CHAPTER 8
Construction
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Building plans, including all of the elements that make up a
complete set of residential or commercial drawings, contain
general and specific information about construction. It is often
very difficult to provide all of the required information on a set
of plans. Schedules, as discussed in detail in Chapter 16, provide
specific information about items and applications such as doors,
windows, appliances, fixtures, hardware, finishes, and structural
components. Information that cannot be provided clearly or
completely on the drawing or in schedules is provided in con-
struction specifications. Specifications are an integral part of any
set of plans. Specifications are part of the construction and
contract documents consisting of written technical descriptions
of materials, equipment, construction systems, standards, and
work quality.
Construction specifications often follow the guidelines
of the individual architect or engineering firm where
the architectural design and drawings are created.
Specifications can be as basic as a description of mate-
rials created for a construction loan, or can be as in-
depth as MasterFormat, a detailed specifications format
published by the Construction Specifications Institute
(CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC).
RESIDENTIAL DESCRIPTION
OF MATERIALS
Most lenders have a format for providing
residential construction specifications. The Federal
Housing Administration (FHA) and the Federal Home
Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) have a specifica-
tion format titled Description of Materials. This specifi-
cations form is used widely, as is or with revisions, by
most residential construction lenders. The same form is
used by the Farm Home Administration (FmHA) and
by the Veterans Administration (VA).
A completed FHA Description of Materials form for a
typical structure is found on the Student CD and shown
in Figure 8-1. The sample completed form is for the
model home used in the step-by-step instructions found
throughout this textbook. A blank FHA Description of
Specifications
Materials form is also found on the Student CD. You can
also access this form online by doing an Internet search
using the words FHA Description of Materials. The plans,
construction specifications, and building contract
together become the legal documents for the construc-
tion project. These documents should be prepared very
carefully in cooperation with the architect, client, and
contractor. Any variation from these documents should
be approved by all three parties. When brand names are
used, a clause specifying “or equivalent” can be added.
This means that another brand that is equivalent in
value and quality to the one specified can be substituted
with the client or construction supervisor’s approval.
GENERAL CONSTRUCTION
SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications are written documents that describe
in detail the requirements for products, materials,
and workmanship upon which the construction proj-
ect is based. A specification is an exact statement
describing the characteristics of a particular aspect
of the project. Specifications communicate information
about required products to be used in construction,
as a basis for competitive construction bidding, and
to measure compliance with contracts. Proprietary
product specifications, method specifications, and end-
result specifications are types of performance specifi-
cations commonly used in the construction industry.
Proprietary product specifications provide specific
product names and models for desired applications.
When this type of specification is used, a named
product can be followed by “or equivalent,” which
allows for equal alternatives and helps promote com-
petition in providing the product. Proprietary product
specifications can limit competition, increase cost,
and decrease flexibility. Method specifications outline
material selection and the construction operation pro-
cess to be followed in providing construction materials
and practices. Method specifications provide the final
desired structure, such as the concrete thickness and
strength, or the lumber dimensions, spacing, species,
141
142 Architectural Drafting and Design

FIGURE 81 Completed FHA Description of Materials form for the model home used throughout this textbook.
Chapter 8: Construction Specifications 143

