Buildings are designed, specified, and detailed in specifications that describe products and brands . By recognizing that we can't put all the requirements of a construction contract on the drawings, by understanding the needs of each party, and by placing information where it belongs in a clear, concise, consistent manner, the specifier enhances the smooth progress of the project as a whole and the interests of each party involved.
Specifications are the result of the evaluation, comparison, and selection of construction products.
Fourteen of the 16 Divisions pertain to the products to be included in the project. Specifications, often required by lending institutions, help to control construction in terms of workmanship, scheduling, delays, or material substitutions. Specs can help contractors decide the scope of the subcontracts. The division of the project into logical units of work, through a well-written spec, can guide contractors in determining which of the subcontractors is obligated to perform certain parts of the work. Contractors also use specs to manage the project.