[[File:Abortive_work.jpg\|link=File:Abortive_work.jpg]]

−	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted.	+	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted. A similar trm which may vbe used in the context of construction project planning is nugatory, which more specifically describes work that is of no value or consequence. Whilst similar terms the nuance is that abortive work is work which fails, failed to reach the intended outcome or was cut short (aborted), whereas nugatory work is useless, invalid, or work of no consequence.

	Abortive work can occur at any stage of a project, relating to the tender process, the work of consultants or construction.		Abortive work can occur at any stage of a project, relating to the tender process, the work of consultants or construction.
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	Where the consultant or contractor has carried out unauthorised or non-compliant work, or they have accepted the risk for unknown items, they may bear the cost of abortive work.		Where the consultant or contractor has carried out unauthorised or non-compliant work, or they have accepted the risk for unknown items, they may bear the cost of abortive work.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Change control procedure		* Change control procedure

Designing Buildings at 08:14, 9 September 2020

2020-09-09T08:14:35Z

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	* Herbert Smith Freehills, Claims arising from delays and scope changes. 2013.		* Herbert Smith Freehills, Claims arising from delays and scope changes. 2013.

−	[[Category:~~Articles_needing_more_work~~]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]

Designing Buildings at 06:16, 5 April 2019

2019-04-05T06:16:51Z

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	* Introducing change-control procedures at key stages, with progressive gateways at which the project is defined, agreed, a decision taken to proceed to the next stage and some aspects frozen.		* Introducing change-control procedures at key stages, with progressive gateways at which the project is defined, agreed, a decision taken to proceed to the next stage and some aspects frozen.
	* Applying for permissions as early as is practicable.		* Applying for permissions as early as is practicable.
−	* Ensuring ~~that~~ designs are properly co-ordinated before tender.	+	* Ensuring designs are properly co-ordinated before tender.
	* Limiting the number of tenderers and the extent of the tender process (particularly for procurement routes such as the private finance initiative, or prime contracting for which tender costs can be very high) .		* Limiting the number of tenderers and the extent of the tender process (particularly for procurement routes such as the private finance initiative, or prime contracting for which tender costs can be very high) .
	* Only tendering for work where the chance of success is high.		* Only tendering for work where the chance of success is high.
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	Where a change has been instructed by the client in accordance with the contract that might result in abortive work, this may give rise to additions or deductions from the contract sum and may also (but not necessarily) require adjustment of the completion date.		Where a change has been instructed by the client in accordance with the contract that might result in abortive work, this may give rise to additions or deductions from the contract sum and may also (but not necessarily) require adjustment of the completion date.

−	Where the consultant or contractor has carried out unauthorised or non-compliant work, or they have accepted the risk of unknown items, they may bear the cost of abortive work.	+	Where the consultant or contractor has carried out unauthorised or non-compliant work, or they have accepted the risk for unknown items, they may bear the cost of abortive work.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Editor at 10:50, 3 April 2019

2019-04-03T10:50:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:50, 3 April 2019
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−	[[File:~~Abortive work~~.jpg]]	+	[[File:Abortive_work.jpg\|link=File:Abortive_work.jpg]]

	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted.		Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted.
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	* Herbert Smith Freehills, Claims arising from delays and scope changes. 2013.		* Herbert Smith Freehills, Claims arising from delays and scope changes. 2013.

−	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work~~]] [[Category:Conservation~~]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]	+	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]

Editor at 10:23, 3 April 2019

2019-04-03T10:23:43Z

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		+	[[File:Abortive work.jpg]]
		+
	Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted.		Abortive work (or abortive costs or abortive fees) refers to work that has been started or carried out, but is not needed, or is no longer needed, and will not form part of the final development. The work will be wasted.

Editor at 10:22, 3 April 2019

2019-04-03T10:22:28Z

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	* Clarification of circumstances (for example the opening up of existing works, or below ground works).		* Clarification of circumstances (for example the opening up of existing works, or below ground works).
	* Refusal of planning permission or other approvals.		* Refusal of planning permission or other approvals.
−	* Changes in requirements, such as; budget, location, size, technical requirements ~~and so on~~.	+	* Changes in requirements, such as budget, location, size and technical requirements.
−	* ~~Unauthorised~~ work ~~being~~ carried out.	+	* The work carried out was unauthorised.
−	* ~~Work that has~~ not ~~been~~ properly authorised.	+	* The work was not properly authorised.
	* Mistakes or misunderstandings.		* Mistakes or misunderstandings.
	* Clashes resulting from poor co-ordination.		* Clashes resulting from poor co-ordination.
−	* Design changes during ~~manufacturing~~ or construction.	+	* Design changes during manufacture or construction.
	* Changes required once the completed works have been seen.		* Changes required once the completed works have been seen.
	* Procurement of redundant goods, materials, plant or personnel.		* Procurement of redundant goods, materials, plant or personnel.
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	* Ensuring that legislative requirements are properly integrated into the project.		* Ensuring that legislative requirements are properly integrated into the project.
	* Ensuring that risks are properly identified.		* Ensuring that risks are properly identified.
−	* Introducing change control procedures at key stages, with progressive gateways at which the project is defined, agreed, a decision taken to proceed to the next stage and some aspects frozen.	+	* Introducing change-control procedures at key stages, with progressive gateways at which the project is defined, agreed, a decision taken to proceed to the next stage and some aspects frozen.
	* Applying for permissions as early as is practicable.		* Applying for permissions as early as is practicable.
	* Ensuring that designs are properly co-ordinated before tender.		* Ensuring that designs are properly co-ordinated before tender.
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	* Only tendering for work where the chance of success is high.		* Only tendering for work where the chance of success is high.
	* Adopting quality assurance systems.		* Adopting quality assurance systems.
−	* Adopting assistive technologies such as building information modelling to improve co-ordination.	+	* Adopting assistive technologies such as building information modelling (BIM) to improve co-ordination.
	* Frequent site inspections.		* Frequent site inspections.
	* Suspending the works while potential changes are assessed in order to minimise potential abortive works.		* Suspending the works while potential changes are assessed in order to minimise potential abortive works.
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	Where a change has been instructed by the client in accordance with the contract that might result in abortive work, this may give rise to additions or deductions from the contract sum and may also (but not necessarily) require adjustment of the completion date.		Where a change has been instructed by the client in accordance with the contract that might result in abortive work, this may give rise to additions or deductions from the contract sum and may also (but not necessarily) require adjustment of the completion date.

−	Where the consultant or contractor has carried out unauthorised or non-compliant work, or they have accepted the risk of unknown items they may bear the cost of abortive work.	+	Where the consultant or contractor has carried out unauthorised or non-compliant work, or they have accepted the risk of unknown items, they may bear the cost of abortive work.

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Change control procedure		* Change control procedure
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	* Value management.		* Value management.

−	=== External references ===	+	= External references =

	* Herbert Smith Freehills, Claims arising from delays and scope changes. 2013.		* Herbert Smith Freehills, Claims arising from delays and scope changes. 2013.

	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]		[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]

Designing Buildings at 11:49, 1 March 2017

2017-03-01T11:49:34Z

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	=== External references ===		=== External references ===

−	* Herbert Smith Freehills, ~~[http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/-/media/Files/PDFs/2013/Attachment%203-Newsletter%2047%20-%20January%202013%20E.pdf~~ Claims arising from delays and scope changes]. 2013.	+	* Herbert Smith Freehills, Claims arising from delays and scope changes. 2013.

	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]		[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:Appointments]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]]