Construction Specification

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tion, Fiber-Reinforced Polymer, Construction Work

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Green Specifications and Documenta-

tion
Sam Kubba Ph.D., LEED AP, in Handbook of Green Building Design and Construc-
tion, 2012

13.1 Introduction
Working drawings and specifications are the primary documents used by a contrac-
tor to bid and execute a project. Specifications are precisely written documents that
go with the construction documents and describe materials as well as installation
methods. They describe the project to be constructed, supplementing drawings and
forming part of the contract, and describe qualities of materials, their methods of
manufacture and their installation, and workmanship and mode of construction.
They also provide other information not shown in the drawings, including a de-
scription of the final result. Many designers have considerable difficulty preparing
a competent set of standard building specifications, partly because it demands that
they shift gears, using a different medium to express design content: written instead
of drawn. They also propel the designer into the technical realm of materials not
normally dealt with on a daily basis and which the designer may not be up to speed
on.

Specifications should complement drawings, not overlap or duplicate them, and

normally prescribe the quality standards of construction expected on the project.
They indicate the procedure by means of which it may be determined whether
requirements are satisfied. Because specifications are an integral part of the Contract
Documents, they are considered to be legal documents, and should therefore be
comprehensive, accurate, and clear. Specification writing has two principal objec-
tives: to define the scope of work and to act as a set of instructions. Defining
the scope of work is at the core of specification writing. The required quality of
the product and services must be clearly communicated to bidders and the party
executing the contract, and must ensure that the completed project conforms to
this specified quality. Projects now generally incorporate specifications in a project
manual that is issued as part of the contract package along with drawings, bidding
requirements, and other contract conditions. The specification writer should ensure
that the requirements are compatible with the methods to be employed and that the
methods selected in one specification are compatible with those selected in another.

A primary function of project specifications is to deliver detailed information regard-

ing materials and methods of work for a particular construction project. They cover
various components relating to the project, including general conditions, scope of
work, quality of materials, and standards of workmanship. The drawings, collectively
with the project specifications, define the project in detail and clearly delineate
exactly how it is to be constructed. The project drawings and specifications are an
integral part of the Contract Documents and are inseparable. They reflect what the
project specifications are unlikely to cover; the project specifications outline what the
drawings are unlikely to portray. Specifications are also sometimes used to clarify
details that are not adequately covered by the drawings and notes. Project specificat-
ions always take precedence over the drawings, should the drawings conflict with
them.

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat® is the most widely

used standard for organizing specifications for building projects in the United States
and Canada. Its format of organization is widely recognized. CSI is a nationwide
organization composed of architects, engineers, manufacturers’ representatives,
contractors, and other interested parties who closely collaborated to develop this
format. Its specification standards are noted in MasterFormat, which in 2004 was
expanded from 16 to 50 divisions as described later in this chapter. It should
be noted that the 1995 edition of the format is no longer be supported by CSI.
The MasterFormat 2011 Update, produced jointly by the CSI and Construction
Specifications Canada (CSC), replaces all previous editions.

In recent years we have witnessed a fundamental change in specification writing due

to technology and green-related practices, which have had a tremendous impact
on the construction industry and on the general way we conduct our business.
Examples of this are specification production and reproduction, which in a few
short years have progressed tremendously. Master systems are now commercially
available in electronic form that a specifier can simply load into the computer and
get instant access to drawing checklists and explanation sheets. After editing the
relevant sections, a printout can be made with an audit trail that informs and records
what has been deleted and what decisions remain undetermined.

The CSI comments,

Construction projects use many different kinds of delivery methods, products,

and installation methods, but one thing is common to all—the need for effective
teamwork by the many parties involved to ensure the correct and timely completion
of work. The successful completion of projects requires effective communication
amongst the people involved, and that in turn requires easy access to essential
project information. Efficient information retrieval is only possible when a standard
filing system is used by everyone. MasterFormat provides such a standard filing and
retrieval scheme that can be used throughout the construction industry.

Green building specifications can be easily incorporated into CSI MasterFormat

in three general ways: (1) environmental protection procedures, (2) green building
materials, and (3) practical application of environmental specifications.

> Read full chapter

Dry Soil Mixing for the Ballina Bypass

Motorway Upgrade
Richard Kelly, ... Theva Muttuvel, in Ground Improvement Case Histories, 2015

9.2.5 Construction specification

The construction specification outlined the process required to construct the
columns and the acceptance criteria on the product. The process was as follows:

1. Perform laboratory mix trials to estimate the binder type and quantity prior to
mobilizing to site. The tests also provided a trend for strength gain with time.
2. Perform field trials to confirm binder types and quantity along with mixing
parameters that optimize construction.
3. Perform production tests to confirm quality has been achieved. Production
tests were often performed at 7 days and were extrapolated to 28 days us-
ing the trend line developed in the laboratory trials. Production testing was
initially specified as three columns with pull out resistance tests (PORT) and
three columns sampled by triple tube coring and the samples subjected to
unconfined compressive strength (UCS) testing.

