PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

College of Engineering and Technology

Chemical Engineering Department

Technical Specifications: Materials and Processes

Basic Considerations
If one were to pick at random a number of technical specifications for
an assorted variety of jobs and compare them, it might appear at first that
there was little similarity between them. Fundamentally, however, each, if
well written, will have as its goal the presenting of certain definite
information arranged in the manner which will make this information of
maximum value to those for whom it is intended. A satisfactory arrangement
for a given set of technical specifications must therefore be based on the
type of operation which it is intended to control.
A technical specification for an item of supplies, such as coal for a
power station, will be different from a specification for construction work
which will include labor as well as materials. In either case, however, the
technical specifications should be organized so that the party or parties
whose work or supplies it will control can find the information which they
require quickly, easily, and without reading through pages of material which
does not concern their part of the work.

Outlining Technical Specifications for Construction Work

In technical specifications for construction work the material which
should be included and the manner in which this material should be
organized must be consistent with the organization of the trades and
industry which are to construct the work and supply the materials.

Construction work is at the present time formalized into rather definite

trade lines, each trade specializing in some particular type of work. Trade
unions have encouraged this trend; and on work on which all labor is union
Technical Specifications: Materials and Processes
Baluyot Jr., B.K., Conge, J.P.N., Dizon, G.G.

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

controlled, the mechanics will work at only one trade. Just labor has
specialized and the activities of mechanics are restricted to one type of work,
so also have the contracting companies specialized; it is now extremely rare
to see a construction project on which all the work is done by only one
company. In fact, on some of the smaller projects, the general contractors
have somewhat assumed the role of brokers, having subcontractors perform
most of or all the work while they act primarily as coordinators of the work.
This situation must be taken into consideration in the writing of technical
specifications, which, to be most useful to all parties, should be divided into
sections which correspond to the trade divisions of the work. This may
require twenty-five or more sections for the technical specifications, each
one of which will cover the work of one trade.
As has been previously pointed out, the best way to start the
preparation of a set of technical specifications is by preparing a good outline.
This outline Will be prepared by compiling a list of all trades which must be
employed to complete the particular project at hand. The work is divided
among these trades, and section of the technical specification is then written
covering the work of each trade.

Section Titles for a Hydroelectric Plant

The following is an example of the titles of the trade divisions taken
from the specifications for a hydroelectric plant:
1. Cofferdams, Earthwork

8. Sheet-metal Work

2. Concrete Work

9. Roofing and Roof Insulation

3. Masonry

10.
Structural Steel
Miscellaneous Metals

and

4. Carpentry and Hardware

5. Lathing and Plastering

11.
Erection and Millwright
Service

6. Metal Windows

12.

Painting

7. Glass, Glazing, and Caulking

Technical Specifications: Materials and Processes
Baluyot Jr., B.K., Conge, J.P.N., Dizon, G.G.

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

13.
Plumbing,
Drainage,
Piping, and Sump Pumps

17.
Penstock
and Hoists

Head

14.

Electrical Work

18.

Earth Dam

15.

Ventilation

19.

Gantry Crane

16.

Tainter Gate Hoists

Gates

20.
21.

22.

Section Titles for a School Building

23. The following is an example of the titles of the trade divisions of

a somewhat different type of construction project, a school building:
1. Excavation, Filling, Grading

10.
Tile

Insulation and Acoustic

11.

Resilient Flooring

12.

Ceramic Tile

13.

Painting

5. Carpentry and Millwork

14.

Class and Glazing

6. Finish Hardware

15.

Plumbing and Sewering

7. Roofing and Waterproofing

16.

Heating and Ventilating

8. Sheet-metal Work

17.
Electrical
Fixtures

2. Concrete Construction
3. Masonry Work
4. Structural
Steel
Miscellaneous Ironwork

and

Work

and

9. Lathing and Plastering

18.
19.

Technical Specifications: Materials and Processes

Baluyot Jr., B.K., Conge, J.P.N., Dizon, G.G.

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

20.

Outlining Trade Technical Specifications

21. When all the work for the complete project has been divided
between the various trades, each of the trade technical specifications may
be prepared.
22.
23. The trade technical specifications are divided into sections, each
of which presents, in the amount of detail required, the information which is
necessary for the trade to have in order to perform properly the particular
item of work which is covered in the section. Obviously the number of
sections required will depend on the nature of the project and the amount of
work which is assigned to the particular trade for the particular project at
hand. Each trade technical specification will have a list of section titles which
will be applicable only to the one particular trade and the one particular
project. In writing trade technical specifications, there is no substitute for an
intimate knowledge of the work to be performed.
24.
25.

