Chapter I: Specification

Chapter Outline
.
 Introduction
 Purposes of specifications
 Types of Specifications
 Specification writing
 Specifications
 .
Defn: Specification is defined as the
designation or statement by which written
instructions are given distinguishing and/or
limiting and describing the particular trade
of work to be executed.

Specification is one of the contract

documents.

2
 Cont’d…
 The specifications should clearly
specify: -
 1) Design and drawing
 2) Labor employment
 3) Materials to be used
 4) Construction method
 5) Equipment used
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 Cont’d…
 The information that is needed for construction is
usually conveyed by two basic communication
lines. They are:

Drawings (pictorial) and

Specifications (written).
 Specifications are written based on the
prepared design, drawings, general and
scientific trends of workmanship, quality
expected, equipment involved and
materials to be used for the particular trade 4
 Cont’d…
.
The drawings should generally
show the following:
1) Dimensions, extents, size, shape, and
location of component parts.
2) Location of materials, machineries, and
fixtures
3) Interaction of furniture, equipments and
space
4) Schedules of finishes, windows and
doors
5
 Cont’d…
 Specifications generally describe the following: -
1. Type and quality of materials, equipments, labor or
workmanship
2. Methods of fabrication, installation and erection
3. Standards, codes and tests
4. Allowance, submittals and substitutions
5. Cost included, insurance and bonds
6. Project records and site facilities.

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 Comparison of Drawing and
specifications

Specification Drawing of Building

Furnish the details of Show the arrangement of the

different items of work, the rooms and various parts, and
quality of materials, the dimensions-length,
proportion of mortar and breadth, and height, with
workmanship which are very brief descriptions of
required to execute tasks. different parts.

Combinations of drawings and specifications define completely the structure.

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 Purposes of
specification

It serves as a contract agreement document between the

owner and contractor.
It serves as a guide to bidders at the time of tendering

It is helpful for the guidance of supervision

Guide the contractor for the purchase of materials.

It serves as a guide to the manufacturing agencies.

Serve as a part of contract document to limit and describe

the rights and obligations of each contracting parties.

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 Cont’d..
 Guide the contractor for the purchase and/or hiring of
equipments.
 Serve as fabrication and installation guide for temporary
and permanent works.
 Serve for the owner to know what he/she is entitled to
receive
 During day to day execution of the works, specifications
will be used to administer the contract, supervise the
works and certify payment certificates and finally
handing over the project. 9
 Broad classification of
specifications
 Specifications can be broadly classified into four
categories as follows:
1. Manufacturer’s specification: Manufacturers
prepare specification of their product for the
guidance of their users, which may include
property description and installation guide lines.

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 Cont’d..
2. Guide Specification :
 Specifications prepared by an individual or group

of individuals based on manufacturer’s

specifications, established trends of
workmanship, service and laboratory tests and
research findings to be used as guide lines for
preparation of contract specifications.

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 Cont’d..
3. Standard Specification:
 Specifications which are intended to be used as a

reference standard in the construction of a

project. The guide specification which has been
standardized by a recognized authority is
considered as standard specification.

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 Cont’d..
4. Contract (Project)
Specification:
 the specification prepared for a particular

project to accompany the drawings and

other contract documents.

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 Cont’d..
 The specifications described above can be
prepared following the format which has general
and specific parts:
1) general specification and
2) specific specification.

14
 Cont’d…

A. General Specification
 It is a short description of different parts of the
work specifying materials, proportions,
qualities, etc.
 Specifies the nature and class of the work and
materials in general terms.
 Gives general idea of the whole work and is
useful for preparing estimates.