The acceptance criteria for the project were that

1.
 the strength of the columns had to exceed a target minimum strength criteria
of 150 kPa beneath the crest of the embankment and 100 kPa in the interlock-
ing panels beneath the batters; but
2. to allow for variations inevitably associated with DSM, the acceptance criteria
for DSM allowed for 10% of the test results falling below the target minimum
strength criteria provided these test results were equal to or greater than 75%
of the target strength.

The definition of column strength as an average column strength or the minimum

column strength along the entire length of the column was left vague. Acceptance
was at the sole discretion of the geotechnical manager for the project. If acceptance
did not occur, it triggered a nonconformance report for further column testing or
replacement of columns at the contractor’s cost.

In practice, the effect of the acceptance criteria was to increase the mean column
strength required in construction above the design column strength to account for
the inherent variability in the strength of DSM columns. Reinstallation of noncon-
forming columns was a cost and time risk to the contractor, so the constructed mean
column strength was usually made much higher than implied by the philosophy of
the acceptance criteria to minimize rework.

PORTs are described in SGF4:95E (Swedish Geotechnical Society, 1997). In summary,

a vane is installed below the columns prior to construction and then pulled out
through the columns some time later. The pullout force is corrected for friction on
the wire rope and converted using an empirical factor, N, which was taken to have
a value of 10. The UCS tests were performed measuring axial displacement as well
as force to obtain both UCS data and a measure of stiffness for comparison with the
design assumptions.

> Read full chapter

Green Specifications and Documenta-

tion
Sam Kubba PH.D., LEED AP, in Handbook of Green Building Design and Construc-
tion (Second Edition), 2017

13.4 Developing the Project Manual

The CSI developed the first standard format for organizing construction information
in 1963 and which later became known as MasterFormat. In 1964 the American
Institute of Architects (AIA) developed the concept of the “Project Manual,” primarily
to meet the pressing need for a consistent arrangement of building construction
specifications. The Project Manual consists of an assemblage of documents re-
lated to the construction work on a project, and which is employed to guide the
construction process. It typically includes bidding requirements (contract forms,
bonds, certificates, etc.), sample documents, conditions of the contract, and the
technical specifications which together with the drawings, constitute the contract
documents. The project manual has gained general acceptance in the industry and
is greatly preferred to the traditional method of organizing the project manual
which was previously a matter of individual preference by the design firm producing
them, resulting in a wide diversity of method around the country that became
very confusing. As design firms and contractors became increasingly nationwide in
their operations, the Project Manual continued to develop and while it may differ
depending on the size and type of project, a typical project manual may include, but
not be limited to:

• General Project information: This includes:•Title Page to include names and

addresses of all parties responsible for the development of the project (owners,
architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and
structural engineers) in addition to a statement of compliance by the architect
or engineer of record.•Table of Contents.•Schedule of Drawings.
• Bidding Requirements. This applies where contracts are awarded through the
bidding process. These would include:•Invitation to Bid and Advertisement
for Bids.•Instructions to Bidders, including Prequalification forms, Bid forms,
Information available to bidders, date and time of bid opening and notice of
pre-bid conference.
• Contract forms may include:•Sample Forms. Include Public Entity Crime Form,
Owner/Contractor Agreement, Performance and Payment Bond, Change Order,
Bid Form which may require the general contractor’s license number, may include
a subcontractors list and license numbers, and other project forms.•Bonding
Requirements. Labor and Materials payment bonds are required on projects
costing above a certain amount.–Bid Security in the to be submitted in form of
a certified check, cashier’s check, treasurer’s check, or bank draft of any national or
state bank.–Performance Bond and Materials and Payment Bond. Each bond shall
equal one hundred (100%) percent of the contract amount.•Insurance Require-
ments:–Worker’s compensation and employer’s liability.–Public liability to include
personal injury, bodily injury, and property damage.–Products and completed oper-
ations liability.–Owner’s protective liability.–Business automobile liability, including
owned, nonowned, and hired automobiles.–Property all-risks coverage to one hun-
dred (100%) percent of the value at risk, subject to acceptable deductibles.•Contract
Conditions: General conditions of the contract such as AIA Form 201 or
similar preprinted forms. Supplementary conditions include anything that is
not covered in the general conditions, such as addenda (changes made before
contract signing), and change orders (changes made after contract signing). In•
addition, Contract Conditions include:General Conditions and Supplementary
Conditions including, but not limited to, the following:–Deductive alternates
must be used if bidding is to take place on a project where funds are in jeopardy
of reversion and a rebid process would not be possible within remaining time
available, and when the Client wants to preserve the option to negotiate with
the apparent low bidder.–Notice of time limit and method of payment to the
contractor including final payment.–Time limit in which the construction is to be
completed.–The penalty to be paid by the contractor for failure to comply with the
time limits of the contract.–Federal wage rates and hourly scales shall be used where
applicable. Federal wage rates are not required for construction projects financed
totally from local or state funds.–A provision setting forth who should pay for
standard tests of concrete, plumbing, electrical, steel, and others as required by
industry standards.–The Client may include an incentive in the contract for early
completion of the project.
Technical specifications: These provide written technical requirements con-
cerning building materials, components, systems, and equipment shown on
the Drawings with regard to standards, workmanship quality, performance of
related services, and stipulated results to be achieved by application of con-
struction methods (Fig. 13.1).Figure 13.1. The MasterSpec Small Project 2005
Combined Table of Contents for a small project—MasterFormat 2004—sec-
tion text only.Source: American Institute of Architects.