FIGURE 81 Continued

144 Architectural Drafting and Design

FIGURE 81 Continued

Chapter 8: Construction Specifications 145

FIGURE 81 Continued

146
and grade. Method specifications allow for more flexi-
bility, but the owner is responsible for the performance.
End-result specifications describe the final characteris-
tics of the products and methods used in construction,
and the contractor can use a desired method for meet-
ing the requirements. End-result specifications often
provide minimum and maximum as a range of accept-
able completion. For example, slab gravel under con-
crete might be specified between 4" and 8" thick with
specific compaction given. End-result specifications
can use statistical methods to estimate overall material
quality based on a limited number of random samples.
End-result specifications place construction quality on
the contractor, by defining the desired final product.
This gives the contractor freedom in achieving that
final product, which can lead to innovation, efficiency,
and lower costs.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
Minimum construction specifications, as estab-
lished by local building officials, vary from one location
to the next, and their contents are dependent on specific
local requirements, climate, codes used, and the extent
of coverage. You should verify the requirements for a
construction project in your location, because they can
be different from those given in this discussion. Refer
to Chapter 9 for specific information related to national
building codes. For more information about the general
classifications of construction specifications, see the
Student CD, TYPICAL MINIMUM CONSTRUCTION
SPECIFICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DESIGN.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL
CONSTRUCTION
Specifications for commercial construction projects are
often more complex and comprehensive than the docu-
ments for residential construction. Commercial project
specifications can provide very detailed instructions
for each phase of construction. Specifications can estab-
lish time schedules for the completion of the project.
Also, in certain situations, the specifications include
inspections in conjunction with or in addition to those
required by a local jurisdiction. Construction speci-
fications often follow the guidelines of the individual
architect or engineering firm, although a common
format has been established. Published by CSI and
CSC, the common format is called MasterFormat:
Master List of Numbers and Titles for the Construc-
tion Industry. The information used in this textbook
Architectural Drafting and Design
is from MasterFormat and UniFormat and is pub-
lished by CSI and CSC; it is used with permission
from CSI, 2008. For more information on organi-
zations involved with construction specifications,
please contact:
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
800-689-2900; 703-684-0300
Web site: www.csinet.org
Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)
Web site: www.csc-dcc.ca
The MasterFormat: Master List of Numbers and Titles
for the Construction Industry is a master list of numbers
and subject titles for organizing information about
construction work results, requirements, products, and
activities into a standard sequence. Construction proj-
ects use many different delivery methods, products,
and installation methods. Successful completion of
projects requires effective communication among the
people involved. Information retrieval is nearly impos-
sible without a standard filing system familiar to each
user. Using MasterFormat numbers and titles facilitates
standard filing and retrieval schemes throughout the
construction industry. MasterFormat numbers and
titles are suitable for use in project manuals, for orga-
nizing cost data, for referencing keynotes on drawings,
for filing product information and other technical data,
for identifying drawing objects, and for presenting con-
struction market data. Each MasterFormat number and
title defines a “section,” arranged in “levels” depend-
ing on the depth of coverage. The broadest collections
of related construction products and activities are
level-one titles, otherwise known as “divisions.” Each
division in the MasterFormat 2004 Edition: Numbers
and Titles is made up of level-two, level-three, and
occasionally level-four numbers and titles assigned by
MasterFormat, each of which defines a gradually more
detailed area of work results to be specified. Work
results are traditional construction practices that typi-
cally result from an application of skills to construction
products or resources.
The MasterFormat 2004 Edition numbers are estab-
lished using a six-digit system. The following is an
example showing how the list of numbers and titles
is used:
Division 04 Masonry
The first two numbers, 04 in this example, repre-
sent the division and are also called level one. The
complete list of divisions is given in the next section
of this textbook.
Chapter 8: Construction Specifications 147

