OBJ 3.1

Question 1

Prescriptive Specifications (Closed Specs)

Answer 1

This specification tells the contractor exactly what product or material to use.

Question 2

Performance Specification (Open Spec)

Answer 2

TSpecification based on performance requirements of a product, such as VOC content, efficiency rating, or sound attenuation rating. May or may not name a specific brand or model.

Question 3

MasterFormat

Answer 3

Part 1: general requirements, required submittals, quality assurance, warranties, project conditions, specifications for equipment delivery, storage and handling
Part 2: acceptable manufacturers, standards and test methods that materials must conform to, how items are fabricated
Part 3: tells how the product and materials are to be installed or applied, preparation before installation, in field quality control, requirements for cleaning, adjusting and protecting finished work

Question 4

Technical Sections

Answer 4

Organized around 16-division format and 5-digit numbering system, technical sections are generally organized by the sequence of the introduction of materials on the project.

Question 5

Reference Specifying

Answer 5

Incorporates reference standards published by industry associations and testing organizations and allows specifiers to use industry-accepted standards of practice and performance.

Question 6

Proprietary Specifying

Answer 6

Using proprietary products and materials is preferred because of brevity and simplicity. This specification type is frequently supplemented with reference standards and performance requirements.

Question 7

Descriptive Specifying

Answer 7

Requires the use of technical descriptions of exact characteristics of materials and products. This can be a tedious and time-consuming process.

Question 8

Implementing sustainable products

Answer 8

In an effort to implement construction projects that have the least impact on the environment, specifiers include requirements such as:

• Low or no-VOC paints, coatings, sealants, and adhesives
• Products with high recycled content
• Products that have been manufactured, harvested, or recovered regionally
• Roofing and paving materials with high reflectance values
• Particleboard and insulations with no added urea formaldehyde
• Flooring products that have received FloorScore Certifications.

Question 9

U.S. National CAD Standard

Answer 9

Single standard that supports the seamless transfer of building design and construction information among a broad array of users throughout the building life cycle.

Question 10

LOD

Answer 10

The level of development (LOD) refers to the degree that elements will be modeled in the drawings, broken down by project phase and heavily influenced by project goals.

Question 11

Open Specifications

Answer 11

Used for competitive bidding or public projects, in which several acceptable options of material, products, system, manufacturer, etc. can be listed for the contractor to chose from. Contractors may also suggest their own alternative if they can prove equal performance.

Question 12

Cash Allowance Specifications

Answer 12

Specification used when the amount of money that can be used is known but not necessarily a specific product. A dollar amount is set and the contractor and owner can choose based on the allowance.

Question 13

Wire Ties

Answer 13

In masonry construction, wire ties are used to bond the masonry to the substrate or to connect two or more wythes.

Question 14

Contents of a project manual include

Answer 14

• Bidding requirements
• Contract conditions (general, supplementary, and special, if there are any)
• Contract forms
• Specifications

Question 15

General Conditions

Answer 15

The General Conditions (A-201) contains information pertinent to most projects about the rights and responsibilities of the owner, architect, and contractor. Billable costs incurred by the general contractor for items other than direct construction-related materials and labor, or overhead and profit. Can include temporary power, site security, sanitation, or office supplies.

Question 16

Supplementary Conditions

Answer 16

Provisions added to a standard form contract. This is a useful tool to address project-specific needs that the standard form does not cover.

Question 17

Special Conditions

Answer 17

Special conditions are used to further extend the supplementary conditions. Government clients often have special conditions.

Question 18

General Requirements

Answer 18

The general requirements, or Division 01 of the project manual, expand on specific administrative and procedural provisions in the conditions of the contract. The general requirements apply broadly to the execution of the work of all the other sections of the specifications. The general requirements division is used to identify items of work that are not normally shown on the drawings or in the specification. (Note: general requirements and general conditions are not the same thing.)

Question 19

CSI MasterFormat, Division 01

Answer 19

General requirements. Contain information that applies to all the other specification sections so that it does not have to be repeated in each section.

Question 20

Reference Standards

Answer 20

Technical standards that can be referred to in specifications. The reference standard describes a material or process that meets the requirements set by an authority or test method. For example, ASTM C36 is a reference standard containing criteria for gypsum wallboard. Including ASTM C36 in the specifications means the gypsum wallboard on the project shall comply with this standard.

Question 21

CSI Project Resource Manual

Answer 21

Provides guidelines for specification writing.

Question 22

CSI MasterFormat Divisions (Selected Sections)

Answer 22

02 Existing Conditions
03 Concrete
04 Masonry
05 Metals
06 Wood, Plastics, and Composites
07 Thermal and Moisture Protection
08 Openings (Doors and Windows)
09 Finishes
10 Specialties
11 Equipment
12 Furnishings
13 Special Construction
14 Conveying Equipment
21 Fire Suppression
22 Plumbing
23 HVAC
26 Electrical
27 Communications
31 Earthwork

Question 23

Project Manual

Answer 23

The written documents prepared for procuring and constructing the work, which can include the specifications, bidding requirements, contract forms, and conditions of contract. The project manual may also include supplementary information such as the geotechnical report, traffic study, or arborist’s report.

Question 24

Where would a provision for the owner to pay for utilities instead of the contractor be located?

Answer 24

In the project manual in the supplementary conditions.

Question 25

Prequalification (AIA A305)

Answer 25

Bidders are often prequalified before being able to bid on projects. Prequalification provides information about bidder’s ability to meet standards of reliability, experience, financial stability, and performance.

Question 26

Bid Security

Answer 26

Bid security is a security against the contractor not entering into a bid with the owner. It is in the form of a check or a bid bond. If the successful bidder fails to enter into the contract, the bid security is forfeited.

Question 27

Bid Forms

Answer 27

A document filled out by a contractor, and submitted to an owner, stating the proposed total construction cost for a project. The bid may include qualifications or assumptions to define the scope of the bid.

Question 28

Invitation to Bid

Answer 28

An invitation to bid is a way to solicit a prequalified contractor to bid on a project.

Question 29

Advertisement to Bid

Answer 29

A way to call for potential bidders by advertising the project in newspapers or trade journals. The advertisement to bid is also included in the project manual. It is required for public projects.

Question 30

Bidding Documents

Answer 30

Includes:

• advertisement or invitation to bid
• instructions to bidders
• bid forms
• bid security information
• performance bond (if required)
• labor and material payment bond (if required)

Question 31

CSI MasterFormat, Division 00

Answer 31

Procurement and Contracting Requirements. These documents describe the project’s introductory project information and include documents for conducting bidding processes. This division also includes the agreements, general conditions, and other contractual documents.