SPECIFICATION
Specifications is defined as a written document describing in detail the scope of work, materials,
to be used, method of installation, and quality of workmanship for a panel of work to be placed under
contract.
A. SIX (6) GENERAL TYPES OF SPECIFICATION
1. Performance Specifications is a type of specification, the results of the product, rather than
the product itself are specified.
2. Descriptive Specifications is a type of specifications which gives a description of the
product.
3. Brand Name Specification is a type of specification wherein the desired product is specified
by the name given by the manufacturer or by the manufacturers name, and model number.
4. Closed Specification are types of specifications which are usually brand name
specifications and used basically where material is required to match existing material.
Single Product and Multi-product are the two types of closed specifications
5. Open Specification is a type of specification where all manufacturers whose products meet
performance and descriptive specifications are open.
6. Reference is a type of specification in which the item desired is referred to by a number
corresponding to a numbering a published specification.
The phrase equal means that the items specified by brand name is established as a standard and
any manufacturer with an equal product may bid.
Provide:
Replace:
Figures:
Tables:
It means furnish and stall.
It means remove existing and provide new.
An illustration or graph which may constitute an integral part of the specification.
An arrangement of data in lines and columns and should be used when data can be
presented more clearly this way than by the text.
B. Specifications shall give all necessary information governing:
1. Materials and workmanship
2. Inspection and tests
3. Supplementary contractual requirements
4. Necessary information which is not applied by the drawings.
C. Qualifications necessary for an effective specification writer:
1. A degree in the required discipline and eventual professional registration.
2. A good basic skill in drafting and detailing
3. A thorough knowledge of construction gained by extensive field inspection.
4. The ability to write in a proper and concise manner
5. An orderly mind
6. The ability to get along with fellow workers.
D. THE 16-DIVISION UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION INDEX
1. General Requirements: Includes most requirements that apply to the job as a whole or to
several of the technical sections and especially the requirements sometimes referred to as
special conditions.
2. Site Work:
Includes most subjects dealing with site preparation and development.
3. Concrete:
Includes most items traditionally associated with concrete work; exceptions
are paving, piles, waterproofing and terrazzo.
4. Masonry:
Includes most materials traditionally installed by mason, exceptions are
paving, piles, waterproofing and terrazzo.
5. Metals:
Includes most structural metals and metals not falling under the specific
provisions of other divisions.
6. Woods and Plastics: Includes most work traditionally performed by carpenters
7. Thermal and Moisture Protection:
Includes most items normally associated with
insulation and preventing the passage of water vapor.
8. Doors and Windows: Includes hardware, doors, windows, and frames; metal and glass
curtain walls; transparent and translucent glazing.
9. Finishes:
Includes interior finishes not traditionally the work of the carpentry trade.
10. Specialties:
Includes factory-assembled, pre-finished items.
11. Equipment:
Includes most items of specialized equipment.
12. Furnishings:
Includes most items placed in the finished building.
13. Special Construction: Includes on site construction consisting of items that normally would
fall under several other divisions but require control that can be attained only by all parts in a
single section.
14. Conveying Systems: Includes the systems that utilize power to transport people or materials.
15. Mechanical: Includes most items that have been traditionally associated with the mechanical
trades including Plumbing, Heating, Ventilating, Air-Conditioning and Fire Protection.
16. Electrical: Includes most items that have been traditionally associated with the electrical trades.
E. Importance of the use of standard format for construction specifications
1. The use of the same procedure lessens the chance for omissions or duplications of items.
2. It facilitates the location of items in the same place in each section after the users become
familiar with the format.
3. Its outline can serve as checklist during the design/development stage.
F.
1.
2.
3.
The three basic parts of the section format are the following:
General
Products
Execution
G. Drawings and Specifications shall be thoroughly and completely coordinated.
Drawings in general shall show:
1. Architectural and Engineering design
2. Plans, elevations, details and all essential dimensions
3. Designation of such portion by title or symbol, to allow reference to it.
4. The extent of the various materials by symbols or otherwise.
5. Notes giving the basic design data, assumed loads, allowable stresses, design references
and requirements.
6. Limits of works.
