ABT4 -QUANTITY SURVEYING and SPECIFICATIONS WRITING:
There are 5 main types of construction specifications:
A.) Performance specifications
B.) Prescriptive specifications
C.) Proprietary specifications
D.) General specifications
E.) Detailed specifications
a.) Performance Specifications
Performance specifications, also known as performance criteria or functional
requirements, describe the final results expected from a construction project.
They are commonly used when the result is subjective, such as performance or
aesthetic values. In this case, performance specifications may be necessary to define
things like acoustical design values and requirements for finishes.
Performance specs can also be used for objective standards that need to be met by a
construction project, such as weathertight window assemblies or fire rating levels for
exterior cladding materials.
b.) Prescriptive Specifications
Prescriptive specifications describe required materials (including product options) for
installation methods and activities to complete different aspects of a construction project.
The idea here is that all products specified within this type of specification must be used
for the project to meet its performance requirements.
The main advantage of a prescriptive specification over a performance specification is
that it allows contractors, material manufacturers, and product consultants to use their
own products to comply with all design objectives for the project without having to
contact the building owner or contractor for approval each time something needs
changing.
In this way, prescriptive specifications are very similar to proprietary construction
documents. Notably, both documents contain exact details about what materials should
be used and how they should be installed – down to the manufacturer level in many
cases.
Example of a prescriptive specification from the design phase:
Walls shall be constructed using Type {insert wall type}, and shall be sheathed with
{insert brand name} wood boards, covered with {insert brand name} plywood paneling.
All assemblies shall have a minimum R-value of {insert thermal performance value
here}.
Walls will be covered in layers that make up an assembly consistent with ASTM
E2692 fire stops covering all gaps between walls and other building components per
installation plans.
Notice from this example that the prescriptive spec only requires one particular material
option to construct the wall – but it doesn’t necessarily say which product is needed.
This gives contractors and material suppliers more flexibility when they’re working on the
project. Still, it also means that the building owner will have to stay on top of any
changes or issues with the materials used.
Nearly all specifications can be considered prescriptive since they’re meant to tell
architects and contractors what products should be used to construct a building.
However, there are still some instances where general and detailed construction
documents may take this approach.
c.) Proprietary Specifications
Proprietary specifications are very similar to prescriptive construction documents—
except for the fact that they’re written with one particular product in mind. This means
builders must use those specific materials when constructing the project.
A proprietary specification is used by architects and contractors whenever a specific
product is required due to its relationship with the owner’s company or something else
associated with the building (like high-end luxury finishes in a hotel, for instance).
Example of a proprietary specification from the design phase:
Exterior cladding shall consist of {insert brand name} ’s fiber cement panels assembled
using their proprietary system, which will also include an integrated rainscreen drainage
layer per their recommendations.
Wall systems will be pre-framed at the site and shipped to the site, ready for installation.
The most significant advantages of a proprietary specification include:
• Freedom from the confusion that may arise by using similar materials with different
brand names.
• The peace of mind that comes from working with one company to meet all design
objectives for the project.
d.) General Specifications
Commonly used in commercial and residential work, this type of construction
specification is called a general spec. It contains product information but doesn’t specify
which manufacturer must be used.
In some respects, this can serve as a middle ground between prescriptive specifications
and performance-based documents. However, this document is typically not appropriate
for complex projects where unique features are required.
Example of a general specification from the design phase:
Exterior walls will include a 4-inch (10.16 cm) layer of insulation installed before the fiber
cement panel cladding.
All joints between panels shall be caulked for water-tightness.
A general specification covers various options – including both materials (like the
recommended products above) and details on installation processes like how many
layers of paint should be applied throughout construction.
A general spec may also contain information about what quality testing needs to occur
before the process is complete. This ensures that it meets various standards like LEED
certification or other building codes.
e.) Detailed Specifications
A detailed spec is slightly different from a general one because it covers virtually every
aspect of construction in precise terms. This includes everything down to the number of
screws used to fasten materials together.
This type of construction specification is typically used when owners have little or no
experience working on large-scale projects and need more guidance. A case in point is
when they’re responsible for overseeing these tasks themselves.
One typical example of this approach is when homeowners purchase their first home
and decide to renovate without hiring a contractor.
Generally, detailed specifications can be either standard or special. Here is an overview
of each:
• Standard specifications: These are the most common types and cover things like
flooring materials and steel thickness requirements for beams and columns. As their
name suggests, they are standard and can be used in construction projects in the
same category.
• Special specifications: Special specs are typically used in more complicated cases
where unique details might be required (like installing a specific brand of windows or
doors). They’re often the most detailed type of construction specification. Key
stakeholders must approve them before they can become part of a standard set.
•
When you’re choosing which to use for your project, it’s important to note that both
detailed and general specs are necessary to protect the interests of homeowners and
contractors alike.
Importance of Construction Specifications
Catering to specific requirements is extremely important in the construction industry. Not
only does it save time, but it also ensures top quality in all products used during
construction.
Without these guidelines, numerous problems would likely arise—from inadequate
materials resulting in poor workmanship or installation issues with various building
systems, jeopardizing public safety.
That said, here are three key points that demonstrate the essence of construction
specifications:
They Serve as a Blueprint
Construction documents serve as a blueprint for builders during construction
preparations.
They outline the process necessary to install various building elements (walls, roofs,
electrical systems) while also detailing what’s expected from the end product.
This means everything from how it should look upon completion to its ability to withstand
unfavorable weather conditions over time. These are crucial aspects, especially when
building in disaster-prone areas.
Construction specifications also protect the homeowner by setting a level playing field
for contractors.
They Help Control Costs
These guidelines set standards and expectations so that all parties can see eye-to-eye
on what’s being installed. They also set when specific items will be installed, and most
importantly, how long it will take to get the job done.
This means no costly delays or additional costs at any point in the process. This is often
great news for homeowners who need to stay within budget limitations while completing
their projects on time.
They Promote Quality
This point is pretty straightforward because it’s the whole reason that construction specs
exist in the first place. Notably, the contractor can assure the level of quality and
workmanship to some degree with these documents.
It’s a no-brainer that a poor installation can lead to numerous problems down the road
or, in extreme cases, even endanger your family’s safety.
Therefore, it’s essential to understand that proper documentation before any work is
performed will ensure safety in the long term.
This video by the Federal Highway Administration summarizes the types and uses of
construction specifications in under ten minutes:
How To Write Construction Specifications for a Contract Document
Writing detailed specifications is an interesting process because it involves much
creativity and careful thought during the development stage.
As you can imagine, these documents are instrumental in ensuring all parties involved
understand how items should be fabricated or installed onto a building. So they have to
be very thorough and detailed to communicate this information effectively.
For those with little to no experience writing detailed specifications, the following steps
summarize how this process should be carried out:
1. Develop Your Specifications
This is the point at which you’ll identify and note your project’s requirements, including
the expertise needed for each activity.
For example, suppose there are electrical requirements for that particular phase or room
in a building plan. In that case, this would be when to determine how those
specifications will be met.
In such a case, you may want an electrician involved with these decisions as well so
they can provide their expertise on what type of wiring should go where and clarify any
questions related specifically to wires themselves.
2. Prepare a Writing Schedule
You’ll typically want enough time to write these documents in such a way that they’re
easily understood. Because of that, scheduling them for completion at least 12 weeks
before construction is expected to begin is a good rule of thumb.
3. Create your Draft
This step involves taking all of the information you have so far to create what is known
as a “working draft.”
It would help to review the draft for errors or additional details that need to be included.
Doing so ensures everything is phrased and written in a manner that is easy to read.
Make sure your drafts are error-free by having someone else review them before
creating the final draft.
➢ DEFINITION of TERMS
Footing
• is a part of the foundation construction for a building, creating an
attachment point between the foundation and the soil. Footings consist of
concrete material placed into a trench. The role of a footing is to support
a building and help prevent settling.
ROLE OF FOOTING:
are particularly important in places with poor soil conditions. Proper placement of
a footing is important to provide ample support for a foundation and, eventually,
the structure.
Concrete footings may provide the necessary support in projects such as
pergolas, decks, retaining walls, and other construction types. Footings must be
thick enough, wide enough, strong enough, and must have enough reinforcement
to support a building. Concrete has high compressive strength but low tensile
strength. Therefore, under loading, concrete is susceptible to cracking and
breaking.
Considering the Soil Type:
Footings help spread the weight of a building so that the soil can bear a
building’s weight. The load spreads out at a 45-degree angle within the
footing and spreads out in the soil at a steeper angle of 60-degrees. It is
important to compact the soil directly under the footing because it takes the
greatest load.
Contractors use specialized equipment while compacting the trench bottom.
The ideal equipment will depend on the soil type. The equipment used to
compact gravel or sand soils may differ from the equipment used to compact
clay or silt. Failing to compact the soil might lead to settlement of up to ½ inch
(1.3 cm) in the first 6 inches (15.2 cm) of the soil.
What happens if you dig too deep and then replace the soil to recover the
grade? You will be putting back soil that has expanded by 50%. Therefore,
under pressure, this soil will re-consolidate and lead to settling. If you replace
soil into the trench, it is crucial to compact it thoroughly. You might also
consider using large gravel, which is self-compacting.
Footing Size and Dimensions:
How do you determine the ideal footing size and dimensions? You should
consider the soil’s bearing capacity. The lower the soil’s bearing capacity, the
wider the footing should be. The ideal footing thickness should range between 8
and 12 inches (20.3 and 30.5 cm). The footing depth will vary depending on the
soil strength and the frost line.
Some footings may be shallow, but others must be deep. It all depends on the
prevailing soil conditions. If you are building a heavy house on weak soils, you
need a footing that is 2 feet in width or more. However, when building a light
building on strong soil, narrow footings of 7 to 8 inches (17.8 to 20.3 cm) will be
adequate.
What is the ideal footing dimension
for undisturbed soils?
Undisturbed soils refer to soils that have not been hoed, tilled, graded, or turned
over by man or a machine. Undisturbed soils provide a stronger foundation than
soils that have been disturbed significantly. Most experts recommend that
footings should extend at least 12 inches (30.5 cm) below undisturbed soils. The
footings should also extend for 12 inches (30.5 cm)
Leveling Requirements
Different leveling requirements exist for the bottom and top of the footing. The top
of the footings should always be level, and there are no exceptions to this
requirement. The bottom of the footing should also be level if possible. However,
there are some exceptions regarding the footing’s bottom, especially if you build
on sloped ground. On a sloped grade, contractors can step the footing with a 10
percent slope.
Common Footing Problems
Experts may encounter several problems when placing footings. The most
common problems include misplaced footings, placing footings below the water
table, and spanning over soft spots. What should you do when building footings
when water is pooled in a trench? It is advisable to place large cobbles in the
trench and compact them down into the mud.
Even if water and muck still fill the spaces between the stones, contact between
them will help provide a proper bearing. When you cast the footings, you should
use a stiff concrete mix. While building in certain areas during the wet season,
groundwater may move into the trench. You may consider pumping out the water
if it will not flow right back.
Final Thoughts
Footings play a crucial role in supporting the foundation and the buildings.
Contractors should place footings under every wall bearing a load. Therefore,
basement walls and the exterior foundation require footings. Any interior wall
requires a footing if it is load-bearing. You can identify load-bearing walls from
your home plan blueprints.
Footing Tie Beam Design Details | Difference Between Plinth
Beam (Grade Beam) and Tie Beam
What is a Tie Beam?
Tie Beams are a type of beam used in construction to connect the footings and
avoid the slender column effect. When the two footings are in the same line, we
use this sort of beam. It is a structure that joins two or more columns to form a
frame.
It is horizontal beam that serves to prevent two other structural members from
separating, esp. one that connects two corresponding rafters in a roof or roof
truss.
Tie beams are occasionally used in place of strap beams to absorb all stresses
caused by column eccentricity on the footing. Tie beams are used as fastening
components to lower the column’s unsupported length.
Footing Tie Beam Design Details
Tie beams are used in building construction to prevent column or foundation
settlement. It contributes to the column’s horizontal load. Tie beams should be
installed in buildings if the column height exceeds 4-5m. If the column height is
less than 4m, no tie beams are required.
Tie beams can be used in structures when the height of the roof exceeds the
standard height of the structure. Tie beams act as a column length breaker.
These beams aid to minimize their effective length and slenderness ratio by
connecting two or more columns. This sort of beam is typically found above the
plinth level and in roof trusses.
Tie Beams
strengthen the stiffness of a structure by connecting two columns in two
directions, vertically and horizontally. Consider two columns that are linked
together, column A and column B.
When column B settles, the tie beam provides resistance to its settlement by
shifting force to column A. When column B is moved horizontally, column B and
column A are linked by a tie beam to produce a frame action that aids in reducing
horizontal deflection. Tie beams can be built at any level.
It is used in construction to support axial compression. It also shortens the
effective length of the column and keeps it from buckling.
Steel reinforcing is required for the construction of these types of beams. We
can estimate the amount of reinforcement required for tie beam construction.
Main bars (Top bar, Bottom bar, and Side bar) are horizontal bars that connect
one footing to the other, while stirrups are vertical bars that hold the main bars in
place.
Tie Beam Foundation
What is tie beam in foundation?
A tie beam foundation is a structural element in a building that connects two walls
together. The function of the tie beam is to transfer the load from the wall to the
foundation. A tie beam connects the columns to the foundation wall and transfer’s
weight.
Is Footing Tie Beam Necessary?
Footing tie beam is a structural component of buildings. It can be used to support
the foundation and prevent it from collapsing when there are lateral loads, such
as wind or earthquake forces acting on the building structure.
However, many people are not aware that footing tie beams may not be
necessary for some types of foundations. For example, they may not be needed
with pile foundations under shallow water tables or solid rock foundations where
the soil pressure is low.
