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Types of Construction Specifications - Archtoolbox

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The three main types of construction specifications: Performance, Prescriptive, and Proprietary.

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Owners, architects, and designers must be specific about the work needed on a project. If you communicate what needs to be done poorly, it can result in huge delays, change orders, and rising costs. The construction industry created a process to ensure that construction specifications communicate project needs efficiently. This process consists of 3 types of construction specifications that help detail the workflow.

What are Construction Specifications?

Construction specifications, also called specs, are the details for the work that needs to be completed in a construction project. These details include information such as materials, the scope of work, installation process, and quality of work. Subcontractors and teams use these specs as a guide to choose the right materials for the specific project. The specs discussed between the project owner and the contractor become a part of the legal documents for the project.

Architects or designers create construction specifications before work actually starts. But many involve project engineers for technical help. In every construction project, there are three types of construction specifications. The three types of construction specifications are prescriptive, performance, and proprietary.

Prescriptive Specifications

Of the three types of construction specifications, prescriptive specs focus on the details for the types of materials used and the installation of said materials. Architects or engineers tend to take over the job of project design in prescriptive specs. Prescriptive specs give a better image of what the final product will look like compared to other specs.

Prescriptive specs can be broken up into three separate parts: general, products, and execution. General consists of information such as national quality standards, product handling, design requirements, and keeping quality control. The products phase will go over the different products necessary for each task as well as the individual performance levels of each product. The execution phase will go over how to prepare materials and go through with installing them. This process also involves testing the quality of the materials and checking if they were installed correctly.

Performance Specifications

After prescriptive specs come performance specs. Performance specs discuss the operational requirements of a project. It details what the final installed product has to be capable of doing. In this phase, the owner or general contractor doesn't give a subcontractor specs detailing how to finish the job. Instead, designers and architects give contractors details on how the final product has to work in this phase. For example, a contract asks the team to make a pump that pumps 300 gallons per minute. There are no directions on how to make the pumping system go that fast, so it is up to the contractor to figure it out.

Of the three types of construction specifications, this phase involves most of the testing to make sure a project meets all of its operational requirements. The architect or engineer describes the project outcome, and trusts the trade contractor's experience to get there. Since the contractor has to figure out what to do, decisions about materials and strategy move away from the architect and engineers and shift towards the contractor.

Proprietary Specifications

Proprietary specs are used when you need to use a single type of product for any kind of installation. These are the least common of the three types of construction specifications, but they are for jobs involving existing equipment and already completed installations. When the owner or client wants to be consistent with their materials or just prefers a specific type of material, use proprietary specs. Contractors use proprietary specs when their section of the project is dependent upon the performance of a specific product.

Architects and engineers tend to try and avoid proprietary specs because it can lead to promoting a specific manufacturer. Favoring a manufacturer can discourage competition during the bid phase of the project, which may increase the total cost of the project. Architects and engineers will give the contractor a list of reliable suppliers to choose from to stop this.

Be as Specific as Possible

Planning out a construction project is very time consuming and requires a lot of detail. It may seem overwhelming and tedious, but it is an essential step in starting a construction project. Without it, you waste times and money trying to figure it out. The more time you spend detailing each step of the project, the more likely your vision for the project will be executed accurately. By using these tools for stellar construction specifications you benefit the project.

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3 Types of Construction Specifications - eSUB Construction Software

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Owners, architects, and designers must be specific about the work needed on a project. If you communicate what needs to be done poorly, it can result in huge delays, change orders, and rising costs. The construction industry created a process to ensure that construction specifications communicate project needs efficiently.

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A construction contract provides a legal binding agreement, for both the owner and the builder, that the executed job will receive the specific amount of compensation or how the compensation will be distributed. There are several types of construction contracts used in the industry, but there are certain types of construction contracts preferred by construction professionals.

Construction contract types are usually defined by the way, the disbursement is going to be made and details other specific terms, like duration, quality, specifications and several other items. These major contract types can have many variations and can be customized to meet specific needs of the product or the project.

This type of contract involves a total fixed priced for all construction-related activities. Lump sum contracts can include incentives or benefits for early termination, or can also have penalties, called liquidated damages, for a late termination. Lump Sum contracts are preferred when a clear scope and a defined schedule has been reviewed and agreed upon.

This contract shall be used when the risk needs to be transferred to the builder and the owner wants to avoid change orders for unspecified work. However, a contractor must also include some percentage cost associated with carrying that risk. These costs will be hidden in the fixed price. On a lump sum contract, it is harder to get credit back for work not completed, so consider that when analyzing your options.

This type of contract involves payment of the actual costs, purchases or other expenses generated directly from the construction activity. Cost Plus contracts must contain specific information about a certain pre-negotiated amount (some percentage of the material and labor cost) covering contractor's overhead and profit. Costs must be detailed and should be classified as direct or indirect costs. There are multiple variations of Cost Plus contracts and the most common are:

Cost Plus Fixed Percentage

Cost Plus Fixed Fee

Cost Plus with Guaranteed Maximum Price Contract

Cost Plus with Guaranteed Maximum Price and Bonus Contract

Cost plus contracts are used when the scope has not been clearly defined and it is the owner responsibility to establish some limits on how much the contractor will be billing. When some of the aforementioned options are used, those incentives will serve to protect the owner's interest and avoid being charged for unnecessary changes. Be aware that cost-plus contracts are difficult or harder to track and more supervision will be needed, normally do not put a lot of risk in the contractor.

Time and material contracts are usually preferred if the project scope is not clear, or has not been defined. The owner and the contractor must establish an agreed hourly or daily rate, including additional expenses that could arise in the construction process.

The costs must be classified as direct, indirect, markup, and overhead and should be included in the contract. Sometimes the owner might want to establish a cap or specific project duration to the contractor that must be met, in order to have the owner's risk minimized. These contracts are useful for small scopes or when you can make a realistic guess on how long it will take to complete the scope.

Unit pricing contracts is probably another type of contract commonly used by builders and in federal agencies. Unit prices can also be set during the bidding process as the owner requests specific quantities and pricing for a pre-determined amount of unitized items.

By providing unit prices, the owner can easily verify that he's being charged with un-inflated prices for goods or services being acquired. Unit price can easily be adjusted up and/or down during scope changes, making it easier for the owner and the builder to reach into agreements during change orders.

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Here Are the Common Construction Contracts for Your Product or Project

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A construction contract provides a legal binding agreement, for both the owner and the builder, that the executed job will receive the specific amount of compensation or how the compensation will be distributed. There are several types of construction contracts used in the industry, but there are certain types of construction contracts preferred by construction professionals.

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How to Write Construction Specifications for Contract Documents?

theconstructor.org

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. Images How to Write Construction Specifications for Contract Documents? theconstructor.org Images may be subject to copyright.

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THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS divided into two sectors: Non-residential, which has three sub-sectors (heavy industrial, institutional and commercial, engineering), and Residential.

Each sector has its own merits with a varied and rewarding range of work projects. You might find yourself:

Not sure where you see yourself? Click on the sections below to see what you could build by working in that sector:

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THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS divided into two sectors: Non-residential, which has three sub-sectors (heavy industrial, institutional and commercial, engineering), and Residential. Each sector has its own merits with a varied and rewarding range of work projects. You might find yourself:

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Because no two construction projects are alike, there are many different types of construction contracts out there to satisfy the needs of all parties involved. Knowing which contract suits the project best helps owners, contractors, and suppliers manage risk and ensure the work and payment go as smoothly as possible.

In this article, we take a look at the 5 main types of contracts in construction, and answer the following questions for each one:

What are the general features of each contract type? What are their benefits & drawbacks?

Who bears the most risk in each contract?

What kinds of projects use each contract most commonly?

The 5 Main Types of Contracts in Construction

Lump Sum Contracts

Lump sum contracts, also known as fixed price contracts, are the most basic type of construction contracts. That's because they outline one fixed price for all the work done under them. For this reason, lump sum contracts are extremely common in construction. Odds are most contractors have entered into multiple lump sum contracts in the past.
Dive deeper: Lump Sum Contracts
However, as simple as the one price formula seems, lump sum contracts aren't so cut-and-dry. Here are a few key benefits and drawbacks of lump sum contracts:

Pros of Lump Sum

Lump sum contracts simplify bidding. Naming a total price rather than submitting multiple bids simplifies the selection process for owners and GCs.

Finishing under-budget means high profit margins. Because the price for the project is set in stone, finishing under-budget means you pocket the savings.

Miscalculations destroy margins. When drafting a lump sum contract, you need to account for every variable. Since there's one set price, unexpected setbacks or changes during a project cut directly into your profit margin.

The bigger the project, the more room for loss. If you're working with subs and suppliers, there is no room for error. The cost of those inevitable missteps and setbacks from sub-tiers comes right out of the lump sum price.

Cons of Lump Sum

As you can see, lump sum contracts involve a fair amount of risk for contractors because they don't account for unexpected costs or delays after the project is started. Missteps mean you make less money, or, even worse, lose money on a project.

That's why lump sum contracts are best suited for smaller projects with predictable scopes of work.
Dive Deeper: Time & Materials Contracts
Time and Materials Contracts

As opposed to lump sum contracts, time and materials (T&M) contracts work best for projects in which the scope of work is not well-defined. Time and materials contracts reimburse contractors for the cost of materials and establish an