Originally published: September 3, 2012Updated January 7, 2022

Construction contract documents include the Agreement, the Conditions of Contract, the Drawings, and the Specifications. Because of the legal implications, owners produce the Agreement and..

RFIs - Requests for Information are common in the construction industry. They are the means by which contractors ask designers to clarify the construction documents. RFIs may question the drawings, or specifications, or both.

RFIs are the designer's..

Specifications are the written documents defining qualitative construction requirements. Specifications complement drawings that define quantitative construction requirements. Drawings are a series of symbols representing construction assemblies the..

I was working on completing a specification for a window replacement project in the Bahamas. Our client is the owner's representative, also in the Bahamas. I found myself in an unusual position. As I was writing, I asked questions. No sooner did I..

When owners determine a capital project is needed, it is a business purpose driving the decision. Therefore, the purpose of designing and constructing a project is to satisfy the business need - expand capacity, introduce a new product, or a host of..

While reading the AIA recently released "Firm Survey Report 2020[i]" and the November "Architecture Billing Index[ii]" (ABI), there were two corollary findings. First, the Firm Survey reported a decrease in profitability for 2019. The ABI reported the..

In the children's story of "The Big Bad Wolf", he huffs and puffs and blows each house down, except for the brick house. The other houses were built of other materials which were destroyed. However, what if the little pigs worked with a specifier..

The Problem

As projects approach the date designated as "Issue for Construction (IFC)," design teams begin planning what portions of the design will be completed in a bulletin. The level of effort needed to complete the documents is usually underestimated,..

Saving time is great. Improving firm profitability may mean a promotion. Is it worth a try?