1. The Use of Standard Materials and Methods
Specifications not only bind the contractor to perform his work in a certain manner and to furnish material of a certain grade, but they also greatly influence the cost of the work and material furnished. Unusual characteristics, modifications of standard machines, and the introduction of new methods should be specified only when such unusual requirements are clearly needed to secure the best result, and after an investigation has shown plainly that the additional expense involved is commensurate with the better results to be obtained.
neither the best nor the cheapest is uniformly desirable or applicable, and the ideal quality for the specific conditions in question should be the aim in each case. Unnecessary requirements and restrictions as to the quality or character of material and supplies or of unusual methods of construction will add unnecessarily to the expense involved and constitute a serious error. Such specifications are all too common and frequently result in unwarranted expense, serious trouble, and sometimes in legal complications.

2. Responsibility
The more general the specifications, the greater the degree of responsibility which the contractor should required to accept. As the details are defined by the specifications, the contractor’s responsibility must of necessity decrease, for neither morally nor legally can a man be held responsible for results which are entirely beyond his control.

3. CHAPTER 17 Technical Specifications: Materials and Processes

4. Basic Consideration
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 used on the type of operation which it is intended to control

5. 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.

6. Section Titles for a School Building
The following is an example of the title of the trade division of a somewhat, different type of construction project, a school building:
Excavation, Filing, Grading
Concrete Construction
Masonry Work
Structural Steel and Miscellaneous Ironwork
Carpentry and Millwork
Finish Hardware
Roofing and Waterproofing
Sheet-metal Work
Lathing and Plastering
Insulation and Acoustic Tile
Resilient Flooring
Ceramic Tie
Painting
Glass and Glazing
Plumbing and Sewering
Heating and Ventilating
Electrical Work and Fixtures

7. Outlining Trade Technical Specifications
When all the work for the complete project has been divided between the various trades, each of the trade technical specifications may be prepared.
The trade specifications are divided into section, each of which presents, in the amount of detailed required, the information which is necessary for the trade to have in order to perform properly the particular items of work which is covered in the section. 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.

8. Example of Trade Technical Specification Section Titles
The section titles for a set of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning 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 Oil burner
2. Scope of the work 21. Oil tank and piping
3. Manufacturer’s names 22. Vacuum heating and boiler feed
and number pump
4. Heating, ventilating, and 23. Steam and condensate piping
air conditioning drawings system
5. Cooperation with other 24. Reheat piping system
contractors 25. Steam and condense pipe fittings
6. Coordination of Suncons. 26. Pipe hangers and supports
7. Description of the systems 27. Valves
8. Air-conditioning plenum 29. Zone-reheat circulator pump and
system temperature control valve
9. Air-conditioning fans 30. Wall fin radiation and unit heater
10. Air filters 31. Hot water tank and heater

9. Example of Trade Technical Specification Section Titles Continuations
11. Heating, cooling, and 32. Temperature controls
12. Duct work 33. Pipe, duct, hot water tank, and
13. Registers, grilles, and breeching insulation
ceiling outlets 34. Exhaust ventilation and fans
14. Refrigeration condensing 35. Kitchen hoods
units Connections with the electrical trade
15. Refrigeration piping and 37. Guarantee
accessories 38. Final clean-up and inspection
16. Refrigeration-system
testing and charging
17. Refrigeration condenser
water piping
18. Boiler
19. Smoke breeching and
barometric draft-control damper

10. Explanation of some general terms the organization pattern used and type of material covered
GENERAL. All work listed is subject to the General And Special conditions preceding. This contractor and his subcontractors shall be responsible for and governed by all requirements thereunder.
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 familiarized themselves; otherwise, they might read only that section and miss some of the requirements for the project.
SCOPE OF THE WORK. This work shall include all labor, materials, tools, equipment, transportation, etc., necessary install the complete systems of heating, ventilating and air conditioning in accordance with the drawings and the specifications following.

11. Explanation of some general terms the organization pattern used and type of material covered
MANUFACTURER’S NAMES AND NUMBERS. Various items on the drawings and on the division of the specifications are listed with name and number of some specific manufacturer. It is not the intent of these documents that the manufacturer so listed is to be given preference over other manufacturers, whose equipment is, in the opinion of the Engineer, equally suitable.
GUARANTEE. A guarantee of one year after completion is usually given by the contractor to the owner. The contractor guarantee the operation of all equipment or materials installed under his contract. 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 additional cost to the owner.

12. Explanation of some general terms the organization pattern used and type of material covered
Specifications for Supplies. 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:
Cement. All cement shall be Portland Cement and shall confirm 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 one reputable manufacturer. Certification of specification conformance shall be furnished for each shipment of a carload.

13. Some common modern Construction Materials and Methods use
In Roofing
Roof Retrofitter (APO GALFAN Roof Retrofitter)
Rib-type roofing (METALPLAS Twin Rib Roofing Sheet)
Concrete roofing (TEGULA FILIPINA Concrete Roof Tiles)
In Walls Interior and Exterior
Metal Studding
Exterior wall panels (EcoWall High Performance Exterior Wall Panels)
Pre-casting of Walls
In Concrete mixed
Pre-mixed concrete mixed
Retardant for concrete mixed
Accelerant for concrete mixed
In Mechanics and Equipment
Concrete Finisher or Paver for road concreting
Concrete pump truck
Laser guided level