SPECIFICATIONS

COMMON ACRONYMS
SPEC

SOURCES OF INFORMATION/ COMMON STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

1. Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
2. CSI Master Format

DEFINITION
Its a written document (or a set of documented requirements) describing in detail the nature of work, materials to be used, technical standards to be followed, methods of installation, and quality of workmanship for a project (or to complete and deliver a project, service, material or a design) to be placed under contract; usually utilized in conjunction with other documents such as scope of work/ deliverables, employers requirements/ procedures, drawings, key milestones, and a contract document.

It is widely believed that specifications over rule the drawings, but to avoid conflicts or errors between the documents, it is necessary that the contract documents or Scope narrative explain the order of precedence of documents, which is normally as follows;

1. Contract Agreement and addendums and revisions
2. Special Provisions and addendums and revisions
3. General Provisions and addendums and revisions
4. Scope of Work/ Scope Narrative and addendums and revisions
5. Specifications (with standards) and adendums and revisions
6. Employers Requirements and addendums and revisions
7. Details on Drawings and addendums and revisions
8. Plan Drawings and adendums and revisions

NOTE: The contractual clause for precedence of documents is valid only for conflicts and errors. In case of omissions (not conflicts or errors), the contractual clause for precedence of documents can not be used. e.g. ”If something is specified in the specifications but is not shown on the drawings". Since the drawings are used to measure the quantities, not specifications, if an item is not shown on the drawings, it can not be measured. Hence if specifications mention that oak wood should be used for flooring, but the drawings do not show which of many floor types are to be made of oak wood, it is considered an omission, and can not be enforced. One can bring just 1 sqm of oakwoood and handover to the owner, and claim that specifications have been met.

CLASSIFICATION
There are various types of specifications;

1. Product Specification: This describes a manufacturer's product or material as it is manufactured. As a part of sales literatire, manufacturers normally provide technical data sheets (Product specifications), installation data sheets/ maintenance manuals, MSDS sheets and guide specifications, to help designers and customers understand their products, and to help them use their products for a particular application, and in specifying their products as project specifications .
2. Project Specification/ Construction Specification: This describes an architect's/ engineer's design and performance requirements for a product to be used on a particular project. It might contain requirements for how a product should be purchased, installed, maintained and used for a the project. Specifications are prepared for every activity/ type of work to be performed/ executed for the project. These specifications become a part of the contract. Contractors and sub-contractors submit prices according to the project specifications and when successful provide and install products to meet a project specification. Architects or designers create project/ construction specifications before work actually starts. There are 3 types of Project/ Construction specifications;
1. Prescriptive: The specifications focus on the details for the types of materials used and the installation of said materials, give a better image of what the final product will look like. Prescriptive specifications (and all other types of specifications) are written with the following parts/ components;
   1. Part 1: General
   1. Introduction
   2. Related Sections
   3. References/ Standards
   4. Submittals
   5. Quality Assurance
   6. Mockup
   7. Pre-installation meeting
   8. Delivery
   9. Storage
   10. Protection
   11. Project Conditions
   12. Environmental Requirements
   13. Warranty
   2. Part 2: Products
   1. Manufacturers
   2. Materials
   1. Material 1
   2. Material 2
   3. Material 3
   3. Components
   4. System Requirements
   5. Fabrication
   6. Accessories
   3. part 3: Execution
   1. Examnination
   2. Preparation
   3. Installation
   1. Material 1
   2. Material 2
   3. Material 3
   4. Filed Quality Control
   5. Cleaning
   6. Protection
2. Performance: These specification discuss the operational requirements of a project. It details what the final installed product has to be capable of doing. The installer/ contractor has to figure out what to do, decisions/ risks about materials, products and execution move away from the architects and engineers and shift towards the contractor.
3. Properietary: These types of specifications list specific products, brands or manufacturers for any kind of installation, and are commonly avoided; but maybe used for jobs involving replacement, maintenance or compatibility of existing/ imstalled equipment. Architects and engineers tend to avoid proprietary specs because it can lead to promoting a specific manufacturer. These specifications may provide options, and may also explicitly allow alternatives and substitutions. An option is one of several, typically at least three, listed products in the specification, where no alternates are allowed. An alternate is a product acceptable to the engineer or specification writer for which the bidder submits alternative pricing. A substitution is a request to substitute one product for another product described in a specification. This could be in the form of a "proposed substitution", where the specification do not list alternate products or manufacturers but allow submittal of substitute products, or a "controlled substitution", where the desired products or systems are listed, but substitute products with equal functionality may be submitted for review and approval.
   1. Closed Proprietary Specification: A closed proprietary specification names, limits competition, and describes, and lists a single product brand/ code/ system by a single manufacturer. It may also list more than one products/ brands as options, but leave no room for substitutions or alternatives.
   2. Open Proprietary Specification: An open proprietary specification describes a single product or system but allows the bidder to suggest an alternate or substitute product.
3. Master Sppecification: This describes a template/ sample of a specification for a work item or an activity, that architect's/ engineer's develop to help them quickly tweak to create a specification for a particular project. Most commonly using CSI master format, Designers keep and continuosuly update a library of master specifications for all work items, with several associated products mentioned in the master specifications. This helps them in quickly specify the one or several products they find suitable for the project/ application.
4. Guide Sppecification: is a type of master specification that is published by a building product manufacturer to help an architect write a project specification that is based on the manufacturer's products.

