Construction Specifications Writing: Principles and Procedures, 4th Edition

by Harold J. Rosen

• ISBN13: 9780471190325
• ISBN10: 0471190322
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Your single source of guidance to the purpose and process of preparing construction preparations. This new edition offers an up-to-date, practical guide to the craft of specifications writing-from correct terminology through product selection procedures. Reflects the latest AIA and CSI standards, including the current practices of the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC). Includes project-tested guidelines for creating specifications which offer advice on every aspect of a project Features a unique project manual checklist that reviews the entire specifications process. Offers guidelines that help with all aspects of specifications writing-from correct terminology through product selection procedures.  Includes appendices loaded with useful tools like sample documents and forms.

Author Biography

HAROLD J. ROSEN, PE, FCSI, is the former chief specifications writer at Skidmore Owings & Merrill in New York and is a fellow of the Construction Specifications Institute.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix	(4)
Looking Ahead	xiii
Introduction to Principles and Procedures of Specifications Writing	1	(4)
Principles	1	(1)
Procedures	2	(1)
Study Questions	2	(3)
PART 1 PRINCIPLES	5	(48)
1. The Role of the Specifications	5	(4)
Contract Documents	5	(1)
Bidding Documents	5	(1)
Specifications	5	(1)
Project Manual	6	(2)
Study Questions	8	(1)
2. Relationship between Drawings and Specifications	9	(4)
What Goes Where	9	(1)
Drawings	9	(1)
Specifications	9	(1)
Coordinating the Design Process	10	(1)
Resolving Conflicts	10	(1)
Deviations from the General Rules	11	(1)
Study Questions	12	(1)
3. Organization of Specifications	13	(8)
Historical Development of Specification Organization	13	(1)
Need for Organizing Specifications	13	(1)
CSI/CSC MasterFormat	14	(1)
Using the MasterFormat	14	(4)
Is MasterFormat a Specification Principle?	18	(1)
Critique of 1995 MasterFormat	18	(2)
Study Questions	20	(1)
4. Concept of the Technical Section	21	(4)
What is a Technical Section?	21	(1)
Changing and Evolving Sections	22	(1)
Broad-Scope and Narrow-Scope Sections	22	(1)
Flexibility in Determining Section Scope	22	(1)
MasterFormat	23	(1)
Relationship of a Section to the Project Manual	23	(1)
Study Questions	24	(1)
5. Arrangement of the Technical Section	25	(8)
Need for a Section Format	25	(1)
Standardized SectionFormat	25	(2)
Using the SectionFormat	27	(1)
CSI SectionFormat	27	(4)
Study Questions	31	(2)
6. Types of Specifications	33	(6)
Systems of Writing Specifications	33	(1)
Performance Specifications	33	(1)
Descriptive Specifications	34	(1)
Reference Specifications	34	(1)
Proprietary Specifications	35	(1)
Reference Standards Agencies	35	(2)
Study Questions	37	(2)
7. Systems Building and Performance Specifications	39	(6)
Historical Development	39	(1)
Systems Building	39	(1)
An Approach to Performance Specifying	40	(2)
Pitfalls of Performance Specifying	42	(1)
Study Questions	43	(2)
8. Specifications Writing Techniques	45	(8)
Scope of Work	45	(1)
Work of Other Sections	46	(1)
Grandfather Clauses	47	(1)
Residuary Legatee	47	(1)
Duplication-Repetition	48	(1)
Imperative Mood	48	(1)
Study Questions	49	(4)
PART 2 BIDDING PROCEDURES	53	(32)
9. Bidding Requirements	53	(16)
Three Basic Bidding Documents	53	(1)
Invitation to Bid	53	(1)
Instructions to Bidders	54	(3)
Bid Form	57	(11)
Study Questions	68	(1)
10. Bonds, Guarantees, Warranties	69	(16)
Bid Bond	69	(1)
Surety Bonds	69	(1)
Contractor Defaults	69	(1)
AIA Bond Forms	69	(2)
Amount of Bonds	71	(1)
