SPECIFICATION

CHITKARA SCHOOL OF PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE

CHITKARA UNIVERSITY , PUNJAB
Contents

1. Specification

2. Importance

3. Types

4. Building Materials
Specification

It is an act of identifying something precisely or of stating a precise requirement.

In terms of construction,

a detailed description of the design and materials used to Build something.

Specification required for … 1. Building Materials

2. Building Component or Element

3. Workmanship
Importance
1. Quality
2. Workmanship
3. Strength
4. Cost & Maintenance Cost
5. Availability of Materials
6. Alternative Options
Types of Specification

General Specification
In general specifications, nature and class of works and names of materials that
should be used are described. Only a brief description of each and every item is given.
It is useful for estimating the project. The general specifications do not form a part of
contract document.

Detailed Specification
The detailed specifications form a part of a contract document. They specify the
qualities, quantities and proportions of materials and the method of preparation and
execution for a particular item of works in a project. The detailed specifications of the
different items of the work are prepared separately and they describe what the work
should be and how they shall be executed. While writing the detailed specifications,
the same order sequence as the work is to be carried out is to be maintained.
General Specification
General Specification of a First Class Building
1. Foundation and Plinth – First class brick in Lime Mortar in ratio 1:6 cement mortar
over lime concrete or 1:4:8 cement concrete .
2. DPC – 2.5” thick cement concrete1:1.5:3. mixed with one kg of impermo per bag cement
and painted with two coqd of bitumen.
3. Super Structure – I class brickwork with lime mortar or 1:6 cement mortar. Lintel over
opening and should be RCC.
4. Roofing - It should be RCC slab with insulation layer and lime concrete layer above it.
5. Flooring – Common Rooms – Mosaic flooring
Bathroom & toilets - Mosaic or Ceramic Tiles
Bedroom - Wooden Flooring
Kitchen and slab top – White Marble and Granite
6. Finishing - Wall – 12mm plastered with distempered or white wash
7. Doors windows - Seasoned teak wood
8. Miscellaneous – Pipe, Sanitry Fixtures, Wire, Switches Etc.
Brick
(1) First class bricks (A )
These first class bricks are table molded and of uniform shape and they are burnt in
kilns. The surfaces and edges of the bricks are sharp, square, smooth and straight.
They comply with all the qualities of good bricks. These bricks are used for important
work of permanent nature.
(2) Second class bricks (B)
The second class bricks are ground molded and they are burnt in kilns. The surface of
the second class bricks is slightly rough and shape is also slightly regular. These bricks
may have hair cracks and their edges may not be sharp and uniform. These bricks are
commonly used at places where brickwork is to be provided with a coat of plaster
(3) Third class bricks (C)
These bricks are ground-molded and they are burnt in clamps. These bricks are not
very hard and they have rough surfaces with irregular and blunt edges. These bricks
give dull sound when they are struck together. They are used for unimportant works,
temporary structures and at places where rainfall is not heavy.
(4) Fourth class bricks (D)
These are over burnt bricks with irregular shape and dark color. These bricks are
used as aggregate for concrete in foundations, surkhi ,roads, etc. because of the fact
that the over burnt bricks have a compact structure and hence they are sometimes
found to be stronger than even the first class bricks. It is thus seen that the
above classification of bricks is based on the of manufacturing or preparing bricks.

Composition of Bricks –

 Silica (sand) – 50% to 60% by weight

Alumina (clay) – 20% to 30% by weight
Lime – 2 to 5% by weight
Iron oxide – ≤ 7% by weight
Magnesia – less than 1% by weight

Size – 230 x 115 x 75 (9”x4.5”x2.25”) , Weight – 3.5kg (Approx)

Strength - For Common (C & D)building brick = 35kg/sq. cm

For second class brick = 70kg/sq. cm
For First class brick = 105kg/sq. cm
Max . Crushing Strength= not less than 140kg/sq. cm / 3.5 N/mm2
Brick Test
1. Water Absorption
2. Visual Inspection
3. Dimensional Tolerance
4. Hardness
5. Soundness
6. Structure
7. Efflorescence
•Nil: When there is no perceptible deposit of salt
•Slight: When not more than 10% of the area of brick is covered with salt
•Moderate: When there is heavy deposit covering 50% of the area of the brick but
unaccompanied by powdering or flaking of the surface.
•Heavy: When there is heavy deposit covering more than 50% of the area of the brick
accompanied by powdering or flaking of the surface.
•Serious: When there is heavy deposit of salts accompanied by powdering and/or flaking of the
surface and this deposition tends to increase in the repeated wetting of the specimen.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME & ATTENTION