Being legal documents, the specification language must be written in a clear precise
and unambiguous manner in order to communicate the intended concept. In this
respect, a convention has developed over the years as to what specific information
should be shown on the drawings and what should more appropriately be included
in the specifications. Drawings should depict information that can be most aptly
and effectively expressed graphically by means of drawings and diagrams. This
would include relevant information such as dimensions, sizes, proportions, gauges,
arrangements, locations, and interrelationships. Additionally, drawings are used to
express quantity, whereas specifications normally describe quality. Also, drawings
would denote type (e.g., wood), whereas specifications will clarify the species (e.g.,
oak). Well-written specifications on the other hand are essentially based on a number
of broad general principles as outlined below:

• Specifications should only transmit information that lends itself to the written
word, such as standards, descriptions, procedures, guarantees, and names.
• Specifications should be clear, concise, and technically correct.

• Specifications should avoid the use of ambiguous words that could lead to
misinterpretation.
•
 Specifications should be written using simple words in short, easy-to-under-
stand sentences.
• Specifications should use technically correct terms, and avoid slang or “field”
words.
• Specifications should avoid fielding conflicting requirements.

• Specifications should avoid repeating requirements stated elsewhere in the

Contract.

Confusion may result in some cases when there are exceptions to these under-
standings. For example, building departments of the majority of municipalities will
only accept drawings with applications for building permits, and refuse to accept
a project manual with specifications. Additionally, all data demonstrating building
code compliance must be indicated on the drawings. However, the repetition of
identical data on both the specifications and the drawings exposes the documents
to potential errors and inconsistency. To achieve better communication, the specifier
should:

• Avoid specifying standards that cannot be measured or phrases that are subject
to wide interpretation.
• Avoid specifications that are impossible for the contractor to execute.

• Use clear, simple, direct statements, concise use of terms, and attention to
grammar and punctuation. Avoid use of words or phrases that are ambiguous
and imply a choice that may not be intended.
• Be impartial in designating responsibility. Avoid exculpatory clauses such as,
“the General Contractor shall be totally responsible for all…,”which try to shift
responsibility.
• Describe only one important idea per paragraph to make reading easier while
facilitating comprehension, editing and modifying at a later date. Specificat-
ions to be kept as short and concise as possible, omitting words like all, the,
an, and a.
• Capitalize the following: (1) the contract documents, such as Specifications,
Working Drawings, Contract, Clause, Section, Supplementary Conditions; (2)
major parties to the contract, such as Contractor, Client, Owner, Architect; (3)
specific rooms within the building, such as Living Room, Kitchen, Office; (4)
grade of materials, such as No. 1 Douglas Fir, FAS White Oak; and, of course,
(5) all proper names.
• Avoid underlining anything in a specification, as this implies that the remain-
ing material can be ignored.
• Ensure that the terms Shall and Will are used correctly. “Shall” designates
a command: “The Contractor shall….” whereas “Will” implies choice: “The
Owner or Architect will….”
It is imperative that the specifications and construction drawings are fully coordinat-
ed as they complement each other. Moreover, they should not contain conflicting
requirements, errors, omissions, or duplications. Below is a summary of project
manual requirements for a new construction project.

Summary—General Project Manual Requirements (to Be Edited as Re-

quired Based on Nature of the Project)
List of contacts
Location Map/Site Plan/Building Plans/Elevations (reduced scale)
Borrowers Loan Agreement
A/E Agreement (design Services)
CM Agreement
Construction Agreement
Consultant Services Agreement
Additional Service Billings
Project Analysis Report
Project Status Report Template
Borrower’s Draw Requests
Construction Schedule
GC/CM Applications for payment (current and log)
Change Order/Pending Change Order Log
Change Orders
RFI Log
Submittal Log
Buyout/Subcontractor Log
Vendor Log
Allowances

> Read full chapter

Understanding Specifications
Sam Kubba Ph.D., LEED AP, in Green Construction Project Management and Cost
Oversight, 2010

Proprietary (product) specifications

This type of construction specification for a product often uses a combination
of methods to convey the designer’s intent. It is normally written by referencing
specific products by manufacturer and brand or model name and applies to materials
and equipment. For example, a specification for a terra cotta tile would use a
proprietary specification to name the product or products selected by the specifier,
a descriptive specification to specify the size and design, and a reference standard
to specify the ASTM standard, grade, and type required. It is distinguished from
prescriptive specifications in that the physical characteristics are inferred rather than
explicitly stated. For an individual product, proprietary, performance, and descriptive
specifying techniques may be used. Proprietary specifications can be made “open”
by adding the phrase “or equal.”

> Read full chapter

LEED™ Documentation Process and

Technical Requirements
Sam Kubba Ph.D., LEED AP, in LEED v4 Practices, Certification, and Accreditation
Handbook (Second Edition), 2016

3.4 Greening your specifications

Construction documents typically consist of working drawings and specifications
and are essential to convey the building design concept to the contractor. They
provide the contractor with the necessary information to bid and build a project.
The more accurately a concept is conveyed, the more likely it will be realized. It is
important therefore that the building specifications be an integral part of the written
documents and go hand in hand with the drawings; they describe the materials to
be used as well as the methods of installation. They also prescribe the quality and
standards of construction required to be achieved on the project.

Thus, in order to facilitate communication of the building design concept, the

construction industry has standardized the format for construction documents. The
working drawings describe the location, size, and quantity of materials, whereas the
specifications (the written documents that accompany the working drawings) de-
scribe the quality of construction. For example, if a working drawing shows a plaster
wall, the specifications would include the description of the plaster mix, lath and
paper backing, and finishing techniques. To do this more effectively, several standard
formats were developed. However, the most widely used today is the standard or-
ganizational format for specifications developed by the Construction Specifications
Institute (CSI), which is now used by manufacturers, architects, engineers, interior
designers, contractors, and building officials throughout the United States to
format construction specifications in building contracts. The obvious purpose of this
format is to assist the user in locating specific types of information.
Likewise, when specifying green building materials, it is best to follow the CSI’s
MasterFormat™ as most specifications are organized according to this format.
Moreover, Green specifications can be used to benchmark the efficacy of other
environmental specifications. Likewise, environmental goals for a specific project
can easily be implemented into the CSI MasterFormat. There is also a wealth of
information on greening your specifications on the Internet. The EPA format, in
particular, is designed to help supplement project specifications.

Furthermore, the EPA team will reportedly assist in the development and modif-
ication of project specifications to meet LEED credit requirements. But in order to
achieve this, a clear understanding is necessary of how the specifications can best
be used as a proactive mechanism to assist in procuring materials that are environ-
mentally friendly and for collecting required LEED information from subcontractors
and suppliers (Figure 3.8).

Figure 3.8. The roots of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) can be traced back to
large healthcare projects, like the Sutter Medical Center Extension in Sacramento,
California. Photo: KMD Architects.

BuildingGreen.com has extensive information on sustainable design based on the

CSI MasterFormat (2014–2004) hierarchy. The specifications are basically gener-
al guidelines as to product selection and installation and may not be appro-
priate for a specific project, which is why before using the Guideline Specif-
ications the reader should read their disclaimer. Further information regarding
GreenSpec® can be found on the BuildingGreen.com website: http://www.building-
green.com/menus/divisions.cfm.

According to the CSI,

MasterFormat is the specifications-writing standard for most commercial building

design and construction projects in North America. It lists titles and section numbers
for organizing data about construction requirements, products, and activities. By
standardizing such information, MasterFormat facilitates communication among
architects, specifiers, contractors and suppliers, which helps them meet building
owners’ requirements, timelines and budgets.

Although GreenSpec is organized according to the CSI MasterFormat (2014–2004)

structure for organizing products, the seventh edition of GreenSpec introduced an
entirely new approach to guideline specifications. The previous guideline specificat-
ions for a range of sections throughout the various divisions have been replaced
with a much more comprehensive set of guideline specifications for four sections in
Division 1 only. The CSI and CSC recently released a MasterFormat® 2014 Update.

There are several significant modifications included in the LEED v4 edition update.
These include:

• The addition of selective demolition sections to most divisions of the format.

• Providing guidance for companies and project managers who need to incor-
porate demolition into their plans.
• Renaming Division 40 from “Process Equipment” to “Process Interconnec-
tions” and overhauling its content.
• Reorganizing “Process Liquid Pumps” in Division 43, as a result of input from
members of the Hydraulic Institute.
• Moving “Manufactured Planters” and “Site Seating and Tables” to Division 32
to better align with other site-based work and renaming their former Division
12 location to “Interior Public Space Furnishings” to address similar types of
furnishings used in indoor settings.
• Revising “Equipment” in Division 11 to update, simplify, and rationalize its
content and organization.
• Expanding “Agreement Forms” in Section 00 52 00 to improve alignment with
standard forms of agreement (Source: CSI).

The MasterFormat Maintenance Task Team conducts a biennial revision cycle

process, publishing updates to the format every 2 years. This committee of volun-
teers develops the changes to the format based on input from industry supporters
and proposals from individual users that were submitted through www.masterfor-
mat.com. The Task Team comprises appointees from CSI, CSC, ARCAT, ARCOM,
Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD), Specification Consultants in Independent
Practice (SCIP), Digicon, and Canadian National Master Specifications. MasterFor-
mat is a master list of numbers and titles classified by work results for construc-
tion practices. It is used to organize project manuals, detail cost information, and
relate drawing notations to specifications. By fostering fuller and more detailed
construction specifications, MasterFormat is designed to reduce costly changes and
delays in projects due to incomplete, misplaced or missing information. “Before
2004, MasterFormat consisted of 16 Divisions. The standard is the most widely used
standard for organizing specifications and other written information for commercial
and institutional building projects in the US and Canada. It provides a master
list of divisions, and section numbers and titles within each division, to follow in
organizing information about a facility’s construction requirements and associated
activities. Standardizing the presentation of such information improves communi-
cation among all parties involved in construction projects.” (Wikipedia). For more
information on the 2014 updates, please visit www.masterformat.com.

The following is the latest GreenSpec® Guideline Specifications based on the current
CSI MasterFormat Divisions (April 2014):

For projects seeking LEED certification, or that wish to track their project’s perfor-
mance against LEED, the specifications include details on how LEED requirements
relate to the expressed requirements. Many LEED credits may not be addressed
directly in the Guideline Specifications primarily because attaining those credits are
determined by choices made in site selection or design and are not affected by
product choices or other activities governed by these sections. The responsibility lies
with the designer to ensure that any such credits have been satisfactorily addressed
in the design and construction process.

Earlier versions of LEED required the submittal of extensive documentation from

contractors and subcontractors to verify compliance with credit requirements. How-
ever, with the shift to online submissions, documentation requirements have been
dramatically reduced.

For projects pursuing LEED certification, the contractor should be provided with
a “LEED Submittal Form” for each LEED credit that the contractor is to provide
documentation. The contractor would then complete the form and attach any
additional documentation to it. Project managers sometimes link receipt of the
completed forms to payment requests from the contractor at appropriate points in
the construction process. In addition, there may be submittals required for LEED or
for the client that are not typically within the scope of the specifications document.

The following is a guidance document example that is based on the Whole Building
Design Guide – Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers. It consists of sample
specification language intended to be inserted into project specifications on this
subject as appropriate to “greening” your specifications. Certain provisions, where
indicated, are required for US federal agency projects. Sample specification language
is numbered to clearly distinguish it from advisory or discussion material. Each
sample is preceded by identification of the typical location in a specification section,
where it would appear using the SectionFormat™ of the CSI; the six-digit section
number cited is per CSI Masterformat™ 2014. For a more complete set, visit the
Whole Building Design Guide web site at: http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org.
3.4.1 Section 03 40 00 – Precast Concrete
SPECIFIER NOTE:

Resource Management: Plant fabrication handles raw materials and by-products at

a single location that typically allows greater efficiency and better pollution
prevention than job site fabrication.

Aggregates for use in concrete include normal sand and gravel, crushed stone,
expanded clay, expanded shale, expanded slate, pelletized or extruded fly ash, ex-
panded slag, perlite, vermiculite, expanded polystyrene beads, or processed clay,
diatomite, pumice, scoria, or tuff.

Architectural items (e.g., planters, lintels, bollards) fabricated from lightweight and
recycled content aggregates are available. The quantity and type of recycled ma-
terials vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and include cellulose, fiberglass,
polystyrene, and rubber.

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a type of lightweight precast concrete prevalent

in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and recently available through manufacturing
facilities in the United States. It is made with Portland cement, silica sand or fly ash,
lime, water, and aluminum powder or paste. The aluminum reacts with the products
of hydration to release millions of tiny hydrogen gas bubbles that expand the mix
to approximately five times the normal volume. When set, the AAC is cut into blocks
or slabs and steam-cured in an autoclave.

Toxicity/IEQ: Refer to Section 03 30 00 - Cast-In-Place Concrete. Precast concrete

generally requires less Portland cement per volume of concrete for similar perfor-
mance due to better quality control.

Performance: Performance is more predictable in precast operations since more exact

dimensions, placement of reinforcing, and surface finishing can be obtained. Precast
concrete can be fabricated with continuous insulation. AAC is significantly lighter
(about one-fifth the weight of traditional concrete) than normal concrete and can be
formed into blocks or panels. Lighter-weight concretes generally have greater fire
and thermal resistance but less strength than traditional normal-weight concrete.
A full range of lightweight concretes are available and their strength and weight is
determined by the aggregates used.

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 SUMMARY

A. This Section includes:1.Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC).

B. Related Sections:1.03 30 00 – Cast-In-Place Concrete.

1.2 SUBMITTALS

A. Product data. Unless otherwise indicated, submit the following for each type of
product provided under work of this Section:SPECIFIER NOTE:Green build-
ing rating systems often include credit for materials of recycled content.
USGBC-LEED™ v3, for example, includes credit for materials with recycled
content, calculated on the basis of preconsumer and postconsumer percent-
age content, and it includes credit for use of salvaged/recovered materials.
However, in LEED v4, the credit for materials of recycled content requires ma-
terials to meet both regional and recycled content criteria to maximize points.
(Attention should be given to the latest LEED™ requirements and recommen-
dations.)Green Globes US also provides points for reused building materials
and components and for building materials with recycled content.1.Recycled
Content:a.Indicate recycled content; indicate percentage of preconsumer and
postconsumer recycled content per unit of product.b.Indicate relative dollar
value of recycled content product to total dollar value of product included
in project.c.If recycled content product is part of an assembly, indicate the
percentage of recycled content product in the assembly by weight.d.If recycled
content product is part of an assembly, indicate relative dollar value of recycled
content product to total dollar value of assembly.SPECIFIER NOTE:Specifying
local materials may help minimize transportation impacts; however it may
not have a significant impact on reducing the overall embodied energy
of a building material because of efficiencies of scale in some modes
of transportation.Green building rating systems frequently include credit
for local materials. Transportation impacts include: fossil fuel consumption,
air pollution, and labor.USGBC-LEED™ 2009 includes credits for materials
extracted/harvested and manufactured within a 500-mile radius from the
project site. However, this OPTION within the new v4 version encourages local
sourcing. The radius from the construction site for extraction, manufacturing,
and purchasing of the product has now been reduced to within a 100-mile
radius of the construction site. Green Globes US also provides points for
materials that are locally manufactured.2.Local/Regional Materials:a.Sourcing
location(s): Indicate location of extraction, harvesting, and recovery; indicate
distance between extraction, harvesting, and recovery and the project site.b.-
Manufacturing location(s): Indicate location of manufacturing facility; indicate
distance between manufacturing facility and the project site.c.Product Value:
Indicate dollar value of product containing local/regional materials; include
materials cost only.d.Product Component(s) Value: Where product compo-
nents are sourced or manufactured in separate locations, provide location
information for each component. Indicate the percentage by weight of each
component per unit of product.
B.
 Submit environmental data in accordance with Table 1 of ASTM E2129 for
products provided under work of this Section.
C. Documentation of manufacturer’s take-back program for (units, full and partial)
(packaging) (xxxx). Include the following:1.Appropriate contact information.-
2.Overview of procedures.a.Indicate manufacturer’s commitment to reclaim
materials for recycling and/or reuse.3.Limitations and conditions, if any, ap-
plicable to the project.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

SPECIFIER NOTE:

EO 13423 includes requirements for Federal Agencies to use “sustainable envi-

ronmental practices, including acquisition of biobased, environmentally preferable,
energy-efficient, water-efficient, and recycled-content products.”

Specifically, under the Sustainable Building requirements per Guiding Principle

#5 Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials, EO13423 directs Federal agencies
to “use products meeting or exceeding EPA’s recycled content recommendations”
for EPA-designated products and for other products to “use materials with recycled
content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the
pre-consumer content constitutes at least 10% (based on cost) of the total value of
the materials in the project.”

2.1 MATERIALS

A. Load-bearing and non-load-bearing AAC elements: Comply with ASTM

C1386.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3. X SITE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEDURES

A. Waste Management: As specified in Section 01 74 19 – Construction Waste

Management and as follows:1.Broken, waste AAC units: May be used as non-
structural fill (if approved by Architect/Engineer).2.Coordinate with manufacturer
for take-back program. Set aside (scrap) (packaging) (xxxx) to be returned to
manufacturer for recycling into new product.

> Read full chapter

Codes, specifications, and standards

Ramesh Singh, in Applied Welding Engineering (Third Edition), 2020
American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)
ASTM specifications compliment most of the construction specifications; these
specifications and codes address several material and testing procedures require-
ments and guidance. The specifications issued by American Society of Testing Ma-
terial (www.astm.org) are organized on the basis of the type of material, and the
letters prefixed to the specification number is indicative of the material type, for
example letter A is for all ferrous materials; letter B is for all nonferrous materials;
letter C is for Cementations, Ceramic, Concrete and Masonry; letter D is used to
indicate specifications related miscellaneous material like to chemicals, polymers,
paints, coatings, and their test methods etc.; similarly, letter E is used to denote
specifications that address miscellaneous subjects, including subjects related to
examination and testing of material. The following is a short list of some of these
groups; the list is only to bring out the general explanation of what is described
earlier.

ASTM A 6 Specification for General Requirements for Rolled

Structural Steel Bars, Plates, Shapes, and Sheets
Pilling.
ASTM A 20 Specification for General Requirements for Steel
Plates for Pressure Vessels.
ASTM A 36 Specification for Carbon Structural Steel.
ASTM A 176 Specification for Stainless and Heat-Resisting
Chromium Steel Plate, Sheet and Strip.
ASTM A 181 Specification for Carbon Steel Forgings for Gen-
eral Purpose Piping.
ASTM A 351 Standard Specification for Castings, Austenitic,
Austenitic-ferritic (Duplex), for Pressure-Contain-
ing parts.
ASTM A 370 Standard Test Methods and Definitions for Me-
chanical Testing of Steel Products.
ASTM A265 - 12(2019) Standard Specification for Nickel and Nickel-Base
Alloy-Clad Steel Plate
A578/A578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Exam-
ination of Rolled Steel Plates for Special Applica-
tions.
A751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for
Chemical Analysis of Steel Products

Similarly, the nonferrous material list is exhaustive, and a few of them are listed here
as an example.

ASTM B Specification for Hand-Drawn Copper Wire.

ASTM B 80 Specification for Magnesium-Alloy Sand Cast-
ings.
ASTM B 159 Specification for Phosphor Bronze Wire.
ASTM B 418 Specification for Cast and Wrought Galvanic Zinc
Anodes.
ASTM B 457
 Test Method for Measurement of Impedance of
Anodic Coating on Aluminum.
ASTM B 491 Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy
Extruded Round Tubes for General-Purpose Ap-
plications.
ASTM B 546 Specification for Electric-Fusion-Welded
Ni-Cr-Co-Mo Alloy (UNSN06617), Ni-Fe-Cr-Si
Alloy (UNS N08330 and UNS N08332),
Ni-Cr-Fe-Al Alloy (UNS N06603), Ni-Cr-Fe Al-
loy (UNS N06025), and Ni-Cr-Fe-Si Alloy (UNS
N06045) Pipes.
ASTM B547/B547M-10 This specification for Aluminum and Alu-
minum-Alloy Formed and Arc-Welded Round
Tube has since been withdrawn in 2019, but it is
included because the material conforming to the
specification is in the market and in use.

This specification covers aluminum and aluminum-alloy formed and arc-welded

round tube in diameters 9–60 in. (230–1520 mm), made from formed sheet or plate,
butt-welded by gas-tungsten or gas-metal arc-welding methods with or without the
use of filler metal.

B127 Specification for Nickel-Copper Alloy (UNS

N04400) Plate, Sheet, and Strip
B162 Specification for Nickel Plate, Sheet, and Strip
B168 Specification for Nickel-Chromium-Aluminum
Alloys (UNS N06699), Nickel-Chromium-Iron Al-
loys (UNS N06600, N06601, N06603, N06690,
N06693, N06025, N06045, and N06696), Nick-
el-Chromium-Cobalt-Molybdenum Alloy (UNS
N06617), Nickel-Iron-Chromium-Tungsten Alloy
(UNS N06674), Plate, Sheet, and Strip
B333 Specification for Nickel-Molybdenum Alloy Plate,
Sheet, and Strip
B409 Specification for Nickel-Iron-Chromium Alloy
Plate, Sheet, and Strip
B424 Specification for Ni-Fe-Cr-Mo-Cu Alloy (UNS
N08825, UNS N08221, and UNS N06845) Plate,
Sheet, and Strip
B443 Specification for Nickel-Chromium-Molybde-
num-Columbium Alloy (UNS N06625) and Nick-
el-Chromium-Molybdenum-Silicon Alloy (UNS
N06219) Plate, Sheet, and Strip.
B463 Specification for UNS N08020 Alloy Plate, Sheet,
and Strip
B575 Specification for Low-Carbon Nickel-Chromi-
um-Molybdenum, Low-Carbon Nickel-Chromi-
um-Molybdenum-Copper, Low-Carbon Nick-
el-Chromium-Molybdenum-Tantalum, Low-Car-
bon Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum-Tungsten,
and Low-Carbon Nickel-Molybdenum-Chromi-
um Alloy Plate, Sheet, and Strip
B582 Specification for Nickel-Chromium-Iron-Molyb-
denum-Copper Alloy Plate, Sheet, and Strip
B625 Specification for UNS N08925, UNS N08031,
UNS N08034, UNS N08932, UNS N08926, UNS
N08354, UNS N08830, and UNS R20033 Plate,
Sheet, and Strip
B209 Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy
Sheet and Plate
B557
 Test Methods for Tension Testing Wrought and
Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products
B660 Practices for Packaging/Packing of Aluminum
and Magnesium Products
B666 Practice for Identification Marking of Aluminum
and Magnesium Products
B881 Terminology Relating to Aluminum- and Magne-
sium-Alloy Products
B918 Practice for Heat Treatment of Wrought Alu-
minum Alloys
B947 Practice for Hot Rolling Mill Solution Heat Treat-
ment for Aluminum Alloy Plate

The sample list of Cementations, Ceramic, Concrete, and Masonry Materials in-
cludes:

ASTM C 4 Specification for Clay Drain Pipe.

ASTM C 42 Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete.
ASTM C 144 Specification for aggregate for Masonry Mortar.
ASTM C 150 Specification for Portland Cement.
ASTM C 155 Classification of Insulating Firebrick.
ASTM C 173 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed
Concrete by Volumetric Method.

A sample list of Miscellaneous Materials is listed here.

ASTM D 20 Test Method for Distillation of Road Tars.

ASTM D 75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates.
ASTM D 98 Specification for Calcium Chloride.
ASTM D 143 Test Method for Small Clear Specimen of Timber.
ASTM D 185 Test Methods for Coarse Particles in Pigments,
Pastes, and Paints.
ASTM D 388 Classification of Coals by Rank.
ASTM D 1621 Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid
Cellular Plastics.
ASTM D 1640 Test Methods for Drying, Curing, or Film Forma-
tion of Organic Coating at Room Temperature.

A sample list of Miscellaneous Subjects is listed here.

ASTM E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Ma-

chines
ASTM E 6 Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical
Testing.
ASTM E 55 Practice for Sampling Wrought Nonferrous Met-
als and Alloys for Determination of Chemical
Composition.
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data
to Determine Conformance with Specifications.
E34 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Aluminum
and Aluminum-Base Alloys
E227
 Test Method for Optical Emission Spectrometric
Analysis of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys by
the Point-to-Plane Technique
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the
Unified Numbering System (UNS)
E607 Test Method for Atomic Emission Spectrometric
Analysis Aluminum Alloys by the Point to Plane
Technique Nitrogen Atmosphere
E716 Practices for Sampling and Sample Preparation of
Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys for Determina-
tion of Chemical Composition by Spectro-chem-
ical Analysis
E1251 Test Method for Analysis of Aluminum and Alu-
minum Alloys by Spark Atomic Emission Spec-
trometry
ASTM E 83 Practice for Verification and Classification of Ex-
tensometers.
ASTM E 94 Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination.
ASTM E 73 Practice for Static Load Testing of Truss Assem-
blies.

