NEC ECC: Option C; D&B. CE or not?

NEC3 and NEC4 Contracts Compensation Events
1

The Contractor has submitted a design for a rendered finish to a wall to the PM for acceptance. The WI/scope that the Client provided did not specify the finish required.

The Client has now informed the PM that they may want a masonry clad finish. Is this a CE as the cost is obviously going to be more but the design has not been accepted by the PM yet? It’s an Option C contract.

2

It certainly sounds to be a CE.

If the Client’s WI did not specify a type of finish required, then the change in WI to introduce the required finish is a change in the WI. The change will not be due to either of the bullet points in clause 60.1(1) and so is a CE.