PURPOSE & IMPORTANCE OF SPECIFICATIONS 1. Specification is defined as a written document describing in detail the scope of work, materials to be used, methods of installation, and quality of workmanship for a parcel of work to be placed under contract. 2. It provides information for proper construction or material and equipment which cannot be placed in drawings. 3. It segregates the information shown on the drawings into various sections. 4. It instruct the different material suppliers of the extent of their work 5. It constitutes one of the contract documents together with the drawings and the agreement of contract between the owner and the contractor. In court it is more important than the drawings. 6. The contractor can then get his subcontracts on the basis of the specification breakdown of sections. QUALIFICATION OF SPECIFICATION WRITER 1. A professional specification writer maintains a good library of technical documents, an extensive collection of manufacturer literature and catalogs and is knowledgeable in various codes used in his area. 2. The following qualifications are necessary for an effective specification writer: a. A degree in the required discipline and eventual professional registration b. A good basic skill in drafting and detailing c. A thorough knowledge of construction gained by extensive field inspection d. The ability to write in a proper and concise manner e. An orderly mind f. The ability to get along with fellow workers TYPES OF SPECIFICATIONS 1. Performance Specifications - the result of the product, rather than the product itself are specified 2. Descriptive Specifications - gives a description of the product 3. Brand Name Specification - the desired product is specified by the name given and model number or an equal approved by the architect 4. Closed Specification -there are two types of closed specifications, the single product and the multi product. Closed specifications are usually brand name specifications. The multi product is the same as a single product except that more than one product is used. no other brand will be accepted 5. Open Specifications - open because all manufacturers whose product meet performance or description specified may bid. All performance and descriptive specifications are open. Brand name specifications are open if the phrase or equal 6. Reference Specification - the item desired is referred to by a number corresponding to a number published in a specification. 7. Combination Specification -it is possible to have combinations of performance, description and reference specification.