Ch 15 Construction Specifications Flashcards
The technical specification describe . . .
the quality of materials and workmanship, along with the general requirments for the execution of the work, standards, and other items that are more appropriately described in written, rather than graphic form.
When can specs be put on the drawings?
For small projects
On most projects, the specifications are included in a _______ __________ and issued with the drawings and contract agreements as part of the complete package of contract documents.
Project Manual
What does a project manual consist of?
A bound book containing all the contract and noncontract documents for a construction project EXCEPT the drawings and the agreement. It CONTAINS the technical specifications, and it includes several other types of documents.
What (4) four parts is the project manual divided into?
(1) Bidding Requirements, if needed (2) Parts of the contract itself, which may contain the agreement between the owner and contractor, bond forms, and the like (3) General and supplementary conditions of the contract and (4) Technical Specifications
What may be included in the Bidding Requirements?
Invitation to bid, prequalification forms, instructions to bidders, information available to bidders, and bid forms.
What may be included in the Supplements to Bid Forms?
Bid Security Form, Subcontractor List, Substitution List
What may be included in the Contract Forms?
Agreement (between contractor and owner), Performance Bond, Labor and Materials Payment Bond Certificates of Insurance
What may be included in the General and Supplementary Conditions?
General Conditions of the Contract (e.g. AIA Form A201 or similar preprinted form), Supplementary Conditions (anything not covered in the general conditions), Technical Specifications
What are the two broad categories of construction specifications?
Prescriptive and Performance
Prescriptive (Closed) Specifications
Tell exactly what product or material the contractor must use by using brand names.
Performance (Open) Specifications
Tell what results the final construction assembly must achieve, but they give the contractor some choice in how they will be achieved.
Most interior design specifications . . .
fall between the two extremes of Prescriptive and Performance Specs.
Public projects usually require what type of specs?
Open (to encourage competitive bidding)
If a job is being bid . . .
the contractor should have as much choice as possible so he/she can find the lowest price within the context of the specification requirements.
What are two common variations of of prescriptive specifications?
Proprietary and Base-Bid
What are the common variations of of performance specifications?
Descriptive, Reference Standard, and Pure Performance
Proprietary Specifications
The most RESTRICTIVE specifications that call out a specific manufacturer’s product, giving the designer COMPLETE CONTROL over what is installed. They are EASIER to write and are generally SHORTER. They DO NOT allow for competitive bidding and may force the contractor to use materials or products that may be difficult or expensive to procure or that require a long delivery time.
Base-Bid (Equal ) Specifications
Call out a proprietary material/product but allows the substitution of other products that the contractor thinks are equal to the one stated. This is a RISKY method of specifying because the contractor may substitute a less expensive item that he thinks is equal, but isn’t.
What are the two variations of Base-Bid specifications, to allow the designer more control over possible substitutions?
(1) Lists several approved manufacturers of a product. The contractor is free to bid on any one listed. This type satisfies the requirements for PUBLIC work where at least three different manufacturers must be listed, but puts the BURDEN on the designer to make sure every one is equal. (2) Uses “approved equal” language stating that one product or approved equal must be used. This means the contractor may submit a substitution, but the substitution would be SUBJECT TO REVIEW and APPROVAL by the designer before being incorporated into the bidding. Thsi gives the contractor some freedom to find lower-priced alternates and puts the burden of finding them on the contractor. The RESPONSIBILITY for fairly and accurately evaluating the alternates is PLACED ON THE INTERIOR DESIGNER. SPECIFICATIONS SHOULD CLEARLY STATE HOW MUCH LEAD TIME THE CONTRACTOR MUST GIVE THE INTERIOR DESIGNER AND HOW ALTERNATES WILL BE EVALUATED.
Descriptive Specification
A type of performance spec that gives detailed written requirements for the material or product and the workmanship required for its fabrication and installation. IT DOES NOT MENTION TRADE NAMES. It is difficult to write because all the pertinent requirements for the construction and installation of the product must be included.
Reference Standard Specification
A variation of the descriptive spec that describes a material, product or process based on requirements (reference standards) set by an acceptable authority or test method, or trade association. These specs are fairly easy to write and are generally short. Chances for errors are REDUCED and liability is minimized because industry standards and generally recognized methods of building are being used.
Pure Performance Specifications
A statement setting criteria and results required of the item being specified. The results can be verified by measurement, tests, or other types of evaluation. THE MEANS OF ACHIEVING THE REQUIRED RESULTS ARE NOT SPECIFIED; this is left up to the vendor or contractor. THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO WRITE because the specifier must know all the criteria, state the methods for testing compliance, and write an unambiguous document. THESE ARE RARELY USED FOR INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION.
When is a true performance specification used?
For construction components when the specifier wants to encourage new ways of achieving a particular results.
Master (Guide) Specifications
Prewritten specifications that cover nearly all types of products, methods of installation, and other variables that relate to a specific product or construction activity.
Guide Specifications
Similar to master specifications, except they are usually NOT AS COMPLETE. They simply assist the spec writer in organizing the information and showing what decisions need to be made and where things should be placed in the correct location in the document.
What is the danger in using a “Cut and Paste” method of writing specifications?
Important clauses or conditions may be lost or inappropriately used, especially by an inexperienced designer.
What are the three ways master specifications are produced?
(1) Use one of several commercial products that can be bought/subscribed to and that enable them to simply select and edit the required sections to fit the needs of each product. The company providing the spec performs the task of WRITING AND COORDINATING AND KEEPING EACH SECTION CURRENT. (2) Large offices can write and maintain their own master specifications and may have a spec writer (3) Hire a spec consultant who uses their own commercial product. The ADVANTAGE is that this person is experienced and knows what questions to ask, how to select and evaluate materials, how to coordinate all the sections, and how to customize each section for a specific project. THE DESIGN OFFICE IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN THE SPECS, as they are for any consulting working under an agreement with the designer.
MasterFormat System (CSI)
The organization of the technical sections has be standardized through this syems to standardize the numbering and format of project-related information for use in specifying, cost estimating, and data filing.
Instead of the previous 5 digit number, how many numbers does the new MasterFormat system have?
6 (First 2 numbers represent the division numbers, with a leading zero used for the single-digit versions. The next two numbers represents the level-two hierarchy, and the last two represent level three in the hierarchy. This allows for flexibility and room for expansion)
