SPECIFICATIONS

 Specification is an important document attached with a tender form/contract

agreement which in most cases controls the quality of materials and works.

 Sometimes, specifications may be used to describe matters which could not be

explained clearly by drawings/sketches.

 Specifications should define:

 The extent of work to be carried out

 Quality of materials

 Quality of workmanship

 Proportion of mix

 How materials should be placed and fixed

 Acceptable standards for each aspect of the construction.

NECESSITY OF SPECIFICATIONS

The necessity of specifications are the following :

1. The specifications define the quality of materials and workmanship. Hence this will
help the contractor to quote correct rates for the different items of works.

2. The information contained in the specifications will serve as a guide to the contractor as
well as to the supervising staff during execution of the work.

3. Specifications help the owner to check and satisfy with the works, during execution.

4. It is necessary to specify the equipment tools and plants to be used for a work.

5. In case of disputes between the owner and contractor with respect to the method of
construction, quality and quantity of materials used, equipments and machineries used
etc, the specifications play the major role in solving the disputes and arriving at a
settlement.
SPECIFICATION WRITING

 The process of specification writing, conducted in parallel with design and drawing work, helps
create the proper balance between client, technical and aesthetic requirements.

 The principle qualifications needed are:

 familiarity with the project, including the design philosophy

 expertise in editorial, technical and contractual matters

 willingness and availability.

 Who should write the specification:

 In larger organizations include specialist specification writers, project managers, or

members of the project design group.

 In small office the chief architect.

 A good specification should do these things:

 Identify minimum requirements.

 Allow for a competitive bid.

 List of test methods to be used in testing for compliance with specifications.

PURPOSE OF GIVING SPECIFICATIONS

 The cost of an unit quantity of work is governed by its specifications.

 Specification of a work is required to describe the quality and quantity of different materials
required for a construction work and is one of the essential contract documents.

 This also specifies the workmanship and the method of doing the work. Thus specification of a
work serves as a guide to a supervising staff of a contractor as well as to the owner to execute
the work to their satisfaction.

 A work is carried out according to its specification and the contractor is paid for the same. Any
change in specification changes the tendered rate.

 As the rate of work is based on the specification, a contractor can calculate the rates of various
items of works in tender with his procurement rates of materials and labour. Thus tender rate
without specification of works is baseless, incomplete and invalid.

 Specification is necessary to specify the equipment tools and plants to be engaged for a work
and thus enables to procure them beforehand.
  The necessity of specification is to verify and check the strength of materials for a work
involved in a project.

TYPES OF SPECIFICATIONS

 GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

 DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS

 GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

 In general specifications, nature and class of works and names of materials that should
be used are described.

 Only a brief description of each and every item is given. It is useful for estimating the
project.

 The general specifications do not form a part of contract document.

 DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS

 The detailed specifications form a part of a contract document.

 They specify the qualities, quantities and proportions of materials and the method of
preparation and execution for a particular item of works in a project.

 The detailed specifications of the different items of the work are prepared separately
and they describe what the work should be and how they shall be executed.

 While writing the detailed specifications, the same order sequence as the work is to
be carried out is to be maintained.

BASIC SPECIFICATION WRITING PRINCIPLES

specifications must be clear, concise, complete, correct, and consistent.

 CLEAR

Specifications are a tool to communicate an owner's expectations regarding the performance of

the work to the contractor. Specifications need to be understood by the contractor's employees who
will be doing the work. The purpose and effect of the specification should be clear from its language,
and the language should convey only one meaning.

 CONCISE
 Concise specifications are essential to achieving quality and efficiency in construction. Short
sentences that break up information into smaller, easier-to-process units are better for conveying
complex information.

 COMPLETE

Specifications should provide the information necessary to enable a bidder to prepare a

complete and responsible bid and to enable the contractor to construct the project properly.

 CONSISTENT

Consistency in language selection, usage, format, and organization will help prevent conflicts
and ambiguities in specifications.

 CORRECT

Specifications should be accurate and factual. Sources of data used in the specification should
be reliable and current. Careless statements or statements based on unreliable data are frequently the
cause of contract administration problems and contractor claims.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 There are many available sources that can be of assistance to you when you are developing your
specifications.

 Here are suggestions for gathering specification information:

 Collect as much information as possible from the end user as to the function and
performance of the requested product. Use their expertise and knowledge.

 Collect product information from the industry (brochures, catalogs, specs, etc.). Many
manufacturers list their catalogs and product specifications on the internet.

 Look for standards and test information from professional societies where available.

 Look for specification information from government entities. Use the internet and e-
mail for research. Many states have standard specifications listed on the internet.

 Call on other “experts” in the purchasing community for help.