ICE Conditions of Contract
The ICE Conditions of Contract (CoC) were published by Thomas Telford on behalf of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACE) and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). The first edition was published in 1945 and the seventh and final edition was published in 2001. During this time it was the dominant form of contract for civil engineering.
The key characteristics of the contract were:
- Valuation by measurement.
- Engineering responsibility for design.
- Engineer as the impartial certifier and valuer.
- Engineer's decision as the first stage of dispute resolution.
When the seventh edition was being prepared, pressure started to build for ICE to withdraw its support for CoC in favour of NEC.
NEC was first published in 1993 as the New Engineering Contract. It is a suite of construction contracts intended to promote partnering and collaboration between the contractor and client. It was developed as a reaction to more traditional forms of construction contract which were seen by some as adversarial. The third edition, NEC3 was published in 2005. NEC is a division of Thomas Telford, the commercial arm of ICE.
In 2001, at the launch of the seventh edition of CoC, Author, Brian Eggleston wrote ‘ One strongly expressed view was that with the Institution's New Engineering Contract (now called NEC Engineering and Construction Contract) steadily gaining ground and recognition there was no point in continuing the publication of traditional ICE Conditions…. My own view is that not only is there room for both sets of conditions in the industry but there is need for both. It is a matter of horses for courses as to which type of contract is best for any particular project. The New Engineering Contract requires project management skills, high staffing levels and a prominent place on office desks. Traditional ICE contracts have been satisfactorily run for decades and in thousands by civil engineers practising their ordinarily professional skills, frequently with mud on their boots and with the Conditions rarely on the office desk. The strength of the Conditions is in their consistency and continuity and by any standards they must be regarded as one of the most successful standard forms ever published.”
Despite this, with the growing popularity of NEC, in 2009 the ICE Council formally endorsed the NEC contracts and ICE transferred its part in the ownership of CoC to ACE and CECA. ICE, ACE and CECA continue to hold reference copies of the last published version of the ICE Conditions of Contract, but no longer support it or offer it for sale.
In August 2011, ACE and CECA relaunched CoC as the Infrastructure Conditions of Contract (ICC) a standard suite of forms of contract largely based on CoC.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Atkins v Secretary of State for Transport.
- Collaborative practices.
- Construction contract.
- Contract conditions.
- FIDIC.
- Infrastructure conditions of contract.
- Institution of Civil Engineers.
- JCT.
- Latham Report
- NEC contract change management systems.
- NEC contracts - road development and management schemes.
- NEC early contractor involvement.
- NEC3
- Procurement route.
Featured articles and news
International Electrician Day, 10 June 2025
Celebrating the role of electrical engineers from André-Marie Amperè, today and for the future.
New guide for clients launched at Houses of Parliament
'There has never been a more important time for clients to step up and ...ask the right questions'
The impact of recycled slate tiles
Innovation across the decades.
EPC changes for existing buildings
Changes and their context as the new RdSAP methodology comes into use from 15 June.
Skills England publishes Sector skills needs assessments
Priority areas relating to the built environment highlighted and described in brief.
BSRIA HVAC Market Watch - May 2025 Edition
Heat Pump Market Outlook: Policy, Performance & Refrigerant Trends for 2025–2028.
Committing to EDI in construction with CIOB
Built Environment professional bodies deepen commitment to EDI with two new signatories: CIAT and CICES.
Government Grenfell progress report at a glance
Line by line recomendation overview, with links to more details.
An engaging and lively review of his professional life.
Sustainable heating for listed buildings
A problem that needs to be approached intelligently.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson apprentice award
Deadline for entries has been extended to Friday 27 June, so don't miss out!
CIAT at the London Festival of Architecture
Designing for Everyone: Breaking Barriers in Inclusive Architecture.
Mixed reactions to apprenticeship and skills reform 2025
A 'welcome shift' for some and a 'backwards step' for others.
Licensing construction in the UK
As the latest report and proposal to licence builders reaches Parliament.
Building Safety Alliance golden thread guidance
Extensive excel checklist of information with guidance document freely accessible.
Fair Payment Code and other payment initiatives
For fair and late payments, need to work together to add value.
Pre-planning delivery programmes and delay penalties
Proposed for housebuilders in government reform: Speeding Up Build Out.
High street health: converting a building for healthcare uses
The benefits of health centres acting as new anchor sites in the high street.