SPECIFICATIONS

Objective:
• Owners, architects, and designers must be specific about the

work needed on a project. If you communicate what needs to be

done poorly, it can result in huge delays, change orders, and

rising costs. The construction industry created a process to

ensure that construction specifications communicate project

needs efficiently.
 Construction Specifications
• Also known as specs that detail the work and workmanship needed
to complete a construction project.

• These details include information such as materials, the scope of

work, installation process, and quality of work.

• Subcontractors and teams use these specs as a guide to choose the

right materials for the specific project.

• The specs discussed between the project owner and the contractor
become a part of the legal documents for the project.
Types of Construction Specifications
 Prescriptive Specifications

• Focus on the details for the types of materials used and the
installation of said materials. Architects or engineers tend to take over
the job of project design in prescriptive specs.

• Prescriptive specs can be broken up into three separate parts:

general, products, and execution.
 Performance Specifications

• Discuss the operational requirements of a project. It details what the

final installed product has to be capable of doing. In this phase, the
owner or general contractor doesn’t give a subcontractor specs
detailing how to finish the job. Instead, designers and architects give
contractors details on how the final product has to work in this phase.
 Proprietary Specifications

• Used when you need to use a single type of product for any kind of
installation. These are the least common of the three types of
construction specifications, but they are for jobs involving existing
equipment and already completed installations.
 REMINDER: Be as Specific as Possible

• Planning out a construction project is very time consuming and

requires a lot of detail.

• The more time you spend detailing each step of the project, the more
likely your vision for the project will be executed accurately.
Who Handles Construction Specs?

• Typically, specs are prepared by the architect or designers. Generally,

architects will delegate them but oftentimes project engineers will be
involved due to their breadth of technical knowledge.
• Sometimes, on large-scale projects, companies will even call for
specialized and professional specification writers to ensure all details
are covered.
Who needs specifications?

• Contractor
• Purchasing agent
• Inspector
• Owner
• Subcontractors
• Materials and equipment manufacturers
Specifications include:

• Bidding Requirements
- Invitation to Bid
-Instructions to Bidders
-Information Available to Bidders
• Sample forms
• Agreement
• Bid form
• Bid bond
• Performance and Payment Bonds
• Other sample forms
Specifications include:

• Conditions of the Contract

• General conditions
• Supplementary Conditions

• Schedule of Drawings

• Technical Specifications
 General Conditions

• Document establishing the legal rights, responsibilities, and

relationships of the parties to the cotract. The parties are the owner,

owner's representative, and the contractor

 Supplementary Conditions
• Number of copies of contract documents to be received by the contractor
• Type of surveying information to be provided by the owner
• Material owner will provide
• Specific information about material substitutions
• Changes in insurance requirements
• Requirements concerning the phasing of construction
• Examination of the site
• Start date for construction
• Requirements for project security
• Requirements for temporary facilities
• Specific procedures for submitting shop drawing
• Cost-reporting requirements
• Job schedule requirements
 Technical Specifications
• Written document that covers the quantitative items of a project as
opposed to the quantitative information provided in the drawings.

• technical specifications modify or clarify what is shown in the

drawings (Schedule of Drawings)
 Problems Encountered in Specs
• Conflicting information
• technical specs govern
• architect or engineer makes determination
• Omitted information in either drawings or specs
• Assumption of “greater valueI” intended
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING !!!