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 ……..Contd
Examples of General Specification
 20 cm thick HCB wall both sides left for plastering. Price
shall include cement mortar 1:3 bed,
 2mm thick best quality PVC floor tiles stuck to floor with
approved type adhesive. Price includes adhesive.
 Reinforced concrete quality C-25, 360kg of cement/m3,
filled in to formwork and vibrated around rod reinforcement.
(formwork and reinforcement measured separately)

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 …. contd
B. Particular/Detailed Specification
 Specifies the qualities and quantities of

materials, the proportion of mortar,

workmanship, the method of preparation
and execution and the methods of
measurement.
 Describes what the works should be and

how they shall be executed and constructed

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Examples: Detailed Specifications
 Material Specification (grades of material: C-25,
S-400, mild, pre-stressing tendon, marble from
Wollega, ordinary Portland cement form Muger
etc.
 Workmanship Specification (quality of
workmanship: for instance, in steel works
qualified welder)
 Performance specification
 Manufacturers Specification

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 technical
specifications.
 There are the following types of technical
specifications.
1. Proprietary Specifications: This specifications
call for desired materials, producers, systems, and
equipments by their trade names and model
numbers. For detailed descriptions reference
should be made to manufacturer’s specifications.

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 Cont…
2. Performance Specifications:
specifications which define products based on
desired end results which are performance
oriented; most appropriate when new or unusual
products or systems are required or when
innovation is necessary.

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 Cont’d…
 Example: traditional specifications for
asphalt pavement specifies the composition of
the asphalt material, the asphalt temperature
during paving, and compacting procedures. In
contrast, a performance specification for asphalt
would detail the desired performance of the
pavement with respect to impermeability,
strength etc.

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 Cont’d…
3. Reference Specifications:

Specifications which refer to levels of quality

established by recognized testing authority or
standards set by quality control authorities. These
specifications are also used in conjunction with
other types of specifications.

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 Cont’d…
4. Descriptive Specifications :
Specifications which describe all components of
products, their arrangements and methods of
assembly, physical and chemical properties,
arrangement and relationship of parts and
numerous other details. The specifier shall take
total responsibility for the function and
performance of the product.

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 Cont’d…
5. Cash Allowance Specifications:
Specifications meant to direct bidders to set
aside a specified amount of money to be applied
to the construction work at the direction of the
specified.

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 Discussion???
In the events of conflicts between
specification and drawings, which one
is govern?

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 Specification Writing
 Basically specifications are not to be created;
they are prepared based on existing standards,
codes, guidelines, and laws.
 Professionals involved could be qualified
Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors,
Manufacturers etc.
 When specifications are to be written, the
following shall be taken into consideration:
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 Considerations:
a) Specification writing require:
1. Visualization (having clear picture of
the system)
2. Research (to know the legal impact
correctly)
3. Organizing (organizing what we
know to write the specification)

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 Cont’d…
b) Specification writing require professional
ability to read drawings.
c) Specification writing require wide knowledge of
the:


construction materials,

various levels of workmanship,

different construction equipments and

method of construction to be employed
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 Cont’d…
d) Specifications use simple and clear language
such that it can readily be understood.
e) Specifications shall be brief and short as much
as possible (avoid long sentences without
punctuations)
f) Specifications shall include all items affecting
the cost of the work

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 Cont’d…
g) Specifications shall be fair
h) Specifications shall avoid repetition of
information shown on drawings to avoid
mistakes and duplications within the
specifications and drawings.
i) Specifications shall not include inapplicable text
and do not specify the impossible or anything not
intended to be enforced.
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 Cont’d…
j. Standard sizes should be compatible with the
market: ø 11
k. Specifications are written as in a language that
indicate what the work should be and words
“shall be” or “should be” are used.
l. As far as possible, the clauses of the specification
should be arranged in the same order in which
the work will be carried out.
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 useful references in specification
writing?
1. Codes and ordinances of governments,
. cities, or municipalities. For example,
EBCS
2. Standards prepared by distinct societies
and government agents. For example,
ACI
3. Standards or model specifications
prepared by manufacturers,
professional Societies, and government
bodies.

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 Cont…
.

4. Master specifications and previously written

specifications.
5. Information or experience acquired by personal
observation and contact with trained or experienced
people in the construction industry .

