What are the types of delays which considerably 'excusable'?

• A. Broken equipment
• B. Subcontractor slow progress
• C. Strikes
• D. Contractor slow progress

Answer: (C)

In construction contracts, delays that are beyond the contractor’s control and not caused by the project owner or the contractor’s own misconduct are often treated as excusable delays, meaning the project timeline can be extended without the contractor incurring liquidated damages. Labor strikes fit this category because they are work stoppages caused by labor disputes rather than poor management or failure to perform. They disrupt the schedule through no fault of the contractor, so they are typically granted a time extension.

Broken equipment, subcontractor slow progress, and contractor slow progress are generally considered the contractor’s risk or management responsibilities. Equipment failures are a maintenance or reliability issue the contractor must plan for; subcontractor delays usually reflect the contractor’s oversight of subcontractors; and the contractor’s own slow progress is a performance issue for which extensions are not automatically granted unless a contract-specific force majeure or other provision applies.