The document discusses specifications in engineering projects. It defines specifications as a detailed description of materials, workmanship, and other requirements to complete a project according to its drawings. Specifications are necessary to define quality standards, guide construction, and resolve disputes. They form an essential part of contract documents along with drawings, bills of quantities, and schedules of rates. The document outlines how to write specifications by describing materials, workmanship, tools, testing, and protection of works. It also differentiates between general and detailed specifications.

1. Eng. Kishor K. Ade
UNIT-I

2. Eng. Kishor K. Ade
UNIT-I SPECIFICATION
1.4 Definition, need & importance of Specification
writing
1.5 Relation with working drawing, bill of
quantities, schedule of rates
1.6 Specification as a integral part of contract
document
Syllabus

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What is Specification?
 Introduction
 A Specification is a specific description of a particular subject. An
engineering specification contains detailed description of all
workmanship and materials which are required to complete an
engineering project in accordance with its drawings and details.
 The technical drawings of a structure will show the proportion and
relative positions of the various components of the structure.
 Many a time it is not possible to furnish the information on the
drawings, regarding the quality of materials to be used and the quality
of workmanship to be achieved during construction, due to Shortage of
space.
 This data regarding the materials and workmanship is conveyed in a
separate contract document which is known as the “Specification” for
the work.
 Thus the drawing with the specification “will completely define the
structure.” The “Specification” is furnished separately along with
drawing and is an essential part of all engineering contracts.

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Necessity of Specifications
The cost of an unit quantity of work is governed by its
specification.
Specification is an essential contract document and is
required for Arbitration or court cases.
The necessity of specification is to verity and check the
strength of materials for a work involved in a project.
Specification is necessary to specify the equipments,
tools and plants to be engaged for a work and thus
enable to procure them beforehand.
A work is carried out according to its specification and
the contractor is paid for the same, Any change in
specification changes the tendered rate.

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Cont…..
 This also specifies the workmanship and the method of doing
the work. Thus specification of work serves as a guide to the
supervising staff of the contractor as well as to the owner to
execute the work to their satisfaction.
 As the rate of work is based on specification a contractor can
calculate the rates of various items of works in a tender with his
procurement rates of materials and labour. Thus tender paper
without specifications of works is baseless, incomplete and
invalid.
 Specifications of work are required to describe the quality and
quantity of different materials required for a construction work
and is one of the essential contract documents. Thus a
contractor can make a programme to procure the materials
required for a project and the owner can check the quality of
materials conforming to the specification avoiding dispute with
contractor.

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How to write specification?
Description of materials:
The quality and size of materials required to do an item of work shall
be fully described for checking up at site according to the bindings
provided in the specification. The proportion of mixing or treatment
of materials if required before use shall be clearly described.
 Workmanship:
Complete description of workmanship, the method of mixing to the
proportion, the method of laying, preparation of base or surface,
compaction, finishing and curing etc. specifically applicable to the
item of work shall be clearly stated in different clauses.
 Tools and plants (T.&P.):
The tools and plants to be engaged to carry out a work shall be
described. The method of operation and by whom to be supplied
shall be stated.

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Cont….
Protection of new work:
The method of protection of new works against damage or the method
of curing if required, the test of completed work if necessary shall be
described in separate clauses.
 Expression:
While writing a specification Endeavour shall be made to express the
requirements of the specification clearly and in concise from
avoiding repetition and unusual works. The style of tense shall
remain same throughout. The sentences shall be short, simple and
concise. As the specifications are the legal documents, terms such as
suitable, proper used and works having more than one meaning
shall be avoided.
 Clause of the specification:
The clauses shall be arranged in the order in which work shall be
carried out.

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Types Of Specifications
 General specification
i. In general specifications, nature and class of works names of
materials and proportion that should be used in the various items
of works are described.
ii. Only a brief description of each and every item is given. It is
useful for estimating the project.
iii. Without going through the lengthy detailed specifications,
general information for the quantities of materials, nature and
class of work can be known from the general specifications, but
they do not form part of the contract document.

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Cont….
 Detailed specification
i. The detailed specifications form a part of the contract document.
Detailed specification for a particular items specify the qualities,
quantities and proportions of materials, and the method of
preparation and execution for that particular item of work in a
project.
ii. The detailed specifications of the different items of works are
prepared separately and they describe what the works should be
and how they shall be executed and constructed physical, chemical
and electrical tests if any requires for the finished work to ensure
the desired strength or quality are specified in the detailed
specification.
iii. They of machinery, equipments and special tools and plant their
methods of operation when involved during execution are
described in the detailed specification.

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Cont….
iv. The method and duration of protection of finished works as
required are specified in the detailed specification.
v. This also specify the involvements and responsibility for
auxiliary works, incidental damage etc.
vi. During execution of the original work. While writing the
detailed specifications the same order of sequence as the
work is to be carried out, is maintained.
vii. Engineering departments maintain detail specifications for
different items of work those are followed to carry out work.

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What is working Drawing?

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Relation with working drawing with Specification
writing…

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Cont..

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Bill of Quantity (BOQ)
Bill of Quantities or Schedule of Quantities-
• This is a complete list of all items of work involved in connection
with the estimate for a project with the description, quantity and
unit of rate against each item of work.
• These are filled up in a tabular form similar to the abstract of
estimated cost but the rate and amount column remain blank.
• The bill of quantities when multiplied by the corresponding rates
of the items and totalled, gives the estimated cost of the project.
Such a bill of quantities is provided in a tender form for item rate
tenders.
• Contractors put up their own competitive rates and calculate the
totals to offer their estimated amount to complete the whole work.
• The bill of quantities is also required to calculate the quantities of
different materials required for the project.

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Schedule of Rates
Schedule of Rates-
• To facilitate the preparation of estimates, and also to serve as
a guide in setting rates in construction with contract
agreements, a schedule of rates for each kind of work
commonly executed (viz. works, materials, wages of labour,
transport etc.) should be maintained by different engineering
departments or authorised organization and kept up to date.
• This is prepared on the basis of the rates prevailing in each
locality including the cost of transport and profit. All rates
should be inclusive of labour, materials and unless specifically
mentioned otherwise should include all charges like tool, ferry
charge, local charges, income tax, sales tax, Royalties etc.
• As many have to be incurred by the contractor for getting the
respective items of works executed to proper

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Cont….
Order and complete and finish.
• Unless specifically mentioned otherwise in the description of
the item itself, no extra charges should be paid for scaffolding
(including stage scaffolding), centering shuttering, curing etc.
• and the rates are to be deemed to be inclusive of the same. In
the schedule necessary analysis of the rates for the varying
conditions should be provided.

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Contract Documents
Contract Documents-
• When a work , other than a petty work which is to be executed
under the work order system, is proposed to be given out on
contract, the Engineer-in-Charge (on behalf of the owner)
prepares ‘contract documents.’
• Both the parties entering into a contract must put their signatures
on each page of the contract documents and, in the case of sealed
contract, their seals under each signature.
• Special care shall be taken to see that all corrections, additions,
alteration, omissions, over- writings or slips attached to the
agreements are duly signed or initialled by the contractor and the
accepting authority.
• In case the contractor fails to sign the above particular it may
result in disputes and disregarding claims of the Department.

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Thank You
REFERENCE-
ESTIMATING,COSTING,SPECIFICATION &VALUATION IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, BY M. CHAKRABORTI