General conditions

General conditions
See also
Fixed term tenancy Good faith bargaining Lease Extension Subrogation clause Institute cargo clauses Indemnity clause Duties of trustee Exemption clause Construction management contract

General conditions is a document incorporated into an agreement. An agreement defines general terms understood as rights and duties of parties, while general conditions are defining these rights and duties in much more detailed way. The document is usually divided into articles. Each of article is describing relevant subject of an agreement . General conditions might be related to any kind of agreements and industries (architecture, engineering, constructions, banking, guarantees) .

General conditions in architecture, engineering and constructions

For projects related to architecture, engineering and constructions general conditions are among legal conditions and supplementary conditions documents which explains deeply differentiations in the contact. Usually there are used standardized documents published by American Institute of Architects (AIA) or Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC) .

Examples of articles in general conditions

Meyer D. describes how general conditions should be defined in construction law. Below aspects should be included :

• General provisions (definitions and terminology),
• Pointed other contract documents,
• An agreement between owner and constructor,
• All conditions (general, supplementary, other),
• Drawings,
• Specifications,
• Addenda,
• Modifications,
• Other documents.

Sweet J. points below eleven subjects that usually are part of general conditions :

1. Scope of contract documents and ways of resolving conflicts,
2. Roles and responsibilities of parties,
3. Subcontractors,
4. Timing,
5. Payments,
6. Risk protection,
7. Changes,
8. Corrections,
9. Termination,
10. Disputes,
11. Insurance.

Conflicting general conditions

Principles of European Union law are defining three points regarding conflicting general conditions :

1. General,
2. Contact existence,
3. Contract content.

Author: Kinga Kutek

References

• EFG Bank AG (2017), General Conditions and Risk Disclosure Statement, Hong Kong
• Hondius E. H., Kooten H. J. (2002), The Principles of European Contract Law and Dutch Law:A Commentary. Tom 1 z Perspectives on Company Law Series. Principles of European contract law. Tom 1 z Principles of European contract law: Kluwer Law International, Kluwer Law International B.V
• International Federation of consulting engineers (2010), Conditions of Contract for construction dfor building and engineering works designed by the employer, Multilateral Development Bank Harmonised Edition
• Lufthansa (2018), Terms & Conditions - General Conditions of Carriage (Passenger and Baggage), Germany
• Meyer D. (2003), Illinois Construction Law, Aspen Publishers Online
• Sweet J., Schneier M. M. (2008), Legal Aspects of Architecture, Engineering & the Construction Process, Cengage Learning
• World Bank (1995), General Conditions Applicable to Loan and Guarantee Agreements: For Single Currency Loans. International Bank for Reconstruction and development, World Bank Publications