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Colin Gilboy
Senior Member
Username: colin

Post Number: 448
Registered: 09-2005


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 - 12:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I will be a facilitator at the Orange County (California) CSI Product show in late May on the topic above.

Any suggestions and comments are appreciated:

Some of the questions:
What is a Well Written Spec?
How is a Well Written Spec different from a purchased, prewritten, standardized specification system? (ie MasterSpec and Speclink)
Who controls the product decisions for a Well Written Spec?
How is product research conducted?
How does the specifier make the early product decisions?
How do substitutions impact the creation and use of specifications?
Colin Gilboy
Publisher, 4specs.com
435.654.5775 - Utah
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 738
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 - 12:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Some top of mind thoughts:
Challenges related to getting the project architect to edit the spec, provide necessary data to the specifier, coordinating with interiors finish schedules, how to handle the architect's consultant specs when they are wrong, incorrect format, incorrect references, etc... When should the specifier's first draft to the project architect be issued for editing, what items should be included in Appendix's to the spec, etc....
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid

Post Number: 388
Registered: 10-2003


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 - 12:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Come to LA CSI -- today. We have our semi-annual specifier roundtable and you can ask the question there.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-4937
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru
anon (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 - 12:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Odd that you are juxtaposing "Well Written Specs" with MasterSpec specifications. In my experience, MasterSpec sections are consistently the best written specs i have ever read/used.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid

Post Number: 389
Registered: 10-2003


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 - 12:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

MasterSpec is, indeed, a well written specification, but it is a master specification. I assume Colin is interested in project specifications. It is possible to have a project section based on MasterSpec that is clear, concise, nicely formatted and compliant with CSI language -- but not complete nor correct for the project.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-4937
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru
James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: jsandoz

Post Number: 239
Registered: 06-2005


Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 09:32 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Well said (written) Mr. Chusid. If I could sum up the solution in one word it would be the one Nathan mentioned above: COORDINATION! The other factors are important too of course but poorly coordinated documents are the growth medium for RFIs and, worse, change orders.
J. Peter Jordan
Senior Member
Username: jpjordan

Post Number: 1035
Registered: 05-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 10:22 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

More and more, I am convinced (maybe that is too strong a word) that one of the keys is using the specs. Well written specs (that are well coordinated) will not be much help unless they are implemented during construction (and before).
J. Peter Jordan, FCSI, AIA, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1656
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 01:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Peter,

I agree. You can have a great recipe but if you don't follow the instructions, the dish will turn out poorly...and vice-versa.

To summarize a quote from my fellow specifier, Ed Storer:

Bad spec, good CA = Bad project
Good spec, bad CA = Bad project
Bad spec, bad CA = Bad project
Good spec, good CA = Good project
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC

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