Example of Trade Technical Specifications Section Titles

26. While typical list of trade technical specifications section titles

can be given, the section titles for a set of heating, ventilating, and airconditioning specifications for a small office building will be given to illustrate
in general terms the organization pattern used and the type of material
covered.
1. General

5. Cooperation
contractors

with

other

2. Scope of work
6. Coordination subcontractors
3. Manufacturer's
numbers

names

and

4. Heating, ventilating. and airconditioning drawings

7. Description of die systems

8. Air-conditioning plenum room
9. Air-conditioning fans

Technical Specifications: Materials and Processes

Baluyot Jr., B.K., Conge, J.P.N., Dizon, G.G.

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

10.

Air filters

34.
Steam and condensate
pipe fittings

11.
Heating, cooling, and
reheating coils
12.

14.
Refrigeration
condensing units
15.
Refrigeration
and accessories

36.

valves

37.

Traps and strainers

piping
39.
Wall-fin radiation, unit
heaters, and convectors

17.
Refrigeration
condenser water piping

40.
Hot-water
heater
41.

Boiler

28.
Smoke breeching and
barometric
draft-control
damper

and

Temperature controls

43.
Exhaust ventilation and
fans

Oil burner
Kitchen hoods

Oil tank and piping

31.
Vacuum heating
boiler feed pump

and

45.
Connections
electrical trade
46.

32.
Steam and condensate
piping system
33.

tank

42.
Pipe, duct, hot-water
tank,
and
breeching
insulation

44.
30.

and

38.
Zone-reheat circulator
pump
and
temperaturecontrol valve

16.
Refrigeration-system
testing and charging

29.

hangers

Duct work

13.
Registers, grilles, and
ceiling outlets

27.

35.
Pipe
supports

with

the

Guarantee

47.
Final
inspection

clean-up

and

Reheat piping system

Technical Specifications: Materials and Processes

Baluyot Jr., B.K., Conge, J.P.N., Dizon, G.G.

18.
19.
20.

21.

General

22. All work listed is subject to the General and Special Conditions
preceding. This contractor and his subcontractors shall responsible for and
by all requirements thereunder.
23. This section is included to notify all heating contractors who wish
to submit bids that there are sections of the specifications other than the
trade technical specifications with which they should familiarize themselves;
otherwise, they might read only that section and miss some of the
requirements for the project.
24.

25.

Scope of the Work

26. This work shall include all labor, materials, tools, equipment,
transportation, etc., necessary to install the complete systems of heating,
ventilating and air conditioning in accordance with the drawings and the
specifications following.
27. The intent of these specifications is to provide complete systems
of heating, ventilating and air conditioning and, while no attempt has been
made to detail or list each individual part required, it is the intent of these
specifications to include all parts and the furnishing of all labor reasonably
implied by these documents and which are required to deliver to the owner
the systems described herein complete in every detail and ready for
operation.
28. For example, it would be easier for an engineer to specify a
Modine H-75-unit heater than it would to specify "a horizontal discharge unit
heater capable of delivering 18,000 Btu per hour of heat when supplied with
2 pounds per square inch steam and with 60 degrees F, entering air, the unit
heater to have an extended surface heat transfer with copper or copper alloy

tubes and copper or aluminum fins." Actually the first specification gives
more information than does the latter.
29. While the engineer knows that the specified itemin this case
Modine unit heaterwill be satisfactory, he also knows that there are a
number of other makes of unit heaters which would also be satisfactory. To
save space in the specifications as well as to save time in their preparation
the engineer will use the name and designation number for an acceptable
item. To ensure the advantages of competition for the owner, he makes clear
to all bidders by this section that he will accept any equally good item.
30.

31.

Refrigeration Piping and Accessories

32. Refrigerant lines shall be of type L copper with sweat solder type
wrought copper fittings. Silver solder shall be used at all pints where
refrigerant temperatures may be too high soft solder.
33. Liquid line strainers, liquid line sight glasses and suction line
scale traps shall be provided.
34. Refrigerant lines shall be so sized installed that oil will not be
trapped in the lines, coils or at any other point in the system. Oil separators
shall be used if required to maintain the oil level in the compressors.
35. This section illustrates bow specifications for processes and are
given together, rather than in separate sections, so that the parties using the
documents will have the information regarding the material to be used and
manner in which it is to used, together.
36.
This section also illustrates how the contractor is restricted
on some points but is given a great deal of leeway on others. Certain
items such as strainers, sight glasses, and scale traps are definitely
required. On the other hand, oil separators are required only if the
piping system and coil layout make them necessary to the
maintenance of the oil level in the compressors and the engineer has
made it quite clear that no fluctuation of this oil level will be tolerated.
37.

38.

