YITAYAL TS.

Contents
 Introduction
 Purpose of specification

 Types of specification

 Specification Writing

 Reference for specification writing

 Specification Language
 Guidelines
 Standard Specification for Building

 Standard Specification for Road

1. SPECIFICATION
1. Introduction
 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.
 In short Specification is a statement of particular instructions of
how to execute some task.
 In terms of an engineering project a specification contains a
detailed written description of the quality of materials and
workmanship necessary to complete the work.
 In the construction activity therefore, the scope of the work
that is described in drawings includes such information as
dimensions, form, or details while the specifications provide
the description of the qualities of materials for construction.
1. SPECIFICATION
1. Introduction Cont.
 Information that is best transmitted in written form is
addressed in the specification while that which is best
transmitted graphically will be addressed in drawings where
both are so defined as to be mutually complementary and
understood in conjunction.
 In other words drawings show what is to be done in graphics
form, specifications show how it is to be done by
furnishing written descriptions to supplement the drawings.
 Generally, specifications are written instructions which
supplement the drawing to set forth the complete technical
requirements of the work.
 Therefore drawings and specifications in combination
define the project in sufficient detail to enable the carrying out
of the works.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.1. Introduction Cont.
 Drawings and specifications should compliment each other
and neither should overlap or duplicate the other.
 Specifications are devices for organizing the information
depicted on the drawings and they are written descriptions
of the legal and technical requirements forming the contract
document.
 The main difference b/n specification and drawing is that
drawings
should generally show the following:
 Dimensions, extents, size, shape, and location of component
parts.
 Location of materials, machineries and fixtures.
 Interaction of furniture, equipment and space.
 Schedules of finishes, windows and doors.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.1. Introduction Cont.
 Specifications generally describe the following:
 Type and quality of materials, equipments, labor or
workmanship
 Methods of fabrication, installation and erection
 Standards, codes and costs
 Allowance submittals and substitutions
 Cost included, insurance and bonds
 Project record and site facility
1. SPECIFICATION
1.1. Introduction Cont.
 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 of work
 The specifications should clearly specify:
 Design and drawing
 Labor employment
 Materials to be used
 Construction method
 Equipment used
 Specifications should be clear, concise, and brief description of
what is required to execute the proposed trade of work.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.2. Purpose of Specification
 The purpose of specifications generally include:
i. Guide the bidder at the time of tendering to arrive at a
reasonable cost for the work.
ii. Provide guidance for the execution of the work
iii. Guide contractor for the purchase of materials
iv. Serve as part of contract document to limit and describe the
rights and obligations of each contracting parties.
v. Guide the bidder to identify his capacity to execute the work
vi. Serve as fabrication and installation guide for
temporary and permanent works.
vii. Guide the contractor for purchase and/or hiring of equipments.
viii. Serve the owner to know what she/he is intended to receive.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.2. Purpose of Specification Cont.
 The purpose of specifications generally include:
ix. Serve for the manufacturers of construction materials,
equipments, tools etc. to grade, classify, and improve qualities of
their products.
x. Indicates method of testing and acceptance of final products.
xi. Guide parameters for rejection of non conforming works.
xii. Indirectly, the specifications are very much related to the
legal considerations, insurance considerations, bidding
requirements, alternates and options, rights, obligations
and remedial measures for the contracting parties.
 Note: in the events of conflicts between specification and drawings,
the specification governs.
 A clearly written specification will enable proper quality control and
avoid disputes in administering construction projects.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification
 In general, specifications can be broadly classified into four
categories:
1. Manufacturer’s specification: Manufactures prepare specification
of their product for guidance of their users, which may include
property description and installation guide lines.
2. Guide specification: specification 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 specification.
3. Standard specification: specifications which are intended to be
used as reference standard in the construction of a project. The
guide specification which has been standardized by recognized
authority.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
4. Contract (Project) Specification: The specification
prepared for a particular project to accompany the
drawings and other contract documents.
 The specifications described above can be prepared
following the format which has general and specific
parts (General Specification and Specific Specification).
 In the general part of the specification the following
items are included:
 Administrative and Procedural Requirements
 Scope, definition
 Reference Organization and Standards
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
 Project Description, site facilities
 Submittals and quality assurance
 Delivery, storage and handling
 Project records, Insurances other general requirements
 In the specific part of the standard specification the
following are included:
 Detailed description of the quality of items to be used
 Preparatory actions and methods of incorporating the
items
 “Technical Specification and Methods of Measurement
for Construction of Buildings”, of March 1991 is the
standard specification which has been used as one of the
contract document in our country.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
 In the general requirement part the following items which
may be applied to any project and any trade of work are
described in general terms
 011 general
 012 site description
 013 quality assurance
 014 project records
 015 site facilities
 016 cleaning up
 In the specific part the different trade of works (excavation and
earth works, concrete works, etc.) are described in details and
the method of measurement are given.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
 Specification can also be classified as Material and Workmanship
Specification and Performance Specification.
I. Material and Workmanship Specifications
 This form of specification includes,
 The description of the scope of the works,
 The general and specific requirements that are necessary for
the execution of the work,