A sample list of Materials for Specific Application is given here.

ASTM F 1 Specification for Nickel-Clad and Nickel-Plated

Steel Strip for Electron Tubes.
ASTM F 22 Test Method for Hydrophobic Surface Films by
the Water-Break Test.
ASTM F 78 Test Method for Calibration of Helium Leak De-
tectors by Use of Secondary Standards.

A sample list of Corrosion, Deterioration, and Degradation of Materials is given here.

ASTM G 1 Practice for Preparing, Cleaning, and Evaluating

Corrosion test Specimen.
ASTM G 5 Reference Test Method for Making Potentiostat-
ic and Potetiodynamic Anode Polarization Mea-
surements.
ASTM G 6 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Pipeline
Coatings.
ASTM G 11 Test Method for Effects of Outdoor Weathering
on Pipeline Coatings.
ASTM G 36 Practice for Performing Stress-Corrosion Crack-
ing Test in a Boiling Magnesium Chloride Solu-
tion.

These lists are just examples of the subjects addressed by each group; in fact, the
actual list is exhaustive in each group. These specifications are from time to time
amended, merged, removed, or changed, so the latest updated version must be
referenced.

> Read full chapter

Information Systems for Agile Manu-
facturing Environment in the Post-In-
dustrial Stage
S. Subba Rao, A. Nahm, in Agile Manufacturing: The 21st Century Competitive
Strategy, 2001

3. ROLE OF IS/IT
IS/IT is a general term that describes the application of computers, communications
and electronic engineering to the specification, design and construction of informa-
tion-rich systems. To achieve agility at micro, intra-enterprise and inter-enterprise
levels and to derive the full benefits of agility along the value/supply chain, appro-
priate design, architecture, and implementation of the IS/IT are critical.

The point of interest is the enabling role of technology in gaining agility. Agility is
thought of as a synthesized use of already developed and well-known technologies
and methods of manufacturing, such as lean manufacturing, CIM, TQM, MRP II,
BPR, employee empowerment, and OPT [10], [11], [12]. When one looks at this
wide array of technologies that support agility, one can easily realize the enormous
magnitude of the role IS/IT plays in gaining agility in manufacturing. A proper and
clear understanding as well as assessment of IS/IT needs in one's road map towards
agility is essential to build up the capability of a firm to compete effectively.

The two most critical aspects of IS/IT to achieve agile manufacturing environment
would be integration and flexibility. Vonderembse et al. [4] have argued that in
post-industrial manufacturing, companies have to focus on integration issues be-
cause information exchange becomes a critical factor when flexibility is a competitive
requirement, and that integration should be given higher priority in technology
deployment than automation. Field studies of four different firms verify their no-
tion that higher level of integration among business functions and technologies
contributes for better business performance, including short lead time within wide
variety of products, than higher level of automation [4]. Further evidence of the
need to integrate enterprise-wide can be seen in Yusuf [20] where it is reported that
integrated organizations were superior to their non-integrated counterparts.

Agile manufacturing is possible only when different business functions and mem-
bers of the supply chain move together as parts of an organic whole. This requires
a high level of integration in all information flows and material flows between and
among business functions and members of the supply chain. Information systems
requirement in the agile manufacturing environment basically calls for integrated
information systems encompassing the entire value chain. Accurate, timely and
reliable provision of critical and appropriate information to all internal and external
constituents of the value/supply chain will be the ultimate goal of the information
systems in an agile environment.

However, pursuing high level of integration by all means may result in systems
characterized by lack of robustness and flexibility [22]. Popular enterprise resource
planning (ERP) systems (such as SAP) or custom-made manufacturing control sys-
tems (MCSs) can be good examples of this. Such a system may exhibit a very high
level of integration within itself, but when it comes to flexibility, i.e., reconfiguring
some or all of its components, it could become extremely difficult, if not impossible
to change [22], [23]. As such, one should be careful, in designing and implementing
IS/IT in an agile manufacturing environment, to equally emphasize integration and
flexibility.

> Read full chapter

Specification Writing, Data Sheet Pro-

duction, Requisition Development, and
Bid Analysis
Glenn A.Wininger , in Pipeline Planning and Construction Field Manual, 2011

20.3 Construction Specifications

The general outline in developing specifications was covered earlier in this chapter
where clarity and definitiveness were emphasized. A large pipeline project construc-
tion specification can contain many chapters and relevant pages that should encom-
pass all aspects of construction throughout a project. The construction specification
representation contained in this section deals with a plant or facility that was small
in comparison to a cross-country pipeline project. Nonetheless, the comparative
material contained within the specifications identifies the relevant necessary work
while identifying procedures and reporting protocols that remain clear and decisive.

As before, the following specification (Fig. 20.3) is for a guideline only as all com-
panies have certain standards and acceptable procedures in generating company
specific specifications.
 Figure 20.3. Construction specifications.

> Read full chapter

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