Standard Construction Industry Documents: Overview

by Practical Law Real Estate

A Practice Note providing an overview of the commonly used standard form documents in the construction industry. This Note guides owners and their counsel through the document selection and modification process, highlighting key factors such as project delivery systems, construction pricing mechanisms, and project team formation. It introduces the catalogues of documents offered by major industry organizations, including AIA Contract Documents (ACD), ConsensusDocs, the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC), and the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). The Note explains the structure of each provider's document suite, covering agreements for different contracting parties and project types. It also emphasizes the critical need to customize these forms to address specific project requirements, allocate risks effectively, and comply with state-specific laws, to ensure contractual enforceability.