TRAINING.

Overview

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• develop skills to write specifications for control of project delivery and quality
• explore the most advanced concepts in developing effective contract relationships between practices to the contract
• avoid claims by honing your skills for producing quality specifications
• establish bidding requirements, bonds and insurance
• learn to control time and quality during the construction process effectively
• structure effective general and supplementary conditions

Description
Many major problems in construction can be traced to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of the specifications by the contractor, supplier, inspector, and owner. It is your responsibility to describe the project in words that prevent on-the-job controversy and misunderstanding.

This is done through carefully organizing and writing construction specifications for the project and its many parts, which will carry to all individuals responsible for the project, the designer's version without any ambiguity. All parties to the construction contract must refer to their specifications.

In workshops designed to enhance your specification writing skills, you will have the opportunity to apply what you learn in the course.

Who Should Attend
Design Engineers • Specification Writers • Technical Specialists • Contract Coordinators • Estimators •Project Engineers •Consulting Engineers and Architects • Construction Engineers, Contract Administrators • Construction Inspectors • Building Officials • Construction Estimators Construction Mediators • Contract Lawyers and other Individuals Involved in Civil Construction will benefit. 

Please note: You can check other time zones here.

Syllabus

Day I

The Role of Specifications in Project Quality

• Importance of quality specifications
• Prerequisites for quality specifications
• Need for efficient production of specifications
• Legal principles
• Contract and specification organization

The Specifier's Search for Clarity

• Discussion of specification writing practices aimed at clearly communicating project requirements, including consideration of specification language, grammar, abbreviations, etc.

Role of Specification Writer

• Types of specifications-descriptive-performance-reference standard-propriety
• Obtaining owner input
• Product investigation and selection
• Environmental concerns

Product Representatives and Specification Writers-Forging A Working Relationship

• Discussion of issues of mutual interest
• Identifying and understanding the self-interests of both groups
• Recognizing the responsibilities each have to one another

Basis of Project Delivery

• Summary of work in project delivery
• Mechanical and electrical general requirements
• Measurement and payment
• Administration
• Time of completion
• Bonuses, liquidated damages
• Damages for delay
• Warranties/bonds/insurance
• 'Division 1'

General and Supplemental Conditions

• Subjects normally covered
• Relationship of general conditions to specifications
• Differing site conditions
• Materials and equipment
• Shop drawings and samples
• Disapproving or stopping the work
• Purpose and scope of supplemental conditions

Day II

Bidding Requirements-Division 0
General Requirements-Division 1

• Public/private bidding
• Advertisement/invitation
• Instructions to bidders
• Prequalification of bidders
• Bid form
• Alternates, separate prices, unit prices, allowances
• Subcontractors
• Completion date
• Bid security, attachments
• Relationship of specifications to the proposal

Specification Formats and Sources

• Manual organization
• Divisions 2 through 49
• Sections
• Available sources
• In-house master specifications

Workshop I: Writing Specifications for A Civil Engineering Project

Workshop II: Writing Specifications for A Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Project

Case Study

Open Forum-Questions and Answers

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment

Instructor

Mitchell Gerskup, P.Eng., HBA

Mitchell is a Canadian Professional Engineer specializing in the practice of building science and restoration engineering with a background in structural and building systems engineering.

He has spent the last twenty years applying building science principles to the investigation and repair of existing structures, with an emphasis on resolving problems affecting the building envelope. This includes preparing hundreds of condition assessments and reserve fund studies.