ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

Addis Ababa Institute of Technology

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Contract, Specification and Quantity Survey
(CENG 5212)

CHAPTER TWO
Specification
Addis Mesfin (MSc.)
2.1. Introduction
 ‡The information that is needed for

construction is usually conveyed by two

basic communication lines. These are
Drawings (pictorial) and Specifications
(written).

 ‡ Specifications are devices for organizing

the information depicted on the drawings
and they are written descriptions of the
legal and technical requirements forming
the contract documents.

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Specification is defined as the designation or
statement by which written instructions are
given distinguishing and/or limiting and
describing the particular trade of work to be
executed.

‡ Specification is one of the contract

documents.

‡ Specifications are written based on the

prepared design, drawings, general and
scientific trends of workmanship, quality
expected, equipment involved and materials to
be used for the particular trade of work.

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The specifications should clearly specify: - ‡
◦‡ Type and quality of materials and equipments,
◦‡ Methods of fabrication, installation and erection
◦‡ Standards, codes and tests
◦‡ Allowance, submittals and substitutions
◦‡ Cost included, insurance and bonds
◦‡ Project records and site facilities.

 ‡ Specifications should be clear, concise,

and brief descriptions of what is required to
execute the proposed trade of work.

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3.2. Purposes of specifications
 ‡ The purpose of specifications generally

includes: ‡
1. Guide the bidder at the time of tendering to
arrive at a reasonable cost for the work
2. Provide guidance for execution and supervision
of works.
3. Guide the contractor for the purchase of
materials
4. Serve as a part of contract document to limit and
describe the rights and obligations of each
contracting parties.
5. Guide the bidder to identify his capacity to
execute the work.

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 6. Serve as fabrication and installation guide for
temporary and permanent works.
7. Guide the contractor for the purchase and/or
hiring of equipments.
8. Indirectly, the specifications are very much
related to the legal considerations, insurance
considerations, bidding requirements, alternates
and options, rights, obligations and remedial
measures for the contracting parties.
Note: In the events of conflicts between
specification and drawings, usually the
specification governs; unless an order of
reference is given in the contract
agreement.

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3.3. Types of Specifications
 ‡ In general, specifications can be broadly

classified into four categories as follows:

◦ ‡ Manufacturer’s specification: Manufacturers
prepare specification of their product for the
guidance of their users, which may include
property description and installation guide lines.
◦ ‡ Guide Specification : Specifications prepared by
an individual or group of individuals based on
manufacturer’s specifications, established trends
of workmanship, service and laboratory tests and
research findings to be used as guide lines for
preparation of contract specifications.

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 ‡ Standard Specification: Specifications which
are intended to be used as a reference
standard in the construction of a project. The
guide specification which has been
standardized by a recognized authority is
considered as standard specification.

 ‡ Contract (Project) Specification: the

specification prepared for a particular project
to accompany the drawings and other
contract documents.

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 “Technical Specification and Methods of
Measurement for Construction of Buildings”,
of March,1991, is the standard specification
which has been in use for many years as
one of the contract documents in our
country. This material has the general
requirement part and the specific part.

 In the general requirement part the items

which may be applied to any project and
any trade of work are described in general
terms.

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In the specific part the different trades of
works (excavation and earthworks, concrete
works, etc.) are described in details and the
method of measurements are given.
‡
There are the following types of technical
specifications:
◦ ‡ Proprietary Specifications: This specifications
call for desired materials, producers, systems, and
equipments by their trade names and model
numbers.
 „ They are of two types; Closed (sole) source and
Open or equal source.

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 Example: ‡
 ‡ 1. Water reducing agent shall be used in

all concrete, in strict accordance with the

manufacturer's printed instructions. Total air
entrained shall be 5.0% plus or minus 1.0%
of volume of concrete with required
strengths maintained.
 ‡ 2. Air –Entraining Agent: “Darex” by W.R.

Grace Company, “Aerolith” by Sonneborn

Building Products or equal meeting ASTM
C260 as approved by the architect.

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Performance Specifications: specifications
which define products based on desired end
results which are performance oriented;
 ‡ most appropriate when new or unusual

products or systems are required or when

improvement is necessary.
 ‡ Testing methods and evaluation

procedures for defining the required

performances must be explicitly specified.

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Reference Specifications: Specifications which
refer to levels of quality established by
recognized testing authority or standards
set by quality control authorities. These
specifications are also used in conjunction
with other types of specifications.
‡ Example : -C –25 Concrete.
‡
Descriptive Specifications : Specifications
which Describe all components of products,
their arrangements and methods of
assembly, physical and chemical properties
and numerous other details.

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Cash Allowance Specifications: Specifications
meant to direct bidders to set aside a
specified amount of money to be applied to
the construction work at the direction of the
specifier.