Refrigeration system Testing and Charging

39. Before the system is finally charged with refrigerant it be tested

and dehydrated.
40. A pressure equal to 200% of the normal working pressure shall
be placed on the system with anhydrous carbon dioxide plus enough Freon
for Halide leak test. All joints shall be tested for leaks with a Halide test the
system shall hold the pressure for 24 hours with no noticeable loss.
41. After the pressure test the system shall be down to a vacuum of
between one inch and, one and one-half inches mercury pressure absolute.
The refrigeration compressor shall be used in any way in producing this
vacuum. While under this vacuum the pipe and fittings shall be heated
slightly to insure drying out of all moisture. The system shall hold the
vacuum for at least 24 hours.
42. The system shall be charged with the correct amount of Freon-12
and with no air moisture being permitted to enter the system between the
drying and charging operations. Oil of the grade recommended by the
compressor manufacturer shall be added if required and the Oil shall be
watched closely during the start-up and testing period.
43. There may be some process which the engineer wishes
performed in a manner which is unusual; or a satisfactory job may require a
long, expensive procedure which some contractor might be tempted to
shorten for cost reasons and so omit some essential part of the procedure. In
either of these cases, the engineer should write as long as specification is
required to ensure that the required will be followed.
44.
In the example cited above, two elements are involved:
Freon leakage and moisture in a Freon system. Freon-12 is a relatively
expensive refrigerant, and the annual cost replacement may be several
hundred dollars more for a system with even minor leaks than for a
system with essentially no leakage. Freon is normally very stable, but,
when at higher temperatures, may react chemically with even small
amounts of moisture, forming harmful acids. This action may take
place slowly, the damage becoming evident only after the contractor's
guarantee has expired.

45.
The engineer, in including the amount of detail which was
given in this specification section, was protecting the owner against
future expense. This is a proper consideration, and lengthy therefore
justified.

46.
Zone Reheat Circulator Pump and Temperature
Control Valve
47. The hot water circulating pump for the zone reheat coils shall be
a Bell and Goisset 1 1/2" circulator or equal. The circulator shall be capable
of delivering not less than 35 gallons of water per minute against a head of 3
feet water gauge.
48. A thermostatic water mixing valve shall be installed between the
hot water storage tank and the water circulating pump. This valve shall have
a capacity of at least 30 gallons per minute of mixed water and shall deliver
the water at a temperature of 115 degrees F, plus or minus 5 degrees F,
when supplied with water from the storage tank at between 140 degrees F,
and 160 degrees F, and recirculation water at a temperature 10 degrees
lower than mixed water temperature. The mixing valve shall be similar and
equal to those manufactured by the Fulton Sylphon Co.
49.
This section illustrates the current practice of specifying
equipment by giving the performance requirements plus the name of
one acceptable design to illustrate the desired quality and the general
type desired. In the specification for the water-mixing valve, the
engineer has rather precisely set forth the performance requirements.
The exact type of valve to be supplied has been left to the judgement
of the bidder, subject only to the requirement that it must be of a
quality equal to the named brand.
50.

51.

Connection with the Electrical Trade

52. All electric motors furnished by the heating contractor shall be

for the following electric service: All motors 1/4hp and smaller in rating shall
be for 120 volts, 60 cycles, single phase. All motors 1/3hp or more in rating
shall be for 230 volts, 60 cycle, 3 phase.

53. The electrical contractor will, under his Section of these

specifications furnish disconnect switches, run an electric service to and
make one connection for each motor furnished by the heating contractor. All
other electrical work required in the heating specifications shall be done by
the heating contractor or of his subcontractors.
54. The heating contractor shall be responsible for checking all
electric work in connection with equipment furnished by him and shall be
responsible for the correct electrical functioning of all of this equipment.
55. All the work must be assigned to one, and only one, of the
trades, so that no work is omitted and also so that the owner will not pay
twice for the same work, once to each of two trades.
56.

57.

Guarantee

58. This contractor shall remove all debris accumulated and caused
by his operations and shall leave the work clean and neat and ready for use
by the owner. This contractor shall guarantee the operation of all equipment
installed his contract for a period f one year after completion.
59.
This guarantee shall cover all defects in workmanship and
material, and this contractor shall rectify all such defects within the
period of the guarantee without cost additional cost to the owner. This
guarantee shall include the loss of Freon refrigerant and this contractor
shall replace any Freon refrigerant lost in the guarantee period without
additional cost to the owner.
60. This section places the guarantee responsibility for this part of
the directly on the contractor for this division of the work and specification
states his liability. If any question is apt to arise regarding any guarantee
liability, the matter should be covered in this section. That is the reason why
the engineer included the sentence about Freon refrigerant loss.
61.

62.

Specifications for Supplies

63. Specifications for supplies that are not a part of a contract that
includes labor and materials are written in much the same fashion as are the
materials specifications for a labor and materials contract. For example, a
specification for cement might read:
64.
65.

Cement

66. All cement shall be Portland Cement and shall conform to

A.S.T.M. Serial Designation C150 and shall be Type I. The color shall be
subject to approval by the Purchasing Agent. All cement shall be the product
of reputable manufacturer. Certification of specification conformance shall be
furnished for each shipment of a carload.
67.

This specification is based on a standard specification of an

organization whose standards are well accepted and is much better
than any attempt on the part of the engineer or purchasing agent to
prepare a detailed specification of his own.