What is Construction Specification?

Construction companies have to do some heavy lifting, and that’s not the steel and concrete they use to make buildings, bridges, and other structures. Because they use a wide variety of personnel and materials, their contracts must include building specifications.

Construction standards come in a variety of forms. We will define building specifications, discuss their significance, and go through several kinds.  

What is Construction Specification?

In a construction contract between a construction owner and the manager appointed to oversee the project, construction specifications specify the goods, materials, and labor to be used. Along with quantities, schedules, and drawings, they are utilized in the construction business as a part of a broader set of construction papers.

Although they are supportive assets, cost, quantity, and drawn materials are not part of the construction standards. The construction specs and other construction documents serve as a means of aligning the client's goals and expectations with the project. To ensure the proper completion of a construction project, it is imperative to comprehend the components that comprise the construction specifications.

The construction service contract's details highlight what's required to complete the project to the client's satisfaction. When questions arise throughout the project, contractors and construction teams consult the construction document. A construction specification may contain details about the materials to be used, the methods of installation, the schedule with milestones, the quality of the production, the testing requirements, and safety standards.

Project planning depends mainly on construction specifications. The Project Manager offers several project views that provide a timetable and plan for the project. Plans can be viewed on the tools that are most useful to each individual, including architects, engineers, construction managers, and workers. 

Importance of Construction Specification

Of course, without building specifications outlining the supplies and personnel required to complete the job, it cannot take place. Having comprehensive building specs is essential to the success of a project for more reasons than just the apparent one.

Enhanced Accuracy

First, the final product is better the more details there are. Having specifics reduces the possibility of errors that could delay a project, increase costs, or fall short of the expectations of the building owner. The construction crew will follow the construction requirements outlined in the service contract as they carry out their duties. This increases the chance that the work will be completed accurately and delivered on time.

Establish Expectations

Building specifications are crucial because they establish the parameters for communication between the client and the construction business. Both sides know exactly what has to be done before the project starts in earnest, which helps prevent delays brought on by misunderstandings.

Correct Estimation of Cost

Money is one of the most crucial components of construction specifications. This is because building specs provide a more precise estimate of project costs by outlining all the supplies and labor needed to complete the project. This is especially helpful to contractors, who may have to pay the difference out of pocket if the financial estimate for the work they'll be conducting is off.

Types of Construction Specifications

Specifications come in various forms when it comes to construction project management. Prescriptive, performance, and proprietary are the three basic types of construction standards that are typically found. Let's examine each in more detail.

Prescriptive Construction Guidelines

This building specification outlines the materials to be used and the proper installation method in detail. Three categories apply to prescriptive building specifications: necessary products, execution techniques, and general provisions.

Contractors are required to create general requirements, which are national and state building codes and standards. The resources and materials needed to satisfy the structural and performance requirements are known as required products. The greatest techniques for installation and gauging efficacy and quality after a project is completed are found in the execution procedures.

Performance Construction Specifications

These are the project's operational needs after it is completed. It isn't a detailed description of every task like the prescriptive construction requirements do. Rather, the contractor is in charge of the specifics of how the task is completed. The only requirement is that the project be delivered in a way that satisfies the client's goal.

Proprietary Construction Specifications

When contractors are working on projects with extremely specified material and resource requirements, they employ this form of construction specification. For instance, while completing renovations or hiring a subcontractor to finish work on an existing structure, proprietary construction specifications are frequently utilized. The construction specifications will include details on the current structure and a list of similar materials that will be used to complete the task.

Final Words

Construction specifications are an essential phase in a successful project, even though they can be time-consuming and involve a laborious procedure at times. If you're an architect or designer, take the time to ensure that your vision for the project is properly carried out by carefully reviewing these documents. As an owner or contractor, make sure you and your team have all the information required to complete the project's details on schedule and within budget. And never forget that nobody is harmed in a construction process by being too particular.