General Information
CRC is CFIA's specialized center for resolving disputes in engineering and architecture. It provides a confidential setting where the parties can talk, negotiate, and reach agreement — through conciliation, arbitration, and Dispute Boards.
CRC handles financial disputes that arise from how a contract — written or oral — is performed or interpreted, when the matter relates to engineering or architecture. At least one of the parties must be a CFIA member.
No. Cases must involve a financial dispute — ethics in professional practice is handled by other bodies within CFIA. CRC's role is to help the parties find a solution they both accept, based on party autonomy and in line with Law No. 7727 on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Promotion of Social Peace.
The CRC does not provide legal advisory services, psychological therapy, or engineering or architectural consulting. Its role is to offer mechanisms for the parties involved to resolve their differences autonomously.
Conciliation
You can fill out the request form Here
It is essential that you provide details of the CFIA member with whom you wish to conciliate, the number of projects (if applicable), describe the dispute and state your initial claim.
It's a voluntary, confidential process in which the parties — with the help of an impartial conciliator — work toward an agreement that satisfies both sides.
The conciliator is a neutral professional, trained in conciliation techniques, who is a CFIA member and accredited by the Ministry of Justice and Peace. Their role is to keep the conversation moving so the parties can reach a workable solution.
At the CRC, conciliation proceedings are free of charge when at least one of the parties is a member of the CFIA.
Arbitrations
It is a private process where the parties agree to have their dispute resolved by an arbitral tribunal. The decision, known as an arbitration award, has the same value as a court judgment and is binding.
Depending on the type of arbitration, the tribunal may be composed of:
- Equity: CFIA member arbitrators who rule according to principles of fairness and equity.
- At law: Lawyers who decide in accordance with the applicable legal regulations.
- Mixed: One attorney chair and two CFIA members, combining legal and technical expertise.
- Expert: CFIA specialists who make decisions based on specific technical knowledge.
An arbitration clause should state the parties' agreement to submit disputes to arbitration at CRC, the type of arbitration (at law, equity, mixed equity, abbreviated, or expert), and how the tribunal will be made up (a sole arbitrator or a three-member panel).
The arbitration process will last depending on the complexity of the case, but ranges from six to twelve months.
It depends on how complex the case is, but most arbitrations take between six and twelve months.
Cost depends on the amount in dispute and includes the arbitrators' fees and CRC's administrative fees. You can request a preliminary estimate from CRC.
Dispute Resolution Committees (Dispute Boards)
A Dispute Board is made up of one to three neutrals — called adjudicators — who follow the project from the start, issue recommendations to keep the contract on track, and resolve disputes quickly when they arise.
They're professionals from various technical fields, drawn from CRC's official roster, who sit on the boards and provide technical solutions throughout the project.
Ideally from the start of the project to its completion, so issues can be prevented or resolved as they come up.
Cost depends on the project specifications, its duration, and what the parties and adjudicators agree to.