CDS - Project Manual Flashcards
project manual contains
- all contract documents and non-contract documents except the drawings
project manual is organized by
- bidding requirements
- parts of the contract
- general and supplementary conditions
- technical specifications
terminology used in specifications
should match that on the drawings
specifications describe
- the quality of materials and workmanship
- general reqs for the execution of the work
- standards
- other items that are more appropriately described in written vs graphic form
specifications should contain
requirements for all materials and construction indicated on the drawings
dimensions and thicknesses should
only be indicated on one document (drawings OR specifications)
notes on drawings should NOT describe
methods of installation or material qualities
master specification
is a pre-written text that includes the majority of requirements for a particular specification set
types of specifications
- prescriptive: sometimes called “closed”; specifies brand names
- performance: sometimes called “open”; results you want to achieve
commonly used prescriptive specifications
- proprietary specifications (most restrictive)
2. base bid with alternates (two types)
proprietary specifications
- easier to write and usually short
- gives architect complete control over what is installed
- does not allow for competitive bidding
base bid with alternates
- lists several approved manufacturers of a product
2. base bid with “approved equal” language
commonly used performance specifications
- descriptive specification
2. reference standard
descriptive specification
- detailed written requirements for a material or product and the workmanship required for its fabrication/installation
- typically difficult to write
reference standard
- variation of descriptive
- describes a material, product, or process based on requirements (reference standards) set by an accepted authority or test method
- fairly easy to write and generally short
organization of technical sections
- MasterFormat developed by Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
- 16 broad divisions that represent major categories of work (broad scope sections and narrow scope sections)
MasterFormat individual sections made up of 3 parts
- general reqs for the section
- details specifications for the materials and products
- tells how the product is to be installed
specification writing guidelines
- must be accurate, complete, and unambiguous
- standards and test methods are applicable to the project and are the most recent editions
- no contradictory info
- do not include standards that cannot be measured
- avoid exculpatory clauses: phrases that try to shift blame to the contractor/someone else in a general/broad way
- avoid ambiguous phrases (ie. and/or, etc., any)
- keep them short/concise
- describe only one major idea in each paragraph
open proprietary specifications
- allows the substitution of approved equal products
- the substitution product must match the quality and performance of the original one specified as determined by the architect
instructions to bidders
used in conjunction with the general conditions and define bidding procedures and requirements for qualification of bid submittals
supplementary conditions
modifications to the general conditions to accommmodate the legal, physical, or climatic conditions of the specific project
special conditions
requirements which change from project to project (ex. soil borings, traffic control, reference documents including codes, temporary utilities, tests and inspections, shop drawings, cleaning, safety, signs, etc.)
