Specifications Are Not an Afterthought - They Are the Technical Control Document That Defines What Gets Built
Construction specifications are the written requirements for materials, products, and workmanship that complete what the drawings show graphically. A drawing shows that a wall is faced with brick; the specification for Division 04 masonry tells the contractor exactly which brick product is required (manufacturer, product name, color, texture, absorption rate), what mortar mix is specified, what patterns are acceptable, what bond pattern is required, what control joint sealant is specified, and how the masonry work will be inspected and tested. Without the specification, the contractor can use any brick that looks similar - which may or may not be what the architect and owner intended. Specifications are co-equal with drawings as contract documents; the contractor is obligated to comply with both. The ARE PDD tests specification production as a core construction document competency.
Master Specification Systems
Very few architecture firms write specifications from scratch. The industry uses commercially available master specification systems as starting points: Arcom MasterSpec: The most widely used master specification system in the United States; organized per CSI MasterFormat; individual sections are editable Word documents with extensive notes and options in square brackets for the specifier to choose from. BSD SpecLink+: A database-driven specification system with linked sections, automated checking for contradictions, and integration with BIM data. Office master specifications: Firms often develop their own customized master specification sections based on MasterSpec or SpecLink, edited for the firm's typical project types and preferred products. Using a master specification system dramatically reduces the time required to produce a project specification and ensures that all required information is addressed.
The Specification Editing Process
The specification editor (typically the project architect or a dedicated specifications writer) starts with the master specification section for the relevant Division and work type. Editing process: (1) Delete sections for work types not included in the project scope. (2) Fill in project-specific information (project name, applicable building codes, local standards). (3) Review and select options within each section - substitute or add acceptable manufacturers; specify the products actually designed; delete inapplicable requirements (e.g., delete cold-weather concreting requirements if the project is in a warm climate). (4) Coordinate specification requirements with what is shown on the drawings - if the spec calls for 6-inch masonry but the drawings show 8-inch, one must change. (5) Review for code compliance - verify that specified products meet applicable energy code, fire resistance, and structural requirements.
Proprietary vs. Open Specifications
Specifications can be written as: Proprietary (sole source): Naming a single manufacturer and product; used when only one product meets the design intent or when the owner has a sole-source agreement. Public projects often prohibit sole-source specifications. Proprietary with approved equals: One manufacturer named as the standard of quality; other manufacturers may submit for approval as an "approved equal" - the most common approach on private projects. Descriptive: Specifying performance characteristics without naming a manufacturer; any product meeting the description qualifies; most common in public project procurement. Performance: Specifying measurable end-result requirements without specifying means; contractor selects product meeting performance criteria.
Key Exam Points
- Specifications are co-equal contract documents with drawings; contractor must comply with both.
- Master specification systems: Arcom MasterSpec, BSD SpecLink+; edited for project-specific requirements.
- Three-part SectionFormat: Part 1 General, Part 2 Products, Part 3 Execution.
- Proprietary: single manufacturer; with approved equals: named standard of quality + equals allowed; descriptive: characteristics only; performance: end-result metrics.
- Specification-drawing coordination: contradictions between specs and drawings are change order risks; must be reconciled before bid.
AREprep's PDD construction documents content covers specifications writing, master specification systems, specification types, and how specifications are coordinated with drawings and engineering requirements - giving ARE PDD candidates the specification production knowledge the exam tests in construction document organization and content questions across all phases of project documentation.
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