BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4
SPECIFICATION WRITING
QUANTITY TAKE-OFF
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SPECIFICATIONS
• IN PRINT DESCRIPTION OF
WORK TO BE DONE,
MAKING PART OF THE
CONTRACT AND RELATING
QUALITIES OF MATERIAL
AND METHOD OF
CONSTRUCTION, AND ALSO
GIVING DIMENSIONS AND
OTHER DATA NOT SHOWN
IN THE COMPLETE PLANS.
According to the Dictionary of Architecture & Construction
a specification is, “a written document describing in detail the scope of
work, materials to be used, methods of installation, and quality of
workmanship for a parcel of work to be placed under contract; usually
utilized in conjunction with working (contract)
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Project Specification
ROLE OF SPECIFICATION IN CONSTRUCTION
• Architect and engineer prepare contract documents for the
project for the purpose of obtaining competitive bid for the
construction and to guide thee successful contractor during
construction
• To the extent, document such as the agreement between the
owner and contractor and certain aspects of the general
conditions, involves legal matters. The role of the
architect/engineer is to assist the owner’s attorney
• The contract documents consist the following:
a) The agreement between the owner and the contractor
b) General conditions (and special conditions)
C) Drawings and specifications
Specification and Drawing
• Are a written description and the drawing a diagrammatic
presentation of the construction project.
• Drawings and specifications are complementary for example,
drawing notes are short, general, and described a type of
construction, location and quantity required,
Whereas specifications expand on the characteristics of the
materials involved and the workmanship desired in installing
them.
A note on the drawing may read “suspended ceiling” the
specification will completely describe the ceiling and established
such details as whether the acoustic materials is pre finished
perforated metal with sound absorbent pads, mineral fiber or
vegetable fiber; size of the unit; whether the metal grid supporting
the acoustic units is exposed or concealed etc.
Specifications
• Are addressed to the prime contractor
• They present a written description of the project in an orderly and
logical manner.
• They are organized into divisions and sections representing, in
the opinion of the specification writer, the trades that will be
involved in construction
• Workmanship required will be detailed in the specification,
proper organization of the specification will facilitate estimating
and aid in the preparation of bids
• The contractor study the specifications to determine the
sequence of work, quality of workmanship, and appearance of end
product
• if workmanship will not determined properly, unrealistic cost will
result for example;
Specifications
specification will describe workmanship for architectural concrete in
terms of forms, surface finish, curing methods ,and weather
protection this items representing large costs, will affect the bids
substantially.
• The contractor will not include in their bids the cost of any item that
is not specified or installed it e.g.
If the form material (wood material, or plastic) and the surface of the
concrete are not defined, contractors will select the form material that
will give what they consider a satisfactory finish with the greatest
number of re uses
• Whenever dispute arises, the contracting parties will scrutinize the
specifications for instructions or requirements spelled out in writing
before consulting any other part of the construction documents.
• A clearly written and comprehensive specification is the only
means of indicating The contractor will not include in their
bids the cost of any item that is not specified or installed it e.g.
If the form material (wood material, or plastic) and the surface
of the concrete are not defined, contractors will select the
form material that will give what they consider a satisfactory
finish with the greatest number of re uses
• Whenever dispute arises, the contracting parties will scrutinize
the specifications for instructions or requirements spelled out
in writing before consulting any other part of the construction
documents.
A good specification will:
• a)expand or clarify drawing notes,
• b)define quality of materials and workmanship,
• c) establish the scope of work, and spell out the responsibility
of the prime contractor
CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
• AGREEMENT – A PRINTED BETWEEN THE OWNER AND
CONTRACTOR SETTING FORTH THE JOB TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED, THE TIME FOR FINISHING POINT, AND
THE CONTRACT SUM.
• CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT – THESE CONSIST OF
THE GENERAL CONDITIONS, SUPPLEMENTARY
CONDITIONS, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.
• GENERAL CONDITIONS – PRINTED DOCUMENTS
SPECIFYING THE PROCEDURAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
FEATURES OF THE CONTRACT.
• SPECIAL PROVISIONS – ARE INFORMATIONS WHICH
MAYBE ISSUED PRIOR TO THE BIDDING TO SUPPLEMENT
AND OR TO MODIFY DRAWINGS, SPECIFICATIONS AND OR
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT.
