Dispute Avoidance/Adjudication Board (DAAB)

Definition

A standing panel of one or three independent experts appointed at the start of a FIDIC 2017 contract to help the parties avoid disputes and, where disputes arise, to provide binding (but not final) determinations. The DAAB replaces the earlier Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB) from FIDIC 1999, adding a proactive 'dispute avoidance' function: the Board can assist with informal discussions, provide advisory opinions, and help resolve issues before they crystallise into formal disputes. If a party is dissatisfied with a DAAB determination, they can issue a Notice of Dissatisfaction and proceed to arbitration — but the determination remains binding in the interim and must be complied with.