TRAINING.

Overview

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

• Write specifications that enhance project delivery, ensuring clear communication and quality control.
• Develop advanced strategies to build effective contract relationships between project stakeholders.
• Mitigate risks and claims by producing high-quality, precise specifications.
• Implement efficient bidding requirements and manage bonds and insurance with confidence.
• Control project timelines and ensure quality throughout construction by structuring effective conditions.

Description
Misunderstandings in construction specifications can lead to costly delays and disputes among contractors, suppliers, inspectors, and owners. Clear and well-organized specifications are crucial to avoiding these issues, as they serve as the blueprint for smooth project execution. This course provides in-depth knowledge on developing specifications that eliminate ambiguities and clearly communicate the designer's intent.

You will explore critical aspects of specification writing, such as the role of the specification writer, fostering relationships with product representatives, and implementing both general and supplemental conditions. The course also covers the importance of specification clarity, bidding requirements, and formats, ensuring a comprehensive approach to project quality. You will apply these concepts to real-world architectural, structural, civil and mechanical engineering projects through interactive workshops, gaining practical experience.

By participating in this course, you will learn how to effectively write specifications that address every stage of construction, from bidding to completion. The practical skills and insights gained will empower you to produce quality specifications and manage project challenges efficiently and confidently. You'll leave equipped with the tools to improve communication across all parties involved in the construction process, ensuring smoother project execution.

Who Should Attend
This course is designed for a wide range of professionals involved in construction projects, including design engineers, specification writers, technical specialists, and contract coordinators.

It is also ideal for estimators, project engineers, consulting engineers, architects, and construction engineers responsible for project specifications. Professionals such as contract administrators, construction inspectors, building officials, construction mediators, and contract lawyers will also find significant value in this course.

Whether you are directly involved in writing or reviewing specifications or work closely with those who are, this course will enhance your ability to contribute to the overall success of civil construction projects.

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 has 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

Martin Gerskup, B. Arch, OAA, MAIBC and MRAIC

Martin has over 35 years of experience and is the president of BEST Consultants Martin Gerskup Architect Inc. He specializes in the field of investigative architecture and building science with particular emphasis on the resolution of problems affecting the building envelope. Martin is a member of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and has served in various capacities on the Ontario Building Envelope Council (OBEC) Board of Directors from 1991 to 1997.

He was president of OBEC from 1993 to 1994, a member of the council for the OAA from 2003 to 2005, and a member of the ULC Thermal Insulation Committee. During his tenure on the council at the OAA, Mr. Gerskup was Chair of the Discipline Committee while also serving on the following committees: Practice Committee, Registration Committee, Public Interest Review Committee, Communications Committee, and the University Liaison Task Group.

In addition to authoring and presenting many technical papers on the subject of building science, Mr. Gerskup taught as an assistant adjunct professor and tutor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design from 1999 to 2001 and at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Ryerson University in 2002.