Procedural - relating to an established or official way of doing something.
Administrative: Pertaining to activities related to an organization's or business' administration and management.
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• DRAWINGS – THE GRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF
THE WORK TO BE DONE.
• SPECIFICATIONS – A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF
WORK TO BE DONE DESCRIBING QUALITIES OF
MATERIAL AND MODE OF CONSTRUCTION.
• ADDENDA – CHANGES MADE BEFORE THE
CONTRACT EXECUTION.
• MODIFICATION – INSTRUCTIONS, CHANGE
ORDERS, DIRECTIVES, ETC. WRITTEN AFTER THE
EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT.
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USAGES OF SPECIFICATIONS
• FOR CONTRACTOR, TO EXPRESS HIM OR HER
HOW TO CONSTRUCT, MANAGE, AND DIRECT
THE CONSTRUCTION.
• FOR ESTIMATOR, WHO MAKES THE ESTIMATE
BASED ON THE SPECIFICATIONS.
• FOR PURCHASING AGENT, WHO ACQUIRES
THE MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT DEFINED IN
THE SPECIFICATIONS.
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• FOR RESIDENT PROJECT REPRESENTATIVE OR
INSPECTOR, WHO MUST BE GIVEN DOCUMENT
THAT CAN HELP THIS PERSON IN STUDYING AND
MONITORING THE WORK.
• FOR THE OWNER, WHO WOULD SIMILAR TO
IDENTIFY WHAT HE OR SHE IS PURCHASING AND
IS PERMITTED TO RECEIVE.
• FOR THE SUBCONTRACTORS, SO THAT EACH
CAN READILY DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF HIS
SUBCONTRACT.
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• FOR MANUFACTURERS OF BUILDING
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT SO THAT THE
GRADE AND TYPE ARE CLEARLY DEFINED WITH
RESPECT TO THE MANY VARIATIONS THEY MAY
MANUFACTURE.
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FUNCTIONS OF
THE
SPECIFICATIONS
• LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS –
THE COURTS HAVE
GENERALLY HELD THAT IN
THE EVENT OF CONFLICT
BETWEEN DRAWINGS AND
SPECIFICATIONS, AS A
WRITTEN DOCUMENT.
• INSURANCE
CONSIDERATIONS –
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
GOVERNING OWNER’S
LIABILITY, CONTRACTOR’S
LIABILITY, AND FIRE
INSURANCE ARE USUALLY
INCORPORATED IN THE
GENERAL CONDITIONS OR IN
SUPPLEMENTARY
CONDITONS AND, AGAIN
MADE A PART OF THE
SPECIFICATIONS BY
INCORPORATION THEREIN.
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• BIDDING REQUIREMENTS – THE BIDDING
REQUIREMENTS CONSIST OF THE INVITATION TO
BID, INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS, THE BID FORM,
AND THE BID BOND. THESE BIDDING
NECESSITIES ARE SETTLED BY THE ARCHITECT
ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE BIDDER AND ARE
PROJECTED TO PROVIDE THE BIDDER WITH DATA
ESSENTIAL TO GIVE IN TO A BID. THESE ARE
USUALLY GUARANTEED WITH THE
SPECIFICATIONS.
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• ALTERNATES, OPTIONS – THE SPECIFICATIONS
OFFER A BASIS FOR THE CONTRACTOR’S
ESTIMATE AND PROPOSAL OF BID. ALTERNATES
ARE STARTED BY THE ARCHITECT AND OWNER
FOR THE REMOVAL OF WORK, ADDING OF WORK,
AND FOR EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS.
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• TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS POSSIBLY WILL
ALLOWTHE CONTRACTOR, AT HIS
PREFERENCE, TO USE ONE OF SEVERAL
MATERIALS OR MANUFACTURER’S VARIETY
IDENTIFIED FOR USE IN THE WORK.
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• SUBCONTRACTOR’S LIMIT – THE SPECIFICATIONS
SET ASIDE THE WORK PRESENTED ON THE
DRAWINGS INTO VARIOUS SECTIONS, OR UNITS
OF WORK, TO HELP THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR
IN SUBLETTING THE WORK TO DIFFERENT
SUBCONTRACTORS.
