#3 BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4:

SPECIFICATIONS WRITING AND

QUANTITY SURVEYING

FLEX Course Material

To Know and understand
effectively the significant
concepts and principles of
specifications and
quantity surveying as
essential tools in
achieving economic, safe
and viable project and as
Week 3:
a protection of different
parties (Architects, Allied
Professionals, Contractors
SPECIFICATIONS
and Owner)
WRITING 2

• Specifications Writing Standards and

Formats
• Preparation in Specification Writing
Step by Step Procedures in Specification
Writing

By Ar. Emmarie Rose Josue

 • Avoid Using the Words "shall",
"will", "must", "should", and
What to Avoid in "may“
writing specification?
• Avoid Using the Term "and/or“
• Avoid Unnecessary Qualifiers
Say Do not say
Things to AVOID Forms are listed under the names
of their corresponding sections.
Forms are listed under the names
of their respective sections.
in writing The hat shall be blue. The scarf The hat and the scarf shall be blue
technical shall be green. and green, respectively.

specification
• Avoid Unnecessary Phrases and
Words
EXAMPLES:
Attention is directed to... (Use direct references.)
in this section or specified herein (Be specific and provide the
section number.)
in the opinion (Opinions are not used in specifications.)
such as... (Do not give examples.)
immediately (This word can be interpreted differently.)

• Avoid Use of Exceptions

Say Do not say
Each person under 18 years of All persons except those 18 years
age… or
older…

• Avoid Redundancies
Examples of word pairs to avoid:
any and all full and complete
authorize and direct order and direct
cease and desist means and includes
each and every necessary and desirable

2
 • Write Short Sentences
• Write Short Paragraphs
What to remember in • Be Consistent
writing specification?
• Use Parallel Structure
When using lists, the lead-in sentence
along with each item in the list should read as though it
is a stand alone sentence

Things to DO in
• Use Preferred Expressions
writing technical
specification See p.29

3
What to remember in
writing specification?

• Omit Needless Words

See p.30
Things to DO in
writing technical
specification

4
 2016
MASTERFORMAT

Procurement and
contracting Specifications Group
requirements Group

2016 Masterformat Divisions

2016
MASTERFORMAT

Procurement and
contracting requirements Specifications Group
Group
Procurement and contracting General Requirements Facility Construction Facility Services Site and Infrastructure Process Equipment
requirements Group Subgroup Subgroup Subgroup Subgroup Subgroup
Division 21-23, 25-
Division 0 Division 1 Division 2-14 Division 31-35 Division 40-48
28

5
2016 MASTER FORMAT

2016 MASTERFORMAT

Procurement and contracting Specifications Group

requirements Group

Procurement and
contracting requirements … (Continuation…) (Continuation…)
Group
40 Process
Solicitation 1 General Requirements 21 Fire Suppression
Interconnections

Instructions for 41 Material Processing

2 Existing Conditions 22 Plumbing
Procurement and Handling Equipment

23 Heating, Ventilating, 42 Process Heating,

Available Information 3 Concrete and Air Conditioning Cooling, and Drying
(HVAC) Equipment
43 Process Gas and Liquid
Procurement Forms and 4 Masonry 25 Integrated Automation Handling, Purification,
Supplements and Storage Equipment

Contracting Forms and 44 Pollution and Waste

5 Metals 26 Electrical
Supplements Control Equipment

45 Industry-Specific
6 Wood, Plastics, and
Project Forms 27 Communications Manufacturing
Composites
Equipment

Conditions of the 7 Thermal and Moisture 28 Electronic Safety and 46 Water and
Contract Protection Security Wastewater Equipment

48 Electrical Power
8 Openings 31 Earthwork
Generation

9 Finishes 32 Exterior Improvements

10 Specialties 33 Utilities

11 Equipment 34 Transportation

35 Waterway and Marine

12 Furnishings
Construction

13 Special Construction

14 Conveying Equipment

6
 2016 MASTER FORMAT

Division
Number

Item/ Sub-item
Particulars

7
THANK YOU!