IN ENGLISH   The Construction Contracts Committe ("Byggandets Kontraktskommitté, BKK")   BKK is a non-profit making association consisting of authorities, associations and organizations on the building proprietor, consultants and contractor sides of the construction sector. The Board of directors consists of 9 members and 9 deputy members, of which the builiding proprietors and contractors each have 4 members and 4 deputy members and the consultants 1 member and 1 deputy member.   According to its rules the object of the association is ”to constitute a negotiation body for the principals regarding general conditions for different kinds of contracts, to draw up such conditions, to work for the observance of agreements made within the association and to conduct other activities connected therewith”.   At present, the great majority of contracts in Sweden are based either on ”Allmänna bestämmelser för byggnads-, anläggnings- och installationsentreprenader (AB 04)” of 2004 (General Conditions of Contract for Building, Civil Engineering and Installation Work) or ”Allmänna bestämmelser för totalentreprenader, avsedda för byggnads-, anläggnings- och installationsarbeten (ABT 06) of 2006 (General Conditions of Contract för Building, Civil Engineering and Installation Work performed on a package deal basis). Supporting these two documents are commentaries and forms of agreement which have been worked out jointly by the parties. The Construction Contracts Committee has had a decisive influence on the production of all these documents.   In the case of agreements between client and consultant ”Allmänna bestämmelser för konsultuppdrag inom arkitekt- och ingenjörsverksamhet (ABK 96) of 1996 (General Rules for Consulting Works in Architectural and Engineering Activities) is usually applied with appurtenant commentaries and forms of agreement. At the production of these documents the member organizations of the Construction Contracts Committee have represented the clients.   Among other matters dealt with by the Committee is the answering of questions regarding fixed and fluctuating prices, as well as indices for building contracts. The Committee has also taken interest in certain educational matters.     Member organizations of the Construction Contracts Committee   Clients/Employers  The Swedish Construction Clients Forum ("Byggherrarna")  The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) ("Sveriges Kommuner och Landsting")   The Government ("Staten") via     The Swedish National Rail Administration ("Banverket")     The Fortifications Administration ("Fortifikationsverket")      The Swedish Civil Aviation Administration ("Luftfartsverket")     The Swedish National Road Administration ("Vägverket")     National Property Board (" Statens Fastighetsverk") Swedish Property Federation ("Fastighetsägarna") The HSB National Federation ("HSBs Riksförbund") The Co-operative Housing Organization ("Riksbyggen")  The Swedish Association of Municipal Housing Companies ("SABO, Sveriges allmännyttiga bostadsföretag") Consultants The Swedish Federation of Consulting Engineers and Architects ("STD Svensk Teknik och Design") Contractors The Swedish Construction Federation ("Sveriges Byggindustrier")  The Swedish Association of Heating, Water, Sanitation and Cooling System Contractors           ("VVS-Installatörerna") The Swedish Electrical Contractor´s Association ("Elektriska Installatörsorganisationen, EIO") The Swedish Association of Air Handling ("Svensk Ventilation")  The Association of Insulation Contractors of Sweden ("Isolerfirmornas Förening")  Refrigerating Contractor´s Association ("Kylentreprenörernas Förening")   Legal Matter Board   The Construction Contracts Committee is also the principal of the Legal Matter Board of the Construction Sector.   1. The Legal Matter Board; object   For the promotion of speedy, cost-effective and competent dealing with disputes in connection with construction contracts BKK has set up a Legal Matter Board of the Construction Sector. The function of the board is to submit, at the request of the parties con- cerned, statements of opinion in legal matters chiefly connected with the standard agreements and publications published by BKK.   Statements of opinion which, according to BKK, are considered a guide for the application of laws may be published. In such cases the identity of the parties concerned shall not be disclosed.   Instead of submitting statements of opinion the Legal Matter Board may, at the request of the parties concerned, a) mediate between parties concerned or b) act as a special board for settlement of disputes in connection with the performance of major construction projects (dispute settlement board).   2. Requests for statements of opinion   Requests for statements of opinion from the board shall be made in writing, adressed to BKK. Requests shall be signed by the parties concerned and contain an account of the matter and of the issues relevant to the case.   BKK decides whether the matter is in compliance with the object of the board and whether the matter shall be taken up for consideration by the board.   3. Procedure following requests for statements of opinion   a) From case to case BKK appoints a board of three persons, of whom at least one person shall be a member, a deputy or a secretary of the steering committee of BKK. The board appoints a chairman from among its own number. A member of the board shall have special knowledge of legal or technical matters connected with the subject fields of the matter.   b) The parties concerned shall be given an opportunity to express their opinion before BKK takes the decision on the composition of the board.   c) BKK is entitled to draw up a special working programme. The board is entitled to call in a secretary to assist the board in its work; the board is also at liberty to consult special experts.   d) In connection with requests for statements of opinion the parties concerned shall each pay to BKK an administration fee amounting to SEK 5.000, plus value added tax.   e) Unless special reasons give rise to another procedure, the procedure of the board shall be in writing. Other than the request for a statement of opinion the party concerned may normally submit only two writings to the board.   f) Statements of opinions are based on what has been presented and has otherwise ocurred in the matter.   The statement of opinion shall, if possible, be made available to the parties concerned within two months from the date of the arrival of the last writing from the party concerned. Statements of opinion shall be in writing. From the statement shall appear the grounds for the judgement of the board. The statement shall be signed by the members of the board. In case of disagreement within the board, this shall appear from the statement.   The board submits its statement of opinion independently.   g) The board is entitled to payment for its work and for its expenses. The board may fix an advance amount to be paid to the board which, including accrued interest, is intended to constitute security for the payment to the board. The advance amount shall be paid, in equal shares, by the parties concerned. The parties concerned are liable, in equal shares and jointly and severally, for the payment to the board. Otherwise the parties concerned are liable for their own expenses.   4. Secrecy   The procedure and correspondence of the board are not public.   The board shall inform BKK when a case is closed.   One copy of the board´s statement of opinion shall be filed by BKK.   5. Requests for mediation  Requests for mediation by the board shall be made in writing, adressed to BKK. Requests shall be signed by the parties concerned and contain an account of the matter and of the issues to be covered by the mediation.   BKK decides whether the case is in compliance with the object of the board and whether it should be subject of mediation by the board.   The procedure following requests for mediation shall, where applicable, comply with what has been stated under items 3-4 above.   Unless the parties otherwise agree, the mediation is performed by a person appointed by BKK.   6. Special board for settlement of disputes (dispute settlement board)   In consultation with the parties concerned BKK draws up special rules for each individual matter.   Contact The Construction Contracts Committe or its Legal Matter Board    Requests for statements of opinion etc. to be addressed to the secretary of BKK.   Marie Borgblad Vägverket, JU SE-781 87 BORLÄNGE Telephone: 0046-0243-753 70 Fax: 0046-0243-759 79 E-mail: marie.borgblad@vv.se