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• CONTRACTOR’S LIMITS – WHEN SOME MAIN
CONTRACTS ARE PREFERRED, AS REQUIRED BY THE
OWNER, THE SPECIFICATIONS, PRIMARILY IN
DIVISION 1, GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS
WILL ESTABLISH THE LIMITS OF EACH PRIME CONTRACT.
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• INSPECTION AND TESTING PROCEDURES –
(QUALITY CONTROL). THE SPECIFICATIONS
CREATE INSPECTION AND TESTING PROCESSES
TO BE MONITORED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION
OPERATIONS. STANDARDS FOR OFFICE AND
FIELD OPERATION ARE DEFINED FOR SEVERAL
MATERIALS AND BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS OR
METHODS.
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• DESIGN CRITERIA – ILLUSTRATIONS/DIAGRAMS/DRAWINGS
CANNOT BE USED TO SHOW OR DEFINE DECISIONS.
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EX. THE ARCHITECT’S SELECTION OF FINISH HARDWARE
FOR DOORS CAN BE DESCRIBED ONLY IN SPECIFICATIONS.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR PAINT MATERIALS, THE NUMBER
OF COATS, AND THE DEGREE OF LUSTER OR SHEEN
ARE IN THE SAME WAY GIVEN ONLY IN THE
SPECIFICATIONS.
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PROJECT MANUAL
• THE PROJECT MANUAL IS BOUND BOOK COMPRISING ALL
CONTRACT AND NON-CONTRACT DOCUMENTS FOR A
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT EXCEPTING THE DRAWINGS. THE
PROJECT MANUAL COVERS NOT ONLY THE TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS BUT ALSO CONTAINS SOME OTHER
VARIETIES OF DOCUMENT.
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ORGANIZATION OF THE PROJECT MANUAL
• BIDDING REQUIREMENTS – INVITATION TO BID,
INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS, DATA AVAILABLE TO BIDDERS,
BID FORMS, CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION
• PARTS OF THE CONTRACT ITSELF, WHICH WILL COMPRISE
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OWNER AND THE
CONTRACTOR, BOND FORMS,ETC.
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• THE GENERAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY CONDITION OF THE
CONTRACT.
• THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION, DIVISION 1 TO 16.
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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRAWINGS AND
SPECIFICATIONS
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MATCH ONE ANOTHER AND NEITHER SHOULD OVERLAP OR
DUPLICATE THE OTHER.
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DRAWINGS SHOULD GENERALLY INDICATE THE FOLLOWING:
 EXTENT, SIZE, SHAPE, AND LOCATION OF COMPONENT PARTS.
 LOCATION OF MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND FIXTURES
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DETAIL AND OVERALL DIMENSIONS
INTERRELATION OF MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND SPACE
SCHEDULE OF FINISHES, WINDOWS, AND DOORS
SIZES OF EQUIPMENT
IDENTIFICATION OF CLASS OF MATERIAL AT ITS LOCATION
PHYSICAL SCOPE OF SUBSTITUTES
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• SPECIFICATIONS SHOULD IN GENERAL DESCRIBE THE
FOLLOWING:
 KIND AND QUALITY OF MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND
FIXTURES
 QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP
 METHODS OF FABRICATION, INSTALLATION, AND ERECTION
 TEST AND CODE REQUIREMENTS
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 GAUGES OF MANUFATURERS’ EQUIPMENT
 ALLOWANCES AND UNIT PRICES
 ALTERNATIVES AND CHOICES.
