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Specification

• A specific description of a particular subject

SPECIFICATIONS • Engineering specification – contains detailed description of all

workmanship and materials required to complete a project in
accordance with its drawing and details

• Data regarding the materials and workmanship is conveyed in a

separate contract document ‐ specification

• Drawings with specification  “ will completely define  the structure 

How to write specification
Necessity of specification
Description of materials 
• Describe the quality and quantity of materials required for  • quality and size of materials
construction work  • Proportion of mixing or treatment of materials  if required before use
• Specifies the workmanship and method of doing work
Workmanship
• Work carried as per specification and contractor is paid for same
• method of mixing to proportion , method of laying ,preparation of base or
• Necessary to specify the equipments , tools and plants to be engaged  surface , compaction, finishing ,curing ……….applicable to work shall be
for a work  clearly stated in different clauses
• Necessary to verify and check the strength of materials  for a work 
involved in a project Tools and plants‐
• method of operation and by whom to be supplied shall be stated
• Cost of unit quantity of work is governed by its specification

Protection of new work

• protection of work against damage , method of curing if required, test of
completed work if required

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Types of specification

General specifications
Expression 
• Express requirements clearly and in concise form avoiding repetition 
and unusual words  • Nature and class of work , name of materials and proportion that 
should be used in various items shall be described 
• Style of tense shall remain same throughout 

• Only a brief description is given 
Clauses 
• Clauses shall be arranged in order in which work shall be carried out 
• Useful for estimating the project

Standard specification
Detailed specifications

• Detailed specification for different items of work  are drawn up by 
• Specify the quality , quantity  and proportion of materials  and  engineering department  and printed to serve as a guide to 
method of preparation and execution for that item of work department  

• Physical, chemical , and electrical test if any required  are described • And to refer it in the specification part of a tender paper to avoid 
writing lengthy specification 
• types of machinery ,equipments ,special tools  and plants , their 
method of operation  • Specification of earthwork, concrete work, brickwork …..

• While writing detailed specification same order of sequence ,as  • CPWD, PWD, Irrigation and waterways , railway department have 
work is carried out is maintained their  departmental standard specification ……..revised periodically

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Restricted specification
Open or manufacturers specification 

• Specification of products given by manufacturers  • material of an item of work is described and procurement among 
some approved manufactures or brands of material is restricted
which  state both physical and chemical properties 
and other information of product
• Standard of materials such as  plumbing , painting , fittings ….are 
assured  to be of certain degree of quality  up to satisfaction of 
owner
• Strength , weight, thickness, …..
• Composition of chemical components of products

• Steel, cement, pipes, valves, bricks…

General specification of first class building General specification of first class building
• Foundation and plinth : Brickwork in foundation and plinth shall be
of first class brick in cement or lime mortar over cement or lime
concrete
• Flooring : Mosaic flooring shall be provided in all floors including staircases
• Filling : Foundation trenches and plinth shall be filled with local sand
• Finishing : Inside and outside shall be 12 mm thick cement plastered .The
inside of the drawing , dining and bedroom shall be distempered and
• Damp proof course : DPC shall be 2.5 cm thick cement mortar with remaining portions whitewashed 3 coats .The outside shall be 2 coats
5% pudlo by weight of cement or other standard water proofing decorative waterproofing cement coating .Wall surface of lavatory shall be
covered with glazed tile up to top level of door
material
• Door and windows : Door and window frames shall be of seasoned teak
• Superstructure : first class brickwork in cement mortar wood and shutters of 3 cm thick teak wood panelling. Brass fittings shall be
provided .Doors and windows shall be varnished with french polish.

• Roofing : Roof shall be 10 cm thick RCC slab with 10cm average thick • Miscellaneous : Rain water pipes shall be of asbestos cement or cast iron ,
lime terracing over it finished with paint .All sanitary , water supply and electrical fittings shall be
of first class materials

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General specification of second class building General specification of second class building
• Foundation and plinth : Brickwork in foundation and plinth shall be
of first class brick in lime mortar over lime concrete

• Filling : Foundation trenches and plinth shall be filled with earth • Flooring : floor shall be 2.5cm cement concrete over 7.5cm lime
concrete

• Damp proof course : DPC shall be 2 cm thick cement mortar with 5% • Finishing : The inside walls shall be plastered with lime or cement
pudlo by weight of cement or other standard water proofing mortar , outside walls shall pointed or plastered with lime or
material cement mortar. Inside shall be white washed 3 coats and outside
colour washed 2 coats over one coat of white wash
• Superstructure : second class brickwork in mud mortar
• Door and windows : Door and window frames shall be of seasoned
teak wood and shutters of 4.5 cm thick shisham or deodar wood
• Roofing : Roof shall be flat terraced roof or RB roof panelling. Iron fittings shall be provided .Doors and windows shall be
painted with 2 coats

• Miscellaneous : Rain water pipes shall be of cast iron

First class bricks 
First class bricks 

• Bricks should be moulded from good earth , free from all traces of  • They shall be homogenous in texture and emit a clear ringing sound 
saltpetre or other salts  on being struck

• They should be of uniform deep red , cherry or copper colour ,  • Dry bricks shall not absorb more than one sixth  of their weight 
thoroughly burnt without being vitrified
when immersed in water for one hour 

• They should be hard , sound and of uniform size and shape having 
each two adjacent plane surfaces at true right angles • They should not break when two bricks  in hands are struck together  
or dropped  from 1.3 ht from ground
• Bricks should be free from cracks , chips, flaws or hump of any kind
• Bricks should be of standard dimensions  as per ISI 19 x 9 x 9 cm 
• They should not show efflorescence either in dry state or after 
soaking in water 

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Sand
Cement 

• Cement used for reinforced concrete works shall be of ordinary  • The fine aggregate shall conform to IS 383‐1963
Portland cement  or rapid hardening portland
• cement or blast furnace slag cement or high alumina cement • It shall be clean , sharp,  heavy and gritty to touch

• minimum compressive strength of ordinary portland cement should  • Sand should be free from  clay, mica, vegetable , and organic matter  or 

be 175 kg/cm2 after 7 days and minimum tensile strength  after 7  any other foreign matter 
days should be 25 kg/cm2
• River and pit sand should be used as this does not contain common  salt 
• initial setting time should not be less than 30 minutes and final  in large quantities 
setting time should not be  more than 10 hours
• Sand should be cleaned by screening  before use 

Sand
Water
• If the sample of sand contain more than 4 to 6 percent of clay , it
should be washed thoroughly
• In concrete works water used for both mixing and curing shall be
free from injurious amount of deleterious materials.
• Sand should be perfectly dry before it is used . Otherwise bulking
of sand should be taken into account
• Potable water is considered satisfactory for mixing and curing
• Sand for all concrete works shall be coarse .It should not pass concrete
through IS sieve no: 480 (4.75mm) and retain on No: 15 sieve
(5.5 mm )

• Medium sand may be used in cement mortar for masonary ,

plastering, pointing etc and bituminous works of road .

• Sand filling in plinth , where specified may be done with fine

sand . Fineness modulus of fine sand should not be less than one