Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
(OP)
Good day to everyone.
My question:
Is there a technical difference between a Variation Order (VO) and a Change Order (CO)? Are they one and the same? Or are they terms that vary from country to country?
My simple understanding:
Variation Order - very minimal change (normally only additives/deductives in quantity) but original/basic design is retained or still the same.
Change Order - a more substantial change where the nature of the original/basic design is changed (say, a CHB wall is changed to ficemboard double wall on studs).
Is my understanding correct? Where does one draw the line?
Thank you very much for the enlightenment.
cheers and God bless.
My question:
Is there a technical difference between a Variation Order (VO) and a Change Order (CO)? Are they one and the same? Or are they terms that vary from country to country?
My simple understanding:
Variation Order - very minimal change (normally only additives/deductives in quantity) but original/basic design is retained or still the same.
Change Order - a more substantial change where the nature of the original/basic design is changed (say, a CHB wall is changed to ficemboard double wall on studs).
Is my understanding correct? Where does one draw the line?
Thank you very much for the enlightenment.
cheers and God bless.





RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
I have not heard of VO before.
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
I have seen a VO which said Take c = 0 (i.e. use the value of 0 for cohesion). The resultant change was millions of dollars.
RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
I have worked on a project where a project manager (bless him/her) had the success of inserting a clause allowing us to refuse a Change Order. I have only seen it twice. I think it's great. Makes finishing the job easier, as well as staying on schedule easier too.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
The governing jurisdiction may have defined the terms. In California there are "Information Bulletins" and "Change Orders". Information Bulletin is essentially a change order without a change in cost. Once the estimators figure out the cost, IB's get converted into CO's.
Though the term Variation Order is not familiar to me, I tend to agree with humdinger that it is minor compared to Change Order. Perhaps the key is that there is no change in cost. My best uneducated guess...
RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
God bless and best regards from the Philippines!
RE: Is Variation Order same as Change Order?
Contrast that with a Change Order/ ECO/ whatever, which causes the design documents to be changed.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA