Specification

The lectures available are listed below. Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, including all notes, and/or printer-friendly PDF versions, can also be downloaded.

Specifications: an introduction download version (846 KB) printer-friendly version (258 KB) Specifications: problems in practice download version (570 KB) printer-friendly version (116 KB) Specifications: product selection process download version (952 KB) printer-friendly version (172 KB)

The preparation and use of specifications is not widely taught in architecture courses in the UK, and does not appear to be taught at all in engineering courses. It does, however, feature regularly in tertiary courses on building and architectural technology, and in some courses on quantity surveying. But even where it is taught, the subject is not covered in depth.

Relevant websites include those of national master specification producers, such as NBS and Amtech (NES), and specifications consultants such as Davis Langdon Schumann Smith (DLSS). The website of the International Construction Information Society (ICIS) provides links to national master specification organizations overseas, and provides a number of useful resources. Many of the NMS sites include educational material. For example, Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) offers a course titled Principles of construction documentation (2006). NATSPEC in Australia offers continuing education material, including Specification writing (2007). CIL (New Zealand) has a Guide to writing specifications (2005).

References and further reading

BS 7373 : 1998 The preparation of specifications. [not specific to construction]

Central Unit on Purchasing (1991) Specification writing, CUP HM Treasury. [not specific to construction]

Construction Specifications Institute (2004) The project resource manual: CSI Manual of practice, CSI.

Cox, P.J. (1993) Writing specifications for construction, McGraw-Hill.

Emmitt, S. & D. Yeomans (2001) Specifying buildings: a design management perspective, Butterworth Heinemann.

Gelder, J . (2001) Specifying architecture, CISA.

Rosen, H. & J. Regener (2004), Construction specification writing: Principles and procedures, Blackwell Science.

Willis, C. & A. Willis (1997) Specification writing for architects and surveyors, Blackwell Science.

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