SPECIFICATIONS GROUP
04 05 19.26 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SUBGROUP
Division / Level one—Masonry
Level two—Common Work Results for Masonry Division 01 General Requirements
Level three—Masonry Anchorage and Reinforcing
Level four—Masonry Reinforcing Bars
FACILITY CONSTRUCTION SUBGROUP
Division 02 Existing Conditions
FIGURE 82 Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Division 03 Concrete
MasterFormat titles and numbering system.
Division 04 Masonry
Division 05 Metals
04 05 Common Work Results for Masonry
Division 06 Wood, Plastics, and Composites
The second pair of numbers, 05 in this example, is
referred to as level two. In this case, Common Work Division 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection
Results for Masonry is a subcategory of Masonry. Division 08 Openings
04 05 19 Masonry Anchorage and Reinforcing Division 09 Finishes
The third pair of numbers, 19 in this example, is Division 10 Specialties
called level three. In this case, Masonry Anchorage Division 11 Equipment
and Reinforcing is a subcategory of Common Work
Division 12 Furnishings
Results for Masonry.
Division 13 Special Construction
04 05 19.26 Masonry Reinforcing Bars
Occasionally, level-four numbers are provided, such Division 14 Conveying Equipment
as .26 in this example. When level-four numbers Divisions 15 through 19 Reserved
are used, they follow level-three numbers and are FACILITY SERVICES SUBGROUP
separated from level-three numbers with a dot. Level- Division 20 Reserved
four numbers are used when the amount of detail
requires an additional level of classification. In this Division 21 Fire Suppression
case, Masonry Reinforcing Bars is a subcategory of Division 22 Plumbing
Masonry Anchorage and Reinforcing. Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air-
An example of the six-digit numbering system with Conditioning (HVAC)
levels one through four is shown in Figure 8-2. Division 24 Reserved
Division 25 Integrated Automation
Division 26 Electrical
MasterFormat Division Numbers
and Titles Division 27 Communications
Division 28 Electronic Safety and Security
The MasterFormat has two main groups: (1) Pro-
curement and Contracting Requirements, and (2) Speci- Division 29 Reserved
fications. Procurement and Contracting Requirements SITE AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUBGROUP
are referred to as series zero because they begin with a Division 30 Reserved
00 level-one numbering system prefix. These docu-
Division 31 Earthwork
ments are not specifications. They establish relation-
ships, processes, and responsibilities for projects. The Division 32 Exterior Improvements
Specifications group contains the construction speci- Division 33 Utilities
fications subgroups and their related divisions. Some Division 34 Transportation
divisions are identified as reserved for future additions
or specific user applications. The following is an out- Division 35 Waterway and Marine Construction
line of the divisions found in the two groups: Divisions 36 through 39 Reserved
PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING REQUIRE- PROCESS EQUIPMENT SUBGROUP
MENTS GROUP Division 40 Process Integration
Division 00 Procurement and Contracting Division 41 Material Processing and Handling
Requirements Equipment
148
GOING
GREEN
GreenFormat
The Construction Specifications Institute has established
GreenFormat: The Construction Product Sustainability
Information Reporting Guide. GreenFormat is a new CSI
format allowing manufacturers to accurately report the
sustainability measuring properties of their products,
and providing designers, contractors, and building
operators with basic information to help meet “green”
requirements. When using GreenFormat, construction
product manufacturers complete an online GreenFormat
reporting questionnaire that collects the sustainable
information about their product. Data from the
questionnaires are displayed in a standardized style
designed to ease sustainable design decision making.
Access to the GreenFormat report and the resulting data
is provided through http://www.greenformat.com.
Division 42 Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying
Equipment
Division 43 Process Gas and Liquid Handling,
Purification, and Storage Equipment
Division 44 Pollution Control Equipment
Division 45 Industry-Specific Manufacturing
Equipment
Divisions 46 and 47 Reserved
Division 48 Electrical Power Generation
Division 49 Reserved
The UniFormat Uniform
Classification System
UniFormat is a uniform classification system for orga-
nizing preliminary construction information into a
standard order or sequence on the basis of functional
elements. Functional elements, also referred to as
systems or assemblies, are common major compo-
nents in buildings that perform a known function
regardless of the design specification, construction
method, or materials used. The use of UniFormat can
provide consistent comparable data across an entire
building life cycle. Building life cycle refers to the
observation and examination of a building over the
course of its entire life. The life cycle of a building
considers everything about the building from design,
Those using the Web site can print reports on specific
products based on their questions within the database.
Sustainable information reported in GreenFormat is
grouped into categories, each containing individual topics
and questions about product sustainability. The categories
are organized with topics more likely to be important
to design decisions first. This flexible structure can adapt
to anticipated changes in the industry. As sustainability
issues evolve, new topics and questions are added in the
appropriate category, and existing topics and questions
that become obsolete or change are dropped if necessary.
The structure can be applied to all construction products
