In the construction industry, projects are defined by drawings (graphic data) and specifications (non-graphic data). Traditional construction specifications is the set of documents arranged by MasterFormat®, a consensus document that provides a list of..

Looking at the recent history of construction, we find that it is littered with a spectrum of failures, from minor cosmetic types up to and including those that are truly catastrophic.  The former may include mere annoyances - cracked finishes and the..

Coordination, coordination, coordination! The better construction documents are coordinated, the better the outcome for the owner - not to mention the design and construction teams. Imagine the perfect set of construction documents: no bidder's..

Construction specifications define work results. The results are divided among Divisions and Sections according to CSI's MasterFormat, the industry's organizational standard. Complying with MasterFormat allows specification readers to find information..

When does quality assurance begin during the design process for a construction project? Often formal document review may be planned for those last few weeks before the construction documents are completed. Sometimes reviews are planned before each design..

Specifiers may be one of the best kept secrets on the design team. Specifiers, especially independent specifiers, typically interact with the architectural team, only. Even then, the interaction may be limited to project architects and project managers...

Wood flooring, like all wood products is affected by moisture. It swells. It shrinks. And it is expected to always look as perfect as the day it is installed. But what happens when the wood is not installed in perfect conditions? What range of conditions..

When is an electric strike not an electric strike? When it is a euphemism for a secure door. Knowing what function is required is paramount. Function will dictate what devices are needed. So what should be considered when specifying a secure door?

Do construction warranties provide value for the owner? Manufacturers write warranties to limit their own risk. The warranty value will depend greatly on how the warranty is specified and the owner's knowledge of the warranty conditions.

What is it that your specifier really needs? There was, once upon a time, an easy explanation. Just give me a set of drawings that you would turn in for your architectural licensing exam. For anyone that took the exam when it included a 12-hour design..