 Material requirements,
 Construction details, and
 Method of measurement and payments for completed works.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
A. Material Specifications
 For some items may focus on the physical and or
chemical properties that can also be cross checked by tests.
 For others the performance characteristics may be the
governing factors.
 In some cases, a composition of the two types
may be also applicable.
 These descriptions generally include;
 Physical properties, such as strength, durability,
hardness,
and
electricity.
 Chemical composition
 Electrical and thermal and acoustical properties
 Appearance including color, texture, pattern and finishes.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
B. Workmanship Specifications: describes the desired
results that need to be achieved in the works which include;
 Specify the desired results as to the quality of workmanship
 State any detailed construction methods or procedures
necessary for the accomplishment of particular
purposes.
 Stipulate any desired limitations or restrictions to be
placed on the contractor's methods in the interest
of coordination of the work.
 Give any precautions necessary for the protection of the
work or adjacent property.
 Specify the methods of inspection and tests to which the
work is to be subjected
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
II. Performance Specifications
 Such types of specification, define the performance
requirements for machinery and plant operating equipment.
 This allows the advance manufacturer and
procurement of such equipment, or the of the standard
brands.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
 Specification could be written in several ways, with the
prime emphasis given to either the producer company’s
brand or the performance capacity of the material and so on.
 Accordingly, there are the following types of technical
specifications:
A. Proprietary Specifications
 This specifications call for desired materials,
producers, systems, and equipment by their trade
names and model numbers.
 For detailed descriptions reference should be
made on manufacture’s specifications.
 They are of two types; Closed (sole) and Open or equal source.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
B. 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.
 Describing the problems or condition under which the products
or system must operate, and the parameters for the
acceptable solutions is difficult and challenging.
 Testing methods and evaluation procedures for defining the
required performance must be explicitly specified.
C. Reference Specifications
 Specifications which refer to levels of quality established
by recognized testing authority or standards set by
quality control authority. They are used in conjunction with
other types.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.3. Types of Specification Cont.
D. Descriptive Specifications
 Specifications which describe all components of
products, their arrangements, and method of
assembly, physical and chemical properties,
arrangement relationship of parts of numerous other
details.
 The specifier shall take total responsibility for the
function and performance of the product.
E. 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 specifier.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. Specification Writing
 Basically specifications are not to be created; they are prepared
based on existing standards, codes, guidelines, and laws.
 When planning to write specifications one should start
first of all with:
 An overall analysis of the work to be done, and
 The requirements necessary to achieve the
required level of quality,
 Conditions under which it must be done,
 Materials required, and the
 Details of the construction
 Hence preparing an outline of the details of the work is the
first step in writing a good specification.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. References for Specification Writing
 The following are useful references in specification writing:
a. Codes and ordinances of governments, cities, or
municipalities.
E.g. EBCS
b. Standards prepared by distinct societies and government
agents.
E.g. ACI standards, ASTM standards, BS, ES.
c. Standards or model specifications prepared by
manufacturers, professional societies, and government bodies.
d. Master Specification and previous specifications.
e. Information or experience acquired by personal observation
and contract with trained or experienced people in the
construction industry.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. Specification Writing
 Specification writing embodies certain methods of
presenting information and instructions.
 When specifications are to be written, the following shall be taken to
considerations:
a. Specification writing require:
i. Visualization (Having clear picture of the system)
ii. Research (to know the legal impact correctly)
iii. Clear thinking (understanding things directly without misleading)
iv. Organizing (organizing what we know to write the specification)
b. Specification writing requires 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.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. Specification Writing Cont.
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 with out punctuation)
f. Specifications shall include all items affecting the cost of the
work.
g. Specifications shall be fair and do not attempt to throw all the
risks and responsibilities on one of the parties signing the
contract.
h. Specifications shall avoid repetition of information shown on
drawings to avoid mistakes and duplication within
the specification drawings.
i. Specification shall not include inapplicable text and do not
specify the impossible or anything not intended to be enforced.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. References for Specification Writing
Specification Language
 The specification writer should present his instructions regarding the
particular work under consideration in such a manner that:-
1. The drawings are more clearly interpreted, not duplicated.
2. Rights, Obligations, and remedial measures shall be designated
without ambiguity or prejudice .
3. Clearly express the extent of works under
consideration therefore, the phraseology 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 but their usage shall be limited to
few
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. References for Specification Writing
Specification Language
4. 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
5. Rights, Obligations, and remedial measures shall be designated
without ambiguity or prejudice.
6. Minimize the use of symbols.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. References for Specification Writing
Specification Language
8. Do not use foot notes, do not underline within a sentence for
emphasis
9. Words shall be used as follows:-
a) shall in place of must; use “shall” for the duties of the contractor or
the consultant to represent the word “must”
b) “will” is used for the duties of the employer to represent the word
“must”
c) Avoid the use of the word “must” and substitute by the word shall
to prevent the inference of different degrees of obligation
d) Avoid the use of words which have indefinite meanings or
limitless and ambiguous in their meanings. For example, any,
either, same, similar, etc.
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. References for Specification Writing
Specific guideline s for Specification Writing
 Below are some specific guidelines that one needs to follow
when preparing a specification:
 Be specific and not indefinite
 Be brief, avoid unnecessary words or phrases
 Give all the necessary facts
 Avoid repetition
 Specify in the positive form
 Use correct grammar
 Direct rather than suggest
 Use short rather than long sentences
 Do not specify both methods and results
 Do not specify requirements in conflict with each other
 Do not justify a requirement
1. SPECIFICATION
1.4. References for Specification Writing
Specific guideline s for Specification Writing
 Avoid sentences that require other than the simplest punctuation.
 Avoid words that are likely to be unknown to the user of
the specification ( words with more than one meaning)
 Arrange the specification in the order of the execution of the work.
E.g. Formwork, concrete mixing, concrete placing, curing, etc..
 Address measurement and payment issue
 Refer only to the principal parties in the contract, Owner, Engineer,
Contractor.
 Use “these specifications” rather than “this specifications”. Use the
plural.
 Workmanship should be in accordance with….
 Materials should confirm to ….A reference specification.
THANK YOU!