• ing the contract is of more interest to the engineer than this one. The • • • • Discharge of Contracts 161 • • engineering contractor is continually running into conditions of soil, • streamflow, climate and other conditions which could not have been • and were not foreseen prior to the undertaking of the work, and it is • important that he understands the effect of these unforeseen conditions • on the contract before entering into such a contract. • PREPARATION OF SPECIFICATIONS
• Importance. The preparation of proper
specifications • necessary for a clear understanding of the nature of machinery, sup- • plies, or material to be furnished or work to be done under a contract, • is as essential for such work as the plans for the same. • • A specification is not the place to show the extent of the engineer's • knowledge, but it is the place to show how clearly and exactly he can • describe the essential and practicable limits of the qualities of work • and material needed for the end in view, how well he can protect his • client by definite and proper requirements, and how fair and just he • will be in his treatment of contractors. • Use of English. In the writing of specifications, all that • has been said about the use of English applies with special force. The • • • • Importance of Specifications 279 • • language used should be clear, accurate, and exact. The technical • terms or vernacular common to the trade to which the specifications • apply, may be used, but they must be understood and used correctly. • Clearness. Clearness in all details, both in plans and • specifications, is a protection both to the owner and to the con- • tractor, as in one case the contractor is unable to do improper work • or avoid the execution of essential features, and on the other hand he • is enabled to understand exactly what is desired by the engineer, and • can regulate his bid in accordance therewith, without the addition of • a percentage to cover uncertain work which he may be obliged to do • but which is not clearly specified • Brevity. While it is important that every element of the • contract shall be clearly, completely and exactly described, it is also • important and essential for clearness that such description shall be as • brief as is consistent with a complete and exact description. • Indeterminate Specifications. When the amount of ma- • terial or work to be done under a contract is expected to be small, it is • customary with some engineers to cover the same with only a brief clause • in which the work done and material furnished are to be "as the engi- • neer shall direct." This practice is less objectionable when only a • limited quantity of such work or material is to be furnished, but as in • most cases there is an uncertainty as to the amount, the practice seems • entirely inexcusable. • Ambiguous Specifications. Unnecessary or unreason- • able requirements are always ambiguous and are uncertain as to what is • actually desired, and what will actually be required by the engineer. • Under such conditions, responsible contractors will add materially to the • price for the work done under such specifications. • Specifications for Criticism. The student should con- • sider one or more of the following specifications, and both criticize the • specification as written and rewrite the specification so as to assure • proper results or to express the meaning (which should have been ex- • pressed) in clear and unequivocal language. • There are different types of technical or engineering specifications (specs), and the term is used differently in different technical contexts. They often refer to particular documents, and/or particular information within them. The word specification is broadly defined as "to state explicitly or in detail" or "to be specific". • A requirement specification is a documented requirement, or set of documented requirements, to be satisfied by a given material, design, product, service, etc.[2] It is a common early part of engineering design and product development processes, in many fields. • • A functional specification is a kind of requirement specification, and may show functional block diagrams.[citation needed] • • A design or product specification describes the features of the solutions for the Requirement Specification, referring to either a designed solution or final produced solution. It is often used to guide fabrication/production.