Does your firm do separate material specs?

[Revv]

Hey guys,

So basically my question is does your firm do separate material specs on projects or is it all covered on drawings? I feel like where I used to work i didn't do these ever but maybe it was because the projects were small?? I guess I'm trying to understand when are they necessary and are they universally used?

 

[271828]

In every firm I've worked for (three), there was a set of specs along with the drawings. Typically, the sections were boilerplate and easily modified.

I like having all of the big picture info on the drawings. Often, the specs won't get passed along to delegated engineers down the line. On a recent project, buried in the specs, was a directive to use SC Class B on a bunch of the connections. No mention of this on the drawings. That could've easily been missed. It's also somewhat common to have weird deflection limits for stairs buried in the specs and not on the drawings. We almost missed this on one of our first delegated design jobs. Finally, during a renovation years down the road, the specs probably won't be available.

 

[dik]

I've gotten away from specs and rely on comprehensive drawing notes. Specs are often used, in particular with large projects. I've often encountered old projects where drawings have been available, but not the specifications.

So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[BigH]

In my view, they both have their place . . but I like more information on the drawings. . . I have never liked the fact that drawings do not specifically identify concrete strength requirements of specific items and you go to the specs and they are not all that clear . . . such as spillways - the chute for instance. Drawings can't cover everything but it is better to have the major items shown on them than in a spec that nobody - especially on site - do not read all that thoroughly. QC issues can abound as a result.

Another thing I see is that some contract drawings are not sufficiently specific and do not show interface items. For example, we have a conveyor tower base being constructed on a rock slope but the contractor (EPC) doesn't want to show the the outline of the tower on the drawgings . "Oh that is on another set."

 

[phamENG]

It's often a question of size of project and of client requirements. Most government and institutional clients have requirements for a separate spec book or "Project Handbook" for all projects. I did a Navy renovation job to a small barracks building that included a small addition to add an elevator...I think the spec book was almost 1000 pages. It was nuts.

In the private sector, it depends on the architect, but most will be no specs until you get into large commercial/industrial work. A house, apartment building, or small office building? Specs just get lost or ignored. I have one client that still does them, but puts them on sheets in lieu of notes. Sort of a best of both worlds - you get the details of the specs, but it's harder to misplace them in the facilities office that doesn't exist 40 years down the road.

 

[JedClampett]

We have separate specifications. For the longest time, we didn't have general notes, as some felt that all the information was covered in the specifications, so why replicate it? But saner heads prevailed, and we've only had a few times where they ended up different.
I've seen where our competitors had four sheets of very small font general notes, which seems excessive.

 

[JStephen]

Much of our work is municipal/government contracting, and there is always a spec book, ranging from 50 pages to 1,500 pages, including all disciplines.
I dislike the specs-on-the-plans approach, as the plans tend to get shrunk down where all those notes are eye-straining microtext.

 

[JLNJ]

As others have said, it depends on the type and size of the project.

If you DO have specs, take them seriously. I've been told that the specs are primary and the drawings secondary if you have to go to court.

 

[MotorCity]

On our projects (typically large projects) we issue specs because the volume of information and level of detail provided in the spec cannot be placed on a reasonable number of drawings in a reasonable format. However, spec books = door stops in construction trailers. Contractors, clients, and engineers are all guilty of not reading the specs (thats why many engineers have a CYA note that says something like "If a discrepancy exists between the specifications and the drawings, the drawings shall govern"......or some version of that note.) This happens more so when we as engineers are given client provided specs and design a project that inadvertently does not comply with the client's spec. Many projects can, and do, get built without the specs being read or followed.