One great way to make sure project specifications and master guide specifications are technically correct is to review them with manufacturers' (or independent) representatives for the specified products. As knowledgeable as most specifiers are about..
Interfacing with Product Representatives on Specifications and Master Guides
by Elias Saltz | Jun 9, 2020 | building products, Manufacturer, Master Specifications, Product Rep, Specifications
Maintaining Office Master Guide Specifications
by Elias Saltz | Apr 24, 2018 | contract documents, Master Specifications, MasterSpec, Professional Practice, Specifications
Almost all architectural firms and specifications consultants maintain full sets of office master guide specifications, which, among their many benefits, serve to streamline the development of project specifications. Development and maintenance of..
Specifications - A QA Process
by David Stutzman | Aug 26, 2013 | contract documents, Drawings, Master Specifications, notes, Processes, Professional Practice, QA review, Quality Assurance, Specifications, specifying
Who is best to write project construction specifications - the project architect or a dedicated specifier? Arguments will go both ways, depending on point of view. Both answers have merit. So let's take a closer look at specifications as a Quality..
Benefit of Master Guide Specifications
by David Stutzman | Aug 18, 2013 | Details, Drawings, Guide Spec, Master Specifications, Office Masters, Professional Practice, Assembly Drawings, Specifications, specifying
Master guide specifications are a valuable resource for the design team. The company investment in developing and maintaining masters can be substantial representing hundreds, possibly even thousands of hours, devoted to their development to document the..
Just What Are We Specifying?
by David Stutzman | Jul 29, 2013 | B2010, CONSTRUCT, contract documents, CSI, exterior wall, Master Specifications, Office Masters, Professional Practice, Specifications, specifying, work results
Specification Work Flow
by David Stutzman | Jul 15, 2013 | Computing, Construction Administration, Construction Documents, Design Development, Master Specifications, outline spec, Outline Specs, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, Quality Assurance, Schematic Design, Automation, Specifications, word processing
It's linear - just like design! Start at the beginning and finish at the end. Straight line. No sidesteps. No circling back. No changed minds. Smooth sailing start to finish.
Communication - The Heart of Specifications
by David Stutzman | Apr 15, 2013 | Communications, Construction Administration, CSI, Master Specifications, MasterSpec, Processes, Professional Practice, Architect, Specifications, Specifier, specifying
Just who are specifications written for? The Architect? The Owner? Neither! In order of importance, I profess that specifications are written for the benefit of:
Why are Specs So Long?
by David Stutzman | Jan 14, 2013 | Construction Administration, CSI, Master Specifications, MasterSpec, Professional Practice, Architect, Specifications, Specifier, Speclink, SpecText
It seems a relatively simple building. There are only 50 drawings. So why are the specifications 800 pages? It does seem absurd. Let's take a critical look to see if there is a better way.
Ensuring Specifications Consistency & Quality
by David Stutzman | Dec 10, 2012 | BIM, Construction Administration, CSI, Master Specifications, MasterSpec, Professional Practice, Automation, Specifications, Speclink, SpecText
How can architects ensure their specifications are consistent from one project to the next or one project architect to the next? How can architects ensure that their specifications will deliver the intended quality for every project?
It's just like the last one, except...
by David Stutzman | Dec 19, 2011 | Master Specifications, Professional Practice, Specifications, specifying
In my career, I have heard this phrase many times. Architects begin to describe a new project in terms of a previous project. It may be an attempt: