1. Construction Specifications
Chapter 8
Construction Specifications

2. Introduction Building plans Contain general and specific information
Schedules
Contain specific information about items and applications
Specifications
Written descriptions of materials, equipment, construction systems, standards, and work quality

3. Introduction (cont’d.)
Construction specifications
Often follow guidelines of individual architect or engineering firm
Can be as basic as a description of materials or as in-depth as MasterFormat

4. Residential Descriptions of Materials
Most lenders have a format for providing residential construction specifications
Federal Housing Administration and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
Description of Materials

5. Residential Descriptions of Materials (cont’d.)
Plans, construction specifications, and building contract
Together become legal documents
Should be prepared carefully in cooperation with the architect, client, and contractor
Any variation should be approved by all parties

6. General Construction Specifications
Describe in detail requirements for products, materials, and workmanship
Exact statement describing characteristics of a particular aspect
Communicate information about required products to be used
Basis for competitive construction bidding, and to measure compliance with contracts

7. General Construction Specifications (cont’d.)
Types of performance specifications:
Proprietary product specifications
Provide specific product names and models for desired applications
Method specifications
Outline material selection and construction operation process
End-result specifications
Describe final characteristics

8. Specifications for Residential Design
Minimum construction specifications:
Established by local building officials
Vary from one location to the next
Contents are dependent on:
Specific local requirements
Climate
Codes used
Extent of coverage

9. Specifications for Commercial Construction
Often more complex and comprehensive than residential construction
May provide very detailed instructions for each construction phase
Time schedules for project completion
Inspections in conjunction with or in addition to those required by a local jurisdiction

10. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)
Often follow guidelines of individual architect or engineering firm
Common format has been established
MasterFormat
Master list of numbers and subject titles
Organizes information about construction work results, requirements, products, and activities into a standard sequence

11. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)

12. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)
MasterFormat has two main groups:
Procurement and Contracting Requirements
Establish relationships, processes, and responsibilities
Specifications
Contain construction specifications subgroups and related divisions

13. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)
UniFormat uniform classification system
Organizes preliminary construction information into a standard order on basis of functional elements
Functional elements (i.e., systems or assemblies) are common major components that perform a known function

14. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)
UniFormat uniform classification system (cont’d.)
Provides consistent comparable data across an entire building life cycle
Considers everything about the building

15. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)
UniFormat uniform classification system (cont’d.):
Purposes:
Achieve consistency in economic evaluation of projects
Enhance reporting of design program information
Consistency in filing information

16. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)
UniFormat categories:
A-Substructure, B-Shell, C-Interiors, D-Services, E-Equipment and Finishings, F-Special Construction and Demolition, G-Building Site Work, Z-General

17. Specifications for Commercial Construction (cont’d.)
UniFormat numbering system:
Divides each level-one category into level-two, level-three, level-four, and level-five titles
Set alphanumeric labels

18. Construction Documents
All drawings and written information
Construction documents
Drawings and written specifications
Prepared by architects and engineers
Communicates project design and for administering construction contract

19. Construction Documents (cont’d.)
Bidding requirements
Used to attract bidders and explain procedures for submitting bids
Contract documents
Legal requirements
Become part of construction contract

20. Construction Documents (cont’d.)
Construction drawings
Show lines and text to provide information
Depend on specific requirements
Vary in how much information is shown
Coordinating drawings and specifications
Combined drawings and specifications are referred to as plans