Who owns the total float in a construction project?

The ownership of total float in a construction project is a critical aspect that impacts project scheduling and delays. Here’s an overview of the three scenarios regarding total float ownership and their implications:

1.     Client Owns the Total Float:

• In this scenario, the client is deemed to own the total float.
• Client-related delays affecting activities with total float are not considered as Extension of Time (EOT) delays until all the total float are exhausted.
• If an activity related to the client has a 30-day total float, the client can delay this activity by up to 30 days without the contractor being able to claim for EOT.

2.     Contractor Owns the Total Float:

• In this scenario, the contractor is considered to own the total float.
• Contractor delays relevant to activities with total float are not counted as delays until all the total floats are consumed.
• However, the variance between the planned percentage and the actual percentage may still be impacted by these delays.

3.     Project Owns the Total Float:

• this scenario suggests that the total floats belong to the project, rather than being owned by either the client or the contractor exclusively.
• Total floats are considered as resources available to the project as a whole.
• Whoever (client or contractor) consumes the total float first, by utilizing it to accommodate delays, effectively owns it.
• This approach is considered fair as it acknowledges that delays can arise from various project stakeholders and the project as a whole should manage its resources efficiently.

Conclusion:

• Unless explicitly stated in the contract, the default assumption is that the project owns its total floats.
• Challenges may arise when delays occur simultaneously from both client and contractor activities, particularly when there is float available on shared activities.
• Scenario 3, where the project owns the total float, is often deemed reasonable as it promotes a collaborative approach to managing project delays and resources.

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