This Tip looks at how the start of a Specification is extremely important.
On the first page is the Table of Contents (a concise Spec will only need the Sections displayed…nice and simple). Under that is the list of Appendix items (separate documents in the Spec folder or bound into a hard copy Spec, such as Schedules and Reports – this is not needed if there are no separate but bound-in documents). Then the Revision Table (dates and reason for issue).
The first Spec Sections should be common Sections (such as Preliminaries, Fixing & Sealing, and Metalwork) and it must be clear the following and remaining technical Sections of the Spec are to be read with these common Sections, so you won’t need to repeat a lot of this common detail in the technical Sections.
The start of the Preliminaries Section connects the Spec to the contract work and states that the content of the Spec is directed to the builder. Other introductory things in the Prelims include resolving Spec/other document discrepancies, treatment of referenced documents in the Spec, and definitions.
The Preliminaries then goes on to cover site issues, materials, execution, administration issues, and submissions.
Starting the Spec in a good clear and concise way sets the tone for the remainder of the document which needs to maintain that clarity and conciseness throughout.
PROMOTIONAL NOTE: The ArchiAssist Specification resolves in a reasonable way, all the negative outcomes relating to the issues presented in this advisory.
To know more about ArchiAssist, you can download a FREE SAMPLE Specification from the website.
