Term
| Technical specifications describe: |
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Definition
| quality of materials and workmanship, along with the general requirements for the execution of the work, standards, and other items that are more appropriately described in written, rather than graphic form. |
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| specifications are included: |
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Definition
| in a project manual and issued with teh drawings and contract agreements as part of the complete package for contract documents |
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Definition
| bound book containing all the contract and noncontract documents for a construction project except the drawings and the agreements. |
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Term
| the project manual contains the technical specifications & several other types of documents |
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Definition
1. bidding requirements
2. parts of the contract itself, which may contain the agreement between owner adn contractor, bond forms, and the like
3. general and supplementary conditions of the contract
4. technical specifications |
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Term
| prescriptive specifications |
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Definition
| sometimes called closed; tell exactly what product or material you want the contractor to use by using brand names. |
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| performance specifications |
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Definition
| tell what results you want the final construction assembly to achieve, but they give the contractor some choice in how they will be achieved; known as open |
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| public projects usually require |
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Definition
| open specs to encourage competitive bidding |
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| two different types of prescriptive and performance specifications |
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Definition
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Definition
| most restrictive specs in that they call out a specific manufacturer's product. easier to write, however, do not allow for competitive bidding |
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| type of spec that calls out a proprietary material or product, but allows the substitution of other products that the contractor thinks are equal to the one stated. |
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| two variations of a base-bid spec |
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Definition
1. lists several approved mfgs. of a product. the contractor is free to bid on any of the listed.
2. base-bid spec with "approved equal" language. this spec states that one product or an approved equal must be used. the contractor may submit a substitution, but it is subject to review and approval by the designer. |
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Term
| descriptive specification |
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Definition
| type of performance (open) spec that gives detailed written requirements for the material or product and the workmanship required for its fabrication and installation. it does not include trade names. |
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Term
| reference standard specification |
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Definition
| variation of the descriptive spec that describes a material, product, or process based on requirements (reference standards) set by an accepted authority or test method. can be written to meet ASTM or ANSI requirements |
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Term
| pure performance specification |
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Definition
| statement setting criteria and results required of the item being specified. results can be verified by measurement, tests, or other types of evaluation. means of achieving the required results are not specified, this is left up to the contractor or vendor. |
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Definition
| often used for construction components when the specifier wants to encourage new ways of achieving a particular result. ie. a movable partition system could be spec'd by stating its required fire rating, accoustical properties, finish, max. thickness, tolerances, size required, and all other required properties. contractor or mfg. then would design a system to meet the criteria. |
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| performance specs are difficult to write because: |
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Definition
| specifier must know all the criteria, state the methods of testing compliance, and write an unambiguous document. |
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Definition
| separtate specification for each product or activity used on a project. |
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Definition
| separtate specification for each product or activity used on a project. |
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Definition
| prewritten specs that cover nearly all types of products, methods of install, and other variables that relate to a specific product or construction activity. also include comments or notes to the specifier providing guidance in editing the section. These are not printed out with the final specification. the specifier or designer uses the master specification to edit out the inapplicable portions and fill in any information that is unique to the project. |
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Definition
| similar to master specs, but not usually as complete. assist the spec writer in organizing the info and showing what decisions need to be made and where things should be placed in the correct location in the document. |
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Definition
| specifier uses portions from previous specs to paste together a new one. |
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Term
| master specs are produced in one of three ways |
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Definition
1. several commercial products are available that a design office can buy or subscribe to and that enable them to simply select and edit the required sections to fit the needs of each project. the company providing the specs performs tasks of writing and coordinating and most importantly, keeping each section current.
2. some large offices write and maintain their own master specs, and may even have a separate spec writer.
3. hire a spec consultant who uses their own commercial product. |
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Term
| if a spec consultant is hired |
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Definition
| the design office is still responsible for errors and omissions in the specifications, as they are for any consultant working under an agreement with the designer. |
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Term
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Definition
| standardize the numbering and format of project-related information for use in specifying, cost estimating, and data filing. organization is based on 16 broad divisions that represent major categories of work. |
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Term
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Definition
| is hierarchical system that arranges related construction products and activities into one of 16 groups called divisions. These 16 divisions are considered level one titles. the individual sections within each division are considered level-two titles. ie. level two title is paints and coatings. can be written as a level three such as paints, stains & transparent finishes, and high performance coatings |
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Term
| important things to keep in mind when writing specs |
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Definition
1. know what standards and test methods referred to include and what parts of them are applicable to your project. must be in most current editions.
2. do not specify together the results and the methods proposed to achieve those results, as the two may conflict
3. don not include standards that cannot be measured.
4. avoid exculpatory clauses.
5. avoid words or phrases that are ambiguous.
6. keep specs as short as possible.
7. describe only one major idea in a paragraph. |
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Term
| Three part format for organizing the Master Format System |
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Definition
1. gives general requirements for the section, such as the scope of the section, submittals required, quality assurance requirements, warranties, project conditions, and specifications for the delivery, storage, and handling of materials.
part two: details the specifications for the materails and products themselves, including acceptable mfg, what standards and test methods the materials must conform to, how items are fabricated, and similar concerns
3. how the products and materials are to be installed, applied, or otherwise put into place. also describes the examination and prepartion required before installation, how quality control should be maintained in the field, and the requirements for adjusting, cleaning and protection of the finished work. |
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Term
| in addition to the 16 divisions, the master format system suggests putting |
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Definition
| bidding and contracting requirements in the front of the project manual. |
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Term
| Areas of particular concern to ensure the technical specs and drawings coordinate. |
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Definition
1. the specs should contain requirements for all the materials and construction indicated on the drawings
2. the terminology used in both documents should be the same
3. dimensions and thickness should be indicated only in one document. generally, sizes are shown on the drawings, and the standards that those sizes refer to are stated in the specs
4. notes on drawings should not describe methods of install or material qualities; these belong in the technical specs. |
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Term
| when there is a conflict between the drawings and the specs |
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Definition
| the courts have held that the specs are more binding and take precedence over the drawings. |
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Term
| for commercial work and some residential |
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Definition
| the designer may select the furniture, but turn the job of ordering, installing, and billing over to one or more furniture dealers who supply specific brands of furniture needed. the dealer contracts directly with the client and assumes all responsibilities |
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| on larger commercial projects |
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Definition
| where a quoted price is requested from one or more dealers bidding on the same work, furniture specs must be written to state clearly the client's requirements. |
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