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..

There are a few significant challenges when it comes to performing specification consulting work.  Obviously, there are the fun and interesting challenges, like gathering, updating, and retaining the significant knowledge required to write good..

Last week, my colleague Marlon Hollis wrote eloquently about his meandering path from military aviation and law school into construction specifying, and the benefits of bringing a fresh perspective to the work. My own path to specifying might seem more..

Does one need an architectural degree to be a specifier?  Elias Saltz, my colleague, argues that though it may be helpful, it is not a necessary requirement.  I agree with this assessment.  I happen to be one of those specifiers without an architectural..

A Twitter discussion broke out recently after Paul Gerber posted this tweet in response to AIA tweeting a November, 2016 article by Ariana Zilliacus on ArchDaily entitled, "21 Careers You Can Pursue With a Degree in Architecture."

Yes it is a spec, and it deserves attention - the proper attention to be certain the contractor delivers what is required by the contract. The design team created the drawings and specifications defining the project to meet the owner's requirements and..

Is the contractor permitted to submit substitutions or propose comparable products? Not if the spec is closed, he is not. Be careful if you think you know, just from reading a technical section of the specifications. The manufacturer and product..

Product selection for construction projects is all about finding the right product at the right price to satisfy the owner's project requirements. Wading through all the choices and the product data can be daunting. Often designers (and specifiers)..

Writing is the easy part. Knowing what to write is another story.

Writing construction specifications is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. Except puzzles always have a photo of the completed puzzle on the cover of the box.