and product categories. Refer to www.greenformat.com
to see the categories and their contents and to view
additional information about GreenFormat.
commissioning, operation, and decommissioning.
The purpose of UniFormat is to achieve consistency
in economic evaluation of projects; enhance report-
ing of design program information; and promote
consistency in filing information for facility manage-
ment, drawing details, and construction market data.
UniFormat classifies information into nine level-one
categories, which can be used to arrange brief project
descriptions and preliminary cost information. The
first level-one category is Project Description, which
includes information about the project, through cost
estimating and funding. The last eight level-one cat-
egories are referred to as Construction Systems and
Assemblies, which include construction applications
and practices, such as foundation, roofing, exteriors,
electrical, and plumbing. Each of the Construction
Systems and Assembly categories is identified with a
letter and title as follows:
A—Substructure
B—Shell
C—Interiors
D—Services
E—Equipment and Finishings
F—Special Construction and Demolition
G—Building Site Work
Z—General
Chapter 8: Construction Specifications
UniFormat has a numbering system that divides
each level-one category into level-two, level-three,
level-four, and level-five titles with set alphanumeric
labels. The following is an example showing the first
three levels of the UniFormat alphanumeric system for
a specific category:
Level 1: D Services
Level 2: D20 Plumbing
Level 3: D2010 Plumbing Fixtures
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Documents is a general term that refers to all draw-
ings and written information related to a project.
Construction documents are drawings and written
specifications prepared and assembled by architects
and engineers for communicating the design of the
project and administering the construction contract.
The two major groups of construction documents
are bidding requirements and contract documents.
Bidding requirements are used to attract bidders
and explain the procedures to be used for submitting
bids. Bidding requirements are the construction docu-
ments issued to bidders for the purpose of providing
construction bids. Contract documents are the legal
requirements that become part of the construction
contract. The construction drawings and specifications
are found within the contract documents.
Construction Drawings
As you learn concepts and develop skills covered
throughout this textbook, you will be creating con-
struction drawings. Drawings show lines and text
for the purpose of providing information about the
project. These drawings are a principal part of the
set of construction documents. The individual draw-
ings needed depend on the specific requirements of
the construction project. The drawings for a small
residential addition might fit on one or two pages,
while the drawings for a commercial building might
be on a hundred or more pages. Drawings vary in how
much information they show, depending on the use,
the project phase, and the desired representation. In
addition to plan views, elevations, sections and details,
drawings can have schedules that have a detailed list
of components, items, or parts to be furnished in the
project. You will create all of these drawings and fea-
tures as you progress through this textbook.
149
Coordinating Drawings
and Specifications
A complete set of construction documents contains
drawings and specifications. These combined draw-
ings and specifications are often referred to as plans.
One person or a unified team of people should coor-
dinate drawings and specifications. The elements used
in the drawings and specifications, such as symbols,
abbreviations, and terminology, should be standard-
ized to prevent confusion. After the construction
documents are prepared in a professional manner, the
construction coordination must be conducted with
effective communication.
The drawings should locate and identify materi-
als and should include the assembly of components,
dimensions, details, and diagrams. The drawings have
notes, but notes should be used only to identify, not to
describe, a material or part. Overly detailed notes can
obscure the drawing. Detailed written information
should be placed in the specifications. Symbols used
in the set of drawings should be represented as an
approved standard and should be shown and labeled
in a legend for reference purposes. Drawings do not
need to be cross-referenced to the specifications.
Drawings and specifications are combined to become
the complete set of construction documents, which
means that you do not have to provide notes that
refer to the specifications when identifying an item
on the drawings. The specifications are used to define
the specific quality and type of material, equipment,
and installation. The drawings provide quantity,
capacity, location, and general written information in
the form of notes, whereas the specifications clearly
define items such as minimum requirements, physi-
cal properties, chemical composition, and installation
procedures. Schedules are used on drawings to help
simplify communication by providing certain items
in a table format. The schedules can be placed on the
drawings or in the specifications. The information
found in schedules or on the drawings should not
repeat the information found in the specifications.
The drawings, schedules, and specifications must be
carefully coordinated so the information is consis-
tent. The MasterFormat divisions and sublevels can
be used as a checklist to ensure that every required
specification is included. MasterFormat is an effective
system for indexing specifications for large projects,
and can be used for light commercial or residential
construction.
150 Architectural Drafting and Design

