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Specifications describe the nature and the class of the work, materials to be used in the work,
workmanship etc. and is very important for the execution of the work. The cost of a work
depends much on the specifications. Specifications should be clear.
TYPES OF SPECIFICATION
1. General Specifications
2. Detailed Specifications
General Specifications
In general specifications, nature and class of works and names of materials that
should be used are described. Only a brief description of each and every item is
given. It is useful for estimating the project. The general specifications do not form a
part of contract document.
Detailed Specifications
The detailed specifications form a part of a contract document. They specify the
qualities, quantities and proportions of materials and the method of preparation and
execution for a particular item of works in a project. The detailed specifications of
the different items of the work are prepared separately and they describe what the
work should be and how they shall be executed. While writing the detailed
specifications, the same order sequence as the work is to be carried out is to be
maintained.
Construction Specifications
According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Document A201-2007, the Contract
Documents for a construction project consist of the Agreement, Conditions of the Contract,
Drawing, Specifications, Addenda, as well as other miscellaneous documents associated with
the contract between the project Owner and the Contractor hired to complete the work.
Construction specifications, as noted, become a part of the legal documents of the agreement and
form a cornerstone of the project design. In fact, in most cases, the construction specifications
override the project drawings in the event of conflicting information.
Performance Specifications
The general concept behind the performance specification is for the architect or engineer to
describe what they need, and the contractor to determine the best way to get there. The
performance specification focuses on the outcome and shifts the selection of materials and
methods, as well as a portion of the design work, onto the shoulders of the contractor. This
approach can provide incentives for innovation and flexibility in the construction approach, but
also reduces the amount of control that the architect or engineer has over the project./p>
REFERENCE STANDARD
Prescriptive Specifications
2. Products: This section will describe, in detail, the various products required
for the task covered by the specification along with the individual structural and
performance requirements of each product.
3. Execution: This section will explain how to prepare the materials and conduct
the installation, including the testing requirements to be followed.
Prescriptive specifications shift more of the project design control onto the shoulders of the
architect or engineer and away from the contractor by establishing a set of rules that is to be
followed for each project component. This type of specification provides more certainty
regarding the final product composition than the performance specification, and is very
frequently used for highly complex portions of a project.
Proprietary Specifications
Proprietary specifications are those that require the use of a single approved product type for any
particular installation. Proprietary specifications are often used in cases where there is existing
equipment or installations already on site. In these cases the owner may want to maintain
consistency of materials or possibly simply prefers a specific type of product. Also, in highly
complex installations where there is only one specific piece of equipment that will accomplish a
specified task, a proprietary specification is required.
Architects and engineers typically try to avoid utilizing proprietary specifications except when
absolutely necessary, and will usually allow the contractor to select from a list of approved
suppliers. Requiring the use of one specific product type can lead to the perception of favoritism
towards a certain manufacturer and may eliminate competition during the bid phase, which may
increase the project cost.
Master Format is a standard for organizing specifications and other written information for
commercial and institutional building projects in the U.S. and Canada. Sometimes referred to as
the "Dewey Decimal System" of building construction, Master Format is a product of
the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC). It
provides a master list of Divisions, and Section numbers with associated titles within each
Division, to organize information about a facilitys construction requirements and associated
activities.
Master Format is used throughout the construction industry to format specifications for
construction contract documents. The purpose of this format is to assist the user to organize
information into distinct groups when creating contract documents, and to assist the user
searching for specific information in consistent locations. Information contained in Master
Format is organized in a standardized outline format within 50 Divisions (16 Divisions pre-
2004). Each Division is subdivided into a number of Sections.
SPECIFICATIONS GROUP
Division 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection (Ex. Insulation and water barriers)
Division 09 Finishes
Division 10 Specialties
Division 11 Equipment
Division 12 Furnishings
Division 22 Plumbing
Division 26 Electrical
Division 27 Communications
Division 31 Earthwork
Division 34 Transportation
Division 43 Process Gas and Liquid Handling, Purification and Storage Equipment
Master format standardizes the arrangement and naming of specification section within a
project manual. There is also a need to standardize the way in which information is presented
within the individual sections. The 3 part section format groups information into three distinct
categories or parts. These three parts are:
PART 1 General
PART 2 Products
PART 3 Execution
These three parts are fixed in name and order. This is another way of standardizing
specification writing.
PART 1 General Defines the specific administrative and procedural requirements unique to this
section
PART 2 Products Describes, in detail, the quality of items that are required for incorporation
into the project under this section.
PART 3 Execution Describes, in detail, preparatory actions and how the products are
incorporated into the project.
Division 03 Concrete
Division 04 Masonry
Division 05 Metals
Division 10 Specialties
Division 11 Equipment
Division 12 Furnishings
Division 15 Mechanical
Division 16 Electrical