Weather can significantly disrupt construction projects, leading to delays, financial losses, and contractual disputes. Under NEC and JCT contracts, contractors must provide proof of exceptionally adverse weather to claim an Extension of Time (EOT) or compensation events. Having an accurate and reliable construction downtime report is crucial for proving delays and ensuring fair contract adjustments.
For years, the Met Office Downtime Report has been the industry standard for justifying weather-related delays. However, EHAB has developed a next-generation alternative—a dynamic, interactive, and automated report that provides real-time weather insights, customisable data, and instant notifications for compensation events.
This article explores the importance of downtime reports in construction, explains how they are used for contract claims, and provides a detailed comparison between EHAB’s interactive downtime report and the Met Office’s static report.
Under NEC and JCT contracts, contractors must demonstrate that weather conditions were "exceptionally adverse" compared to long-term historical averages. A construction downtime report helps contractors:
Prove delays caused by extreme weather
Submit Extension of Time (EOT) claims with accurate evidence
Comply with NEC and JCT contractual requirements for weather-related compensation events
Avoid disputes and financial penalties due to incomplete records
Improve future project scheduling based on historical weather patterns
Without an accurate downtime report, contractors risk losing valid claims, facing financial losses, and encountering prolonged contract disputes. That’s why having access to precise and up-to-date weather downtime data is essential.
For an Extension of Time (EOT) or Compensation Event (CE) claim to be approved under NEC and JCT contracts, contractors must provide evidence that weather was worse than expected for a given time of year. Specifically:
The NEC contract defines exceptionally adverse weather as conditions that occur less frequently than 1 in 10 years, based on historical data.
The JCT contract requires proof of exceptional weather conditions that were beyond what was reasonably foreseeable.
Contractors must provide site-specific meteorological data to demonstrate that weather delays were unavoidableand not due to poor planning.
A comprehensive downtime report ensures contractors meet these requirements efficiently, avoiding lengthy justifications and disputes.
While both EHAB and the Met Office provide downtime reports, there are significant differences in their usability, accuracy, and efficiency.
EHAB Version
Met Office Version
| Feature | EHAB Downtime Report | Met Office Downtime Report |
|---|---|---|
| Data Source | Uses the latest weather data up to the previous month, 45 years | Relies on data up to 2010, 30 years |
| Delivery Method | Automatically sent when a compensation event occurs | Must be manually requested from the Met Office |
| Format | Interactive and customisable | Static PDF report |
| Customisation | Contractors can select specific weather thresholds and data points relevant to their site | Standardised format with no customisation |
| Usability | Instantly accessible through an online dashboard, additional data can be accessed | Requires manual processing and effort to create justification |
| Integration | Connects to construction scheduling tools for automated risk assessments | Standalone document, requiring manual comparison |
Unlike the Met Office, which provides simple historical weather summaries, with data eithe rstopping in 2010 or 2020, EHAB’s report is updated every month using the most recent meteorological data. This ensures that contractors have access to real-time weather insights when submitting claims.
With EHAB, contractors no longer need to guess and then request reports manually. Instead, the system automatically sends reports when a compensation event occurs, ensuring that claims are backed by immediate and verified weather data.
Rather than receiving a one-size-fits-all static PDF, EHAB users can customise their downtime reports by selecting specific weather conditions relevant to their project (e.g., rainfall thresholds, wind speeds, temperature drops). This allows for greater accuracy in claims and reduces unnecessary disputes.
EHAB’s downtime report directly integrates with scheduling software, enabling project managers to justify extensions of time by highlighting the activities that have been delayed using actual schedule data.
With the Met Office report, contractors need to do a lot of heavy lifting to provide extra justifications that prove how the weather impacted them above the threshold. EHAB eliminates this issue by providing better data, clear links to schedule delays and a customisable experience.
Both EHAB and the Met Office offer downtime reports for weather-related Extension of Time claims. However, EHAB provides a modern, automated, and interactive solution that eliminates the inefficiencies of traditional reporting.
With EHAB, contractors get:
✅ The latest weather data up to the previous month
✅ Instantly delivered downtime reports when compensation events occur
✅ Customisable & interactive reports tailored to project needs
✅ Seamless integration with scheduling tools for proactive risk management
✅ A faster, more efficient way to justify EOT claims
If your construction project relies on accurate, timely, and efficient weather downtime reports, EHAB is the superior choice.
Don’t wait—upgrade to EHAB and take control of your weather risk management today!