◦ Example: -“A lump sum of $3,000.00 for

purchase of hard ware, as defined by and
specified in Specification sections of Division 8

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2.4. Specification writing
 Specification writing embodies certain

methods of presenting information and

instructions. When specifications are to be
written, the following shall be taken into
consideration:-
1. Specification writing require
 1. Visualization (having clear picture of the system)
 2. Research (eg. to know the legal impact correctly)
 3. Clear thinking (understanding things directly
without misleading)
 4. Organizing (organizing what we know to write the
specification)

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2. Specification writing require professional ability
to read drawings
3. Specification writing require wide knowledge of
the construction materials, various levels of
workmanship, different construction equipments
and method of construction to be employed
4. Specifications use simple and clear language
such that it can readily be understood.
5. Specifications shall be brief and short as much as
possible (avoid long sentences without
punctuations)
6. Specifications shall include all items affecting the
cost of the work

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7. Specifications shall be fair and should not
attempt to throw all risks and responsibilities on
one of the parties signing the contract, the
employer or the contractor.

9. Specifications shall not include inapplicable

text and should not specify the impossible or
anything not intended to be enforced.

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Useful references in Specification Writing
The following are useful references in
Specification Writing:
◦ „ Codes and ordinances of governments, cities, or
municipalities. For example, Ethiopian Building Code of
Standards (EBCS)
◦ „ Standards prepared by distinct societies and
government agents. For example, ACI standards, ASTM
standards, BS, ES.
◦ Standards or model specifications prepared by
manufacturers, professional societies, and government
bodies.
◦ „ Master specifications and previously written
specifications.
◦ „ Information or experience acquired by personal
observation and contact with trained or experienced
people in the construction industry

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Specification language
 ‡ The specification writer should present his

instructions regarding the particular work

under consideration in such a manner that: -
1. The drawings are more clearly interpreted
2. Rights, obligations, and remedial measures shall be
designated without ambiguity or prejudice.
3. Clearly express the extent of works under
consideration;
Therefore, the choice of words used in this
regard shall be: -
i) Judged by its quality not its length
„ ii) Should be concise and short and written with
commonly used words
„ iii) Punctuations are important but their usage shall
be limited to few

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 ‡ Capitalizing the first letters is mandatory
for the following expressions: -
1. Parties to the contract; e.g. Employer/Client
/Contractor/ Engineer
2. Space within the building; e.g. Bed Room, Toilet,
Living Room
3. Contract documents; e.g. Bill of Quantity,
Working Drawing, Specification
 ‡ Minimize pronouns better to repeat nouns
‡
 ‡ Minimize the use of symbols
 „ Avoid the use of words which have

indefinite meanings or which are ambiguous

in their meanings
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Example: Structural Technical Specification
for concrete work

5 CONCRETE WORK
 5.1 GENERAL
 5.2 MATERIAL
 5.3 EXECUTION
 5.4 SURFACE FINISHES
 5.5 ANCILARY ITEMS
 5.6 SAMPLES AND TESTS

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5.1 GENERAL
A. Arrangement of Plant
Before construction commences the Contractor shall
supply to the Engineer, for his approval, drawings showing
the arrangement of the concreting plant and all other
associated services which he proposes to use for the
construction of the works.
B. Supervision.
A competent person shall be employed by the contractor
whose first duty will be to supervise all stages in the
preparation and placing of concrete. All test cubes should
be made and Site tests carried out under his direct
supervision. This person shall also be responsible for
keeping an accurate record of the dates on which concrete
is poured and when test samples and specimens are
manufactured and he shall advise the Engineer of the time
when testing is to be carried out.

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5.2 MATERIAL
A. Cement.
All cement delivered in bags shall be stored in
weatherproof sheds with raised floors. In no case shall
cement be stored on Site in bags for more than 3
months.

All cement delivered in bulk shall be stored in a silo of

a design approved by the Engineer. Portland and other
cements and different batches of similar cements shall
be stored separately and identified to prevent
accidental mixing.
Ordinary Portland Cement Mugher or Messebo or
Engineer approved Portland Pozzolana Cement should
be used for structural concrete works unless specified
other wise.

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5.3 EXECUTION
A. Proposed Mix Proportions.
Mix proportions of concrete as detailed in BaTCODA Technical
Specifications and Method of Measurement 1991 are proposed to
produce concrete per 50 kg cement and arrive at the required
strength. It is the responsibility of the contractor to produce the
appropriate mix design using the proposed proportion or trial mixes
and tests to achieve the required strength.
 The concrete mixes shall be designed to have the minimum cement

content…
 The quantity of cement shall be measured by weight…

 The quantity of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate shall be

measured separately by weight…

 Concrete is required to have the properties and give the strength in

Newton's per square millimeter as set out in BaTCODA Technical

Specifications
 The Contractor may be required to remove and replace at his own

cost any concrete which fails to attain the required strength as

ascertained by the works cube tests.

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B. Mixing Of Concrete.
C. Additives to Concrete
D. Transportation of Concrete.
E. Placing Of Concrete.
F. Compaction of Concrete.
G. Construction Joints.

Etc…

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Quiz one
 In the event of conflict between
the drawing and specification in
a project, which one governs.
Why?
THANK YOU!

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