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Scheduling

Schedule Acceleration

In Plain English

Actions taken to complete the project faster than originally planned, usually by adding resources or overlapping tasks.

Definition

Schedule acceleration is any action taken to shorten the project duration after the baseline schedule has been established, typically in response to falling behind schedule or an owner's request to complete earlier. Methods include crashing (adding resources), fast-tracking (overlapping activities), and eliminating non-critical work from the critical path. Schedule acceleration typically increases cost and requires a change order if directed by the owner.

Why It Matters in Bidding

When an owner directs acceleration, it is a compensable change that should trigger a change order capturing premium time, added crews, equipment, and lost productivity from stacking trades. Estimators who can quickly price acceleration scenarios protect cash flow and avoid absorbing recovery costs caused by owner-driven or upstream delays.

Example

After an owner asks to open a retail tenant two weeks early, the GC's estimator prices a second drywall crew, weekend overtime, and an expedited millwork freight charge, then submits a change-order proposal documenting the directed acceleration before committing the resources.

Related Terms

Schedule CompressionFast-TrackingCritical PathChange Order

Frequently Asked Questions

They overlap but differ in timing. Compression is the general toolkit of crashing and fast-tracking, often planned during bidding to hit a target duration. Acceleration specifically means shortening the schedule after the baseline is set, usually to recover lost time or meet an earlier date, and frequently carries change-order implications.
Yes, when acceleration is directed or constructively forced by the owner. Recoverable costs include overtime premiums, added crews and equipment, lost productivity, and extended supervision. Document the direction in writing, track actual added costs, and submit a change order. Voluntary acceleration to recover the contractor's own delays is generally not compensable.
Constructive acceleration occurs when an owner refuses a justified time extension after an excusable delay, effectively forcing the contractor to speed up to meet the original date. It can support a claim for added costs even without an explicit acceleration directive, provided the contractor documented the excusable delay and the denial.

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