Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

FIDIC definition

What does FIDIC mean? In legal practice, FIDIC usually means the suite of standard‑form construction and engineering contracts published by the International federation of Consulting Engineers (Fédération Internationale des Ingénieurs‑Conseils), rather than the organisation itself. It is an industry term, not defined in legislation or case law. FIDIC contracts (commonly the Red, Yellow, Silver, Green, Gold, Blue and Emerald Books) are widely used on international infrastructure, EPC and design‑and‑build projects. Key legal features include the Engineer’s role as contract administrator and decision‑maker, detailed risk allocation, provisions on variations, payment, extensions of time and claims, strict notice and time‑bar requirements, and tiered dispute resolution using...

FIDIC Gold Book 2008: A practitioner’s guide to Design, Build and Operate contracts—scope, structure, risk, fitness for purpose, payment, testing, insurance and dispute resolution

Published by a LexisNexis Construction expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note offers an overview of the FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Design, Build and Operate Projects 2008, widely referred to as the Gold Book 2008.

For what type of project is the Contract suitable?

The FIDIC Gold Book 2008 is a design, build and operate form (‘DBO’)—for general background on DBO arrangements, see Practice Note: DBO contracts. It presumes a greenfield design‑build‑operate model with a 20‑year operations and maintenance term. It is unsuitable for brownfield schemes, i.e. the enhancement of an existing asset. According to the FIDIC DBO Contract Guide (1st edition, 2011—issued by FIDIC), the Gold Book may suit infrastructure undertakings where the completed facility is expected to generate income or receipts for the Employer, and where the Employer may lack the capability or know-how to run the facility and might otherwise appoint a service provider or operator. It is envisaged that the Contract will be let to a single contracting body, typically a consortium or joint venture. Consistent with other agreements in the FIDIC suite, the Gold Book is intended for use on cross-border projects.

The structure of the Contract

The FIDIC framework is intended for use on greenfield DBO projects over a 20-year operation period...

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Victoria Tyson

Howard Kennedy (acquired Corbett & Co.)

Victoria Tyson is a director and a specialist international construction lawyer qualified to practise in England and Wales and Hong Kong. She has dealt almost exclusively with international construction law disputes since 1998 and has extensive experience in all forms of construction and engineering dispute avoidance and resolution. She has particular expertise in complex international arbitration and specialist knowledge of the FIDIC forms of contract. Victoria has worked on large construction projects around the world including airports, ports, motorways, railways, bridges, dams, water supplies, hydropower stations, wind farms, mines, oil and gas plants, and pipelines. She has worked with many bespoke and standard forms of construction contract, including FIDIC, NEC, ICE, JCT, and HKIA. Recently, she partnered with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Training and worked closely with the ICE Law and Contracts examination panel to develop a new portfolio of...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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