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REQUIREMENTS OF GOOD SPECIFICATIONS
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SHOULD BE CLEAR
SHOULD BE BRIEF
SHOULD BE CERTAIN
SHOULD BE DETERMINATE
SHOULD BE JUST
SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTIVE
SHOULD NOT BE BAFFLING
SHOULD NOT BE ESSENTIALLY SIMPLE
SUBJECTIVE-based on feelings or opinions rather than facts
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Format for building specifications
Standard forms of technical specification can be obtained from
the American Institute of architects, construction specification
institute, and associated general contractors. The following
format has been developed by the CSI and adopted by the
CIAP, DPWH
ORGANIZATION OF SPECIFICATIONS
• 16 DIVISIONS (MASTERFORMAT)
 INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION (TITLE PAGE,
CERTIFICATIONS, CONTENT, LISTINGS, SCHEDULES)
 BIDDING REQUIREMENTS
 CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS
 FACILITIES AND SPACES
 SYSTEMS AND ASSEMBLIES
 CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS AND ACTIVITIES
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DIVISION 1 – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
DIVISION 2 – SITE CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 3 – CONCRETE
DIVISION 4 – MASONRY
DIVISION 5 – METALS
DIVISION 6 – WOOD AND PLASTICS
DIVISION 7 – THERMAL AND MOISTURE PROTECTION
DIVISION 8 – DOORS AND WINDOWS
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DIVISION 9 – FINISHES
DIVISION 10 – SPECIALTIES
DIVISION 11 – EQUIPMENT
DIVISION 12 – FURNISHINGS
DIVISION 13 – SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 14 – CONVEYING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 15 – MECHANICAL
DIVISION 16 - ELECTRICAL
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Division 1. General Requirements- includes all the requirements that
apply to the job as a whole or to several of the technical section, and
specially those requirements normally referred to as special
conditions.
Division 2 Site Work – includes most subjects dealing with site
preparation and development except site utilities.
Division 3. Concrete – includes most items traditionally associated
with concrete works except paving, piles water proofing, terrazzo
Division 4. Masonry - includes most materials traditionally installed
by masons except paving , interior flooring
Division 5. Metal structural and miscellaneous(wood and plastic)includes most structural metal and those metal not falling under the
specific provisions of other divisions except reinforcing steel,
curtain walls, roofing,piles,doors,and windows
Division 6. Carpentry (metals)– includes most work traditionally
performed by carpenters except wood fences, concrete formworks,
doors, windows, finished hardware.
Division 7. Moisture protection (finishes)– includes most items
normaly associated with preventing passage of water or water
vapor. Exceptpaint, water stop and joint installed in concrete or
masonry, and gaskets and sealant for curtain walls.
Division 8. Doors, windows and glass – includes metal and wood
doors, windows and frames; metal and glass curtain walls;
transparent and translucent glazing except glass blocks, and glass
mosaic
Division 9. Finishes(specialty) – includes interior finishes not
traditionally the work of the carpentry trade.
Division 10. Specialty (thermal and moisture)- includes finish
hardware and most other factory assembled pre finished items.
Division 11. Equipment (Plumbing system)– includes most items
of specialized equipment.
Division 12. Furnishing (mechanical system)– includes most
items place within the finished building.
Division 13. Special construction(electrical) system) – includes on site
construction that consist of items that normally would fall under
several other divisions but require the control that can be attained
only by including all parts in a single section
Division 14. Conveying systems- Includes those system that utilize
power to transport people or materials
Division 15. Mechanical- includes items that have been traditionally
associated with mechanical trades
Division 16. Electrical- includes most items that have been
traditionally associated with electrical trades
3 –SECTION FORMAT
• GENERAL – ABOUT THE GROUND
INSTRUCTIONS UNDER WHICH
THE WORK IS TO BE EXECUTED,
AND IT ALSO ESTABLISHES THE
SCOPE OF WORK TO BE
PERFORMED WITHIN THE
SECTION.
• PRODUCTS – IS AIMED FOR
DESCRIPTIONS OF MATERIALS,
EQUIPMENT. AND FIXTURES AND
FOR THE MANUFACTURING
PROCEDURE USED IN THE
DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
OF PRODUCTS.
• EXECUTION – IS USED TO
DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE
WORKMANSHIP, ERECTION,
INSTALLATION, AND APPLICATION
PROCEDURES
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BASIC PART OF THE SECTION FORMAT
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PART 1. GENERAL NOTES
DESCRIPTION
QUALITY ASSURANCE
SUBMITTALS
PRODUCT DELIVERY
JOB CONDITIONS
ALTERNATIVES
GUARANTEE
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PART 2. PRODUCTS
MATERIALS
MIXES
FABRICATION AND MANUFACTURING
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• PART 3. EXECUTION
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INSPECTION
PREPARATION
INSTALLATION/APPLICATION/PERFORMANCE
FIELD QUALITY CONTROL
ADJUST AND CLEAN
SCHEDULES
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