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES See CD for more information

The following Web sites can be used as a resource www.greenformat.com GreenFormat report and the
to help you find information related to construction resulting data
specification procedures and keep current with trends www.nahb.org National Association of
in the industry. Home Builders
These Web site links are also provided on the Student www.hud.gov U.S. Department of Housing
CD where you can select a link and go automatically to and Urban Development
the specified Web site.
Company, Product,
Address or Service
www.csc-dcc.ca Construction Specifications
Canada
www.csinet.org Construction Specifications
Institute

See CD
for more
Construction Specifications Test information

QUESTIONS
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions with short, com-
plete statements or drawings as needed on an 8 1/2" × 11" sheet
of notebook paper, or complete the electronic chapter test on
the Student CD.
1. Letter your name, Chapter 8 Test, and the date at the top of
the sheet.
2. Letter the question number and provide the answer. You do
not need to write the question. Answers can be prepared on
a word processor if approved by your course guidelines.
Question 8–1 Give a general definition of construction
specifications.
Question 8–2 Identify the basic differences between
residential and commercial specifications.
Question 8–3 List four factors that influence the specific
requirements of minimum residential construction
specifications established by local building officials.
Question 8–4 Refer to the Student CD: Supplemental
Reference, TYPICAL MINIMUM CONSTRUCTION
SPECIFICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DESIGN. Using
general terms, list the typical minimum construction
requirements for the following categories:
a. Room dimensions
b. Light and ventilation
c. Foundation
d. Framing
e. Stairways
f. Roof
g. Chimney and fireplace
h. Thermal insulation and heating
i. Fire warning system
A partial example would be as follows:
4. d. Framing
1. lumber grades
2. beams bearing area
Question 8–5 Briefly describe the format established
by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) for
construction specifications.
Question 8–6 Define work results.
Question 8–7 Define functional elements.
Question 8–8 Define systems or assemblies.
Question 8–9 Define building life cycle.
Question 8–10 Define construction documents.
Question 8–11 Define bidding requirements.
Question 8–12 Define contract documents.
PROBLEMS
Problem 8–1 Obtain a blank copy of the FHA
Description of Materials form from your instructor,
from the Student CD, or by doing an Internet search
Chapter 8: Construction Specifications
using the words FHA Description of Materials. Make
a copy or print of the Description of Materials form
and keep it in a notebook or folder for reference.
Alternately, if you access the Description of Materials
form from the Internet, you can save a copy in a
file with the same name on your computer. As you
progress through this textbook, problems are assigned
that allow you to complete a set of residential working
drawings. Access and complete the Description of
Materials form as you complete each drawing in the set
of architectural plans for the residence you select or are
assigned as a continuing problem. If you create more
than one set of plans, fill out a separate Description of
Materials form for each set of working drawings.
Problem 8–2 Use a word processor to write an
approximately 150-word report covering the difference
151
between proprietary product specifications, method
specifications, and end-result specifications.
Problem 8–3 Use a word processor to write an
approximately 500-word report covering the
Construction Specifications Institute and Construction
Specifications Canada MasterFormat: Master List
of Numbers and Titles for the Construction Industry.
Include detailed information about the purpose and
function of this specifications format. Explain and
show an example of the numbering system. List the
MasterFormat division numbers and titles.
Problem 8–4 Use a word processor to write an
approximately 250-word report covering construction
documents, construction drawings, and coordinating
drawings and specifications.