WHY
..
WHEN
...

HOW
...
EXAMPLES
An example of a specification for CSI division 070000-Thermal and Moisture protection, section 075300-Elastomeric Membrane roofing is given below.

PART 1: GENERAL
1.01   Introduction
This section includes Elastomeric roofing membrane, adhered protected application, Flat Insulation, Flashings, Roofing cant strips, stack boots, roofing expansion joints, and walkway pads to create a watertight covering on the roof to protect the interior of a building.
1.02   Related Sections

1. Section 06100 - Rough Carpentry: Wood nailers and curbs
2. Section 07620 - Sheet Metal Flashing and Trim: Counterflashings, reglets
3. Section 07900 - Joint Sealers

1.03   References and Standards

1. ASTM C 177 - Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus; 2004
2. ASTM C 578 - Standard Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation; 2005a
3. ASTM D 412 - Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers- Tension; 1998a (Reapproved 2002)
4. ASTM D 570 - Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics; 1998
5. ASTM D 624 - Standard Test Method for Tear Strength of Conventional Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers; 2000
6. ASTM D 746 - Standard Test Method for Brittleness Temperature of Plastics and Elastomers by Impact; 2004
7. ASTM D 2240 - Standard Test Method for Rubber Property--Durometer Hardness; 2005
8. ASTM E 96/E 96M - Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials; 2005
9. NRCA ML104 - The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual; National Roofing Contractors Association; Fifth Edition, with interim updates

1.04   Submittals

1. See Section 01300 - Administrative Requirements, for submittal procedures.
2. Product Data: Provide data indicating membrane materials, flashing materials, insulation, and fasteners.
3. Shop Drawings: Indicate joint or termination detail conditions, conditions of interface with other materials, and paver layout.
4. Samples for Verification: Submit two samples 600 x 600 mm in size illustrating insulation and fully bonded roofing membrane.
5. Samples of Aggregate: Submit two 0.5 kg containers of aggregate ballast.
6. Samples of Pavers: Submit two.
7. Manufacturer's Installation Instructions: Indicate membrane seaming precautions, special procedures, and perimeter conditions requiring special attention.
8. Manufacturer's Certificate: Certify that products meet or exceed specified requirements.
9. Manufacturer's Field Reports: Indicate procedures followed; ambient temperatures, humidity, wind velocity during application, and supplementary instructions given.
10. Warranty: Submit manufacturer warranty and ensure forms have been completed in Owner's name and registered with manufacturer.

1.05   Quality Assurance

1. Perform work in accordance with NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual and manufacturer's instructions.
2. Manufacturer Qualifications: Company specializing in manufacturing the products specified in this section with minimum three years of documented experience.
3. Applicator Qualifications: Company specializing in performing the work of this section with minimum five years documented experience and approved by manufacturer.

1.06   Mockups

1. Construct a 3.0m x 3.0 m. Mock-up in a location as directed by Project Engineer.
2. Mock-up shall include all constituent parts and laid out in such a way that all of these items are visible for inspection.
3. Mock-up also shall include, joints, terminations, interfaces with other materials and components and paver layouts.

1.07   Delivery

1. Deliver products in manufacturer's original containers, dry, undamaged, with seals and labels intact.

1.08   Storage

1. Store products in weather protected environment, clear of ground and moisture.

1.09   Protection

1. Protect foam insulation from direct exposure to sunlight.

1.10   Project Conditions

1. Coordinate the work with installation of associated counterflashing’s installed by other sections as the work of this section proceeds.

1.11   Environmental Requirements

1. Do not apply roofing membrane during unsuitable weather.
Follow all temperature restrictions in laying roofing membrane as per membrane manufacturer recommendation.
3. Do not expose materials vulnerable to water or sun damage in quantities greater than can be weatherproofed the same day.

1.12   Warranty

1. See Section 01780 - Closeout Submittals, for additional warranty requirements.
2. Correct defective Work within the defects liability period after Date of Substantial Completion.
3. Provide twenty (20) year manufacturer's material and labor warranty to cover failure to prevent penetration of water.

PART 2: PRODUCTS
2.01   Manufacturers

2.02   Materials - Roofing

2.03   Materials - Roofing Membrane and associated materials

2.04   Materials - Insulation

2.05   Components

2.06   System Requirements

2.07   Asseccories

PART 3: EXECUTION
3.01   Examination

DOWNLOADS
...