Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT
Senior Member
Username: rliebing
Post Number: 1264
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 09:55 am: |    |
1110928
THE “MILKING” STOOL [Reminder!]
by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT
Cincinnati, OH
Might be a good time to review our liturgy, [perhaps refresh them] and teach others-- what a three-legged stool has to do with architecture, construction and specifications writing. Might just to stoke the fires again and renew our dedication; and augmenting it
Architectural and construction projects are driven by, and controlled by three, interconnected documents working in concert-- and collectively known as “the Contract Documents”!
The premier document is called “the Contract”, or “Agreement”. A highly legal-toned document, this is only remotely known to the general public, and of interest, mainly, to the lawyers for the various parties who sign the document. Its fundamental purpose is to provide a common basis for the project, whereby the Owner, and the Contractor agree that, 1] there is a project to be built, as depicted and described in other associated documents, 2] the Contractor will do all of the work of buying and installing the material, systems and labor, 3] the work will be done in accord with the drawings and specifications which describe the work required to complete the project, and 4] upon satisfactory execution of the work, the Owner will pay the agreed-to price, as stated in the Contract.
The general public is more readily familiar with the drawings—still known to some, as “the blue prints”. These are fascinating, graphic displays of the building overall, in different views, and with a host of smaller, but interrelated drawings. Literally, they show the workers how to put the building together. Closer and more enlightened scrutiny, reveals that, even with a wide array of drawings, there is a lot of information that is not included.
The additional information required is provided in booklets called Project Manuals [by many]. In these are the “specifications” [“specs” in the vernacular], which add to, explain, and describe aspects of the work that simply cannot be shown graphically. Since there is a tremendous amount of information that is best written, the specifications become most valuable documents, and in fact are co-equals with the drawings.
No project can be built with drawings alone; neither can it be built solely by the written words, in the specifications.
Discussion of specifications needs to start with an open and frank analysis of their prevailing, and overall concept. There is a general lack of knowledge of these documents among the non-construction public. Even to many within the construction industry, there is a rather murky mystique about the creation, writing, use, and value of these documents-- and the role they play in bringing building projects to fruition.
Specifications are NOT a “handy”, nice-to-have, off-hand, peripheral documents that play only a marginal or sporadic role in the construction of a project. To the contrary, the specifications ARE a necessary, important, pervasive, and viable part of a project’s documentation, used in every phase of the work.
In that context, they need to contribute information necessary for the correct construction of the project. In their status as “complementary and supplementary” to the drawings, it is essential that the specifications augment and enhance the information on the drawings. Further, it is essential that they be as complete, clear, and concise as possible, so they are easily assimilated by the various construction personnel.
Hence, the pre-eminent function of the specifications is to “round-out”, or complete the documentation of the project through the use of specific information written in construction terms.
Specifications are pro-active instruments—not preventative, punitive, or after-thoughts. Their function is to provide decisive construction information specific to the project, which cannot be shown graphically, but which is important and necessary. In addition, they provide detailed information which precludes the need for extensive/massive notations on the drawings, which tend to obscure or impair their use.
The specifications are not the prime method for preventing cost expansion, etc. They establish quality of product and method, which can effect costing. It is other factors that are the causes of cost expansion or growth. Specifications need to be complete, but not speculatively all-encompassing, anticipating every possible scenario for modification of the project work. In the same context, though, they should not open-ended or ship-shod , with gaps, ambiguities, and incomplete information, or other discrepancies that forces the bidding contractor to “interpret’, or flatly guess at what is required or intended. Specifications are an element of project control.
Another function, often overlooked, is the legal implications of the specifications. Much of the “front-end”, “boiler-plate”, or “red-tape” portion of the specifications is devoted to relationships and responsibilities as well as project-wide controls, regulations, and other parameters. Too often disregarded by the Contractors [in bidding and afterward], these provisions are crucial to proper, cohesive, and smooth-running execution of the project, within the strict limits, and direction of the Contract [Agreement] in effect.
Specifications, while essential, should not be assigned unobtainable expectations or converted to instruments which function in a wrong manner. Their proper function is unique and essential to the project-- not unlike the third leg of the stool. Not too long to make the others wobble; not too short to wobble itself. Rather a good, strong, equal and contributing "partner".
Then why do we allow them to be so maligned, mischaracterized, and all but ignored at times? |
4specs.com Home Page