Statutory and Nonstatutory Bonds	71	(1)
Warranty, Guarantee	71	(7)
The General Warranty	78	(1)
Special Warranties	78	(1)
Correction of Work	79	(1)
Writing a Special Warranty	79	(3)
Study Questions	82	(3)
PART 3 CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT	85	(144)
11. General Conditions and Supplements	85	(144)
Contractual Relationships	85	(1)
Architect (AIA) General Conditions	85	(1)
Engineer (EJCDC) General Conditions	85	(1)
Differences between AIA and EJCDC General Conditions	86	(1)
Use of Standardized AIA and EJCDC General Conditions	86	(1)
Other Private-Sector Sources of General Conditions	86	(1)
Federal Government General Conditions	87	(1)
Other Nonfederal General Conditions	88	(1)
Supplementary Conditions	88	(1)
Changes in AIA A201-97	88	(1)
Modifying the General Conditions	89	(1)
Format of Supplementary Conditions	90	(1)
Liquidated Damages	91	(1)
Insurance	91	(3)
Conflicts between Documents	94	(1)
Preprinted General Conditions	95	(1)
Study Questions	96	(133)
PART 4 PROCEDURES	229	(82)
12. General Requirements	229	(20)
Scope of Division 1	229	(1)
CSI 1995 Division 1	229	(1)
Sections Pertaining to General Conditions	229	(1)
Note to Specifiers	230	(1)
Recommended Division 1 Sections	231	(17)
Study Questions	248	(1)
13. Specifying Materials	249	(6)
Methods of Specifying Materials	249	(1)
Or Equal Specifications	249	(1)
Open Specifications	250	(1)
Base Bid or Closed Specifications	250	(1)
Bidder's Choice or Restricted Specifications	250	(1)
Bidder's List of Substitutions	251	(1)
Product Approval Standards	251	(2)
Study Questions	253	(2)
14. Specification Language	255	(6)
General Rules	255	(1)
Maxims	255	(5)
Study Questions	260	(1)
15. Specification Reference Sources	261	(12)
Textbooks	261	(1)
Materials Standards	261	(1)
Guide Specifications	262	(1)
Journals and Periodicals	262	(1)
Building Codes and Ordinances	263	(1)
Materials Investigations	263	(1)
Association Standards	263	(1)
Manufacturers' Catalog Files	264	(1)
General References	264	(5)
CSI Technical Documents	269	(1)
AIA Technical Documents	269	(1)
EJCDC Documents	269	(2)
Study Questions	271	(2)
16. Materials Evaluation	273	(4)
Factors to Consider	273	(1)
Using Performance Characteristics	273	(1)
New Products	273	(1)
Study Questions	276	(1)
17. Specifications Writing Procedures	277	(8)
Recommended Procedures	277	(1)
Preliminary or Outline Specifications	277	(1)
Project Manual Checklist	277	(1)
Writing the Specification	278	(5)
Study Questions	283	(2)
18. Computerized Specifications	285	(8)
Introduction	285	(1)
The First Two Decades of Automation	285	(1)
Computer Terms	286	(1)
Transforming the Specification Process	287	(1)
Word Processing Software	287	(1)
Computers	288	(1)
Selecting a Method of Computerized Specifying	288	(2)
Master Texts	290	(1)
Study Questions	291	(2)
19. Master Texts and Systems	293	(10)
Need for Master Texts	293	(1)
The Specifier's Own Stock Text	293	(1)
Guide Specifications and Intact Masters	294	(1)
CSRF's SpecText	294	(1)
ARCOM Masterspec	295	(1)
Federal Civilian Agency Texts	295	(1)
U.S. Military Texts	296	(1)
Specsintact (NASA)	296	(1)
National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)	296	(1)
State, County, and City Government Masters	297	(1)
Abbreviated Specifications	297	(1)
Computers-Keys to Data Storage, Retrieval, and Manipulation	298	(2)
Precautions	300	(1)
Conclusion	300	(1)
Study Questions	301	(2)
20. Physical Format and Style	303	(4)
21. Addenda	307	(4)
Definition	307	(1)
Purpose	307	(1)
Language of Addenda	307	(1)
Precautions	307	(1)
Format of Addenda	308	(3)
Appendix A Preliminary Specifications for University Hospital	311	(6)
Appendix B Project Manual Checklist	317	(12)
Appendix C Answers to Study Questions	329	(4)
INDEX	333