Book excerpt: NEC2 has established itself as the leading contract for civil engineering work and has made major in-roads into the building market. NEC3 appeared in July 2005 and represents an update to reflect users experience and changes in the way the construction industry operates, in the years since the appearance of NEC2 in 1995. This guide is aimed at those familiar with the provisions of NEC2 and provides and an easy-to-use comparison on the changes between the two editions of the NEC.