Change directive
Also: Construction change directive
Quick definition: A written instruction from the consultant, signed by the owner, directing the contractor to proceed with a change to the work before the price and time adjustments have been agreed.
Explanation
Beginner explanation
Sometimes a change cannot wait while the price is negotiated. A change directive tells the contractor to go ahead now; the money and schedule are settled afterwards.
Technical explanation
Under CCDC 2 (2020) GC 6.3, the change directive covers changes within the general scope of the Contract. The adjustment is valued afterwards, typically on the basis of the contractor's actual costs plus an agreed fee where the parties cannot agree a lump sum. The 2020 edition tightened which costs are chargeable — costs must directly contribute to implementing the change, and certain internal costs such as preparing coordination drawings are no longer chargeable. Once agreed, the valuation is recorded in a Change order. The AIA equivalent is the construction change directive (A201 §7.3).
Practical example
Unexpected contaminated soil is found during excavation. To avoid stopping the site, the consultant issues Change Directive 3 for removal and disposal; the contractor tracks quantities and costs daily, and the final amount is later settled in a change order.
Why it matters
Change directives keep work moving, but they leave the owner with price uncertainty until settled, so records must be kept from day one.
Common confusion
Standards and references
- CCDC 2 2020 — CCDC 2 – 2020 Stipulated Price Contract. Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC), 2020. Definitions; GC 6.3.Original VDC Stack.io wording, based on the standard
Supports: Change Directive definition: consultant instruction signed by owner to proceed before adjustment is agreed · Status: Definitions and GC numbering reviewed from a copy included in a public tender package; confirm against a licensed copy. - CCDC 2 (2020): 8 Key Changes to the Stipulated Price Contract. McInnes Cooper, 2021.Widely accepted professional interpretation
Supports: 2020 revisions to change directive valuation: only costs directly contributing are chargeable; some personnel costs excluded
VDC Stack.io writes its own explanations and does not reproduce copyrighted standards text. Consult the cited standard for normative wording.
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VDC Stack.io. (2026). Change directive. In VDC Stack.io Knowledge Dictionary. Retrieved from https://vdcstack.io/dictionary/change-directive/