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 Specification language
 The specification writer should present his
instructions in such a manner that: -
a) The drawings are more clearly interpreted, not
duplicated.
b) Rights, obligations, and remedial measures shall
be designated without ambiguity.
c) Clearly express the extent of works under
consideration.
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 Cont’d…
 the word choice used in this regard shall be: -
i) Judged by its quality not its length
ii) Should be concise and short and written with
commonly used words
iii) Punctuations are important

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 Cont’d…
iv) Capitalizing the first letters is mandatory for the
following expressions: -
a) Parties to the contract; e.g. Employer/Client
/Contractor/ Engineer
b) Space within the building; e.g. Bed Room, Toilet,
Living Room
c) Contract documents; e.g. Bill of Quantity,
Working Drawing, Specification
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 Cont’d…
v) Minimize pronouns, better to repeat nouns
vi) Minimize the use of symbols
vii) Do not use foot notes, do not underline within a
sentence for emphasis

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 ….. contd
Substructure Super Structure
1. Excavation and 1. Concrete works
Earth works 2. Masonry works
2. Concrete works 3. Roofing works
4. Steel structures
5. Carpentry &joinery
6. Metal works
7. Finishing
8. Glazing
9. Painting
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 Who checks the
Specifications
.

When each job specification has been written, it

must be checked carefully to detect possible
discrepancies, deficiencies and errors. In doing
so the consultant should pay attention to the
following:
Does the scope of the work clearly define the
extent and limits of the work described in the
specification?
Are the references to the relevant drawings
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 Cont’d…
 Do the requirements stated comply with all
statutory (or constitutional) rules and regulations?
 Are all referenced standards correctly identified?
 Is there any conflict or overlap with other job
specifications, particularly those prepared for
other disciplines?

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 Cont’d…
 Does the specification comply with the overall
criteria for the project?
 Does the bill of quantities prepared for tendering
completely cover the work under the contract?
 Is the quality of presentation and the
completeness and clarity of the text satisfactory?

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 Specification Faults
 Accuracy and clarity are the most important
in writing the specifications since faulty
specifications are the frequent sources of
dispute.

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Discussion???
.

What are the effects if

Faulty specifications
are done?

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 Cont’d…
 How can a faulty specification be a
cause for claims?
  When the specifications are not
prepared carefully, the contractor
will always find a way to claims.

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 Chapter two
2.Quantity surveying

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 2.Quantity surveying

Quantity surveying is a term or process used in the construction industry to

take measurements of civil works, prepare specifications, estimate the cost
of works for the whole project.
The following tasks are covered in quantity surveying:-
 Preparation of specification

 Taking measurements of civil works (Taking off quantities and preparing

BOQ)
 Preparation of approximate (preliminary) cost estimate at the very early
stage of the project
 Preparation of detail cost estimate at different stages (taking as built
measurements and preparing payment certificates or approval of payment
certificates prepared by taking measurements)
 Cont’d….
 Preparation of tender documents and examining tenders (tender – an offer
in writing to execute a contract)
 Preparation schedule of prices to negotiate with pre-qualified bidders
(labour rates, material supply rates, equipment rental rates)
 Determination of values of works (executed works) and preparation of
payment certificates
 Preparation of final accounts on completion of all of the works
 Valuation of property

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 Cont’d….

 Measurement of civil works

 Measurement of civil works includes the billing of each trade of work either from
drawings or the building itself for defining the extent of works under each trade.

Specification worksheet (BOQ form)

 It is the format which is used in a bill of quantity to list (include) a short
description of the specification along with its measuring unit, quantity and unit
prices to determine the total cost for each trade of item.
 Cont’d……

s/n Descripti Unit Quantity Unit Total

on price amount
 Cont’d….

There are four clearly defined steps in

preparation of Bill of Quantities
1.Taking off
2. Squaring
3.Abstracting
4.Writing the final Bill
Cont’d….

Title

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Page Page

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 Cont’d….
Take off sheet format for reinforcement bars

Diameter of different Bars

ꝋ6 Ꝋ8 Ꝋ1 12 14 16 20 24
0
Loc Sh dia len No No
ati ap me gth of of
on e ter ele bar
me
nt

Total length(A)
Unit weight(B)
Total weight(A*B)
.

END
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