IMPORTANCE & PURPOSES OF SPECIFICATION

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE & VALUATION

1. GOVERMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHARUCH NAME – KAPTAN SAGAR R ENROLLMENT NO. – 130140106021 SEM – 7 (CIVIL) SUB. – PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE & VALUATION TOPIC – IMPORTANCE & PURPOSES OF SPECIFICATION

2. SPECIFICATIONS A detailed description of the quality of materials and workmanship required to complete an engineering project in accordance with its drawings and details is known as the specifications . A specification along with the drawings (including schedules etc), form the part of the contract documents that translate the client's requirements into the eventual building/construction.

3. DEFINITIONS There are a number of definitions of the term specifications - two of the best are : A detailed description prepared by a consultant Engineer or Architect to tell the Contractor everything about workmanship which cannot be shown on the drawings. (Scott 1964) The document that prescribes the requirements with which the product or service has to conform (possibly Gelder 2001)

4. The specifications shows the following details : Type and quality of materials. Method of preparation of an item. Quality of workmanship. Method of measurement of an item. Other details related to the item, etc.

5. TYPES OF SPECIFICATIONS The specifications are broadly into two categories :

6. IMPORTANCE OF SPECIFICATIONS : Sometimes, it is not possible to furnish the information on the drawings, regarding the quality of materials to be used and the quality of workmanship to be achieved during construction, due to shortage of space. Specifications provide such useful data in a separate document . The ‘drawings’ and ‘specifications’ form two important contract documents. In case of discrepancy between the drawings and specifications, the provisions of the specifications are given more legal strength and shall govern.

7. The rates of items depend on the specifications. If the specifications are rigid and demands for superior quality, the rate of item will increase and vice versa . Specifications are necessary during supervising the work . The specifications of items are required by the contractor to fill the rates of items in the tender document.

8. PURPOSES OF SPECIFICATIONS : To describe the quality of different materials required for construction work. It enables the department, engineers, architect and contractor to define, procure and check the material’s quality as per specifications. To specify the quality of workmanship and method of doing the same. Specifications are required to clarify the drawings. Specifications are helpful to the contractor in filling the rates of various items in the tender.

9. Specifications of a work serves as a guide to the supervising staff of the owner as well as the contractor to execute the work to their satisfaction. Specifications are necessary to verify and check the strength of materials for a work. Specification is an essential contract document and is required for arbitration (dispute between the contractor and owner) and court cases. Specification is necessary to specify the equipments, tools and plants to be engaged for a work and thus enables to procure then before hand.