Why do we use Tie Beams?
The axial compression is carried by the Tie Beam. Tie beams also shorten the
Column’s effective length. and keep the column from collapsing. Tie Beams also
help to lower the slenderness ratio.
What is the Difference Between Plinth Beam and Tie Beam?
The difference between plinth beams and tie beams is that one, the plinth beam,
is on the bottom portion of your house, and the other, the tie beam, is on top of
your house.
Plinth beams are the beams that connect to the foundation and they make up the
foundation. Tie beams are often used with trusses which helps them to support
the roof, and it also helps with the stability of the house.
A tie beam is an element that ties the posts together. This usually means that
there is only one beam in a two-post beam house. The tie beam transfers the
load from one post to the next. A plinth beam is a type of beam that is located at
the bottom of a column.
strengthen the stiffness of a structure by connecting two columns in two
directions, vertically and horizontally. Consider two columns that are linked
together, column A and column B.
What is Column?
Columns are defined as vertical load-bearing members supporting axial
compressive loads chiefly. This structural member is used to transmit the load of
the structure to the foundation. In reinforced concrete buildings beams, floors,
and columns are cast monolithically. The bending action in the column may
produce tensile forces over a part of cross-section. Still, columns are called
compression members because compressive forces dominate their behavior.
olumns can be roughly divided into three categories- Pedestals, Short reinforced
columns, and Long reinforced columns. Besides in modern days columns can be
classified in different categories on a different basis.
Types of Columns
Columns can be of many types based on loading, length, column ties, frame
bracing, etc. The types of columns used in construction are as stated below:
A. Based on Loading
1. Axially Loaded Columns
2. Eccentrically Loaded Columns: Uniaxial
3. Eccentrically Loaded Columns: Biaxial
B. Based on Column Ties
1. Tied Columns
2. Spiral Columns
C. Based on Slenderness Ratio
1. Short Compression Blocks or pedestals
2. Short Reinforced Columns
3. Long Reinforced Columns
D. Based on Shape of Cross Section
1. Geo-matric shaped –Rectangular, Round, Octagonal, Square, etc.
2. L-shaped
3. T-shaped
4. V-shaped
E. Based on Construction Materials
1. Reinforced Concrete Column
2. Composite Column
3. Steel, Timber, Brick Column
F. Based on Frame Bracing
1. Braced Column
2. Unbraced Column
G. Other Types
1. Prestressed Concrete Column
2. Greek And Roman Column
All these types of columns are discussed below.
Classification of Column Based on Loading
Axially Loaded Column
If the compressive vertical loads act along the centroidal axis of the column, it is
termed as an axially loaded column. This type of column without bending is not
found practically so much.
Eccentrically Loaded Column: Uniaxial
When the loads are acting at a distance ‘e’ from the centroid of the column cross-
section, the column is termed as an eccentrically loaded column. In an uniaxial
eccentrically loaded column this distance ‘e’ could be along x-axis or y-axis.
These eccentric loads cause moments along the x-axis or y-axis.
Eccentrically Loaded Column: Biaxial
In this type of column, loads are applied at any point of cross-section but not in
axes. Loads cause moments about both the x- and y-axes simultaneously.
Axial load:
180 (N) Or 18.35 kg-force
•
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The most significant difference between a tie beam and a plinth beam is
that the tie beam is used to span distances between two independent
structural supports which can be columns, posts, walls or beams. The
plinth beam on the other hand, is used as a structural support for the
foundation of a building, and is an integral part of the building’s structure.
Why do we use Plinth Beams?
When the foundation settles, a plinth beam helps prevent the expansion or
propagation of cracks from the foundation into the wall above. Plinth
beams uniformly distribute the load of the wall over the foundation.
What is the Difference Between Tie Beam and Grade Beam?
Tie beams are used to link columns together. Unlike tie beams, grade
beams support walls and other loads. As a result, grade beams are bigger
than tie beams.
What are Grade Beams
A grade beam, also known as a grade beam footing, is a foundation
component of a building. It is made out of a reinforced concrete beam that
transfers load from a bearing wall to spaced foundations such as pile caps
or caissons.
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It is employed when the load-bearing capacity of the surface soil is less
than the anticipated design loads.
A grade beam is distinct from a wall footing in that a grade beam is built for
bending and often spans between pile tops or caissons, whereas a wall
footing bears on soil and transmits the wall’s weight straight into the
ground.
A grade beam also differs from a strap beam in that it is strengthened to
disperse the weight of a wall to different foundations, whereas a strap
beam is meant to redistribute the weight of a column between footings.
In the case of considerable moments from lateral loads, grade beams can
also be utilized in conjunction with spread footings to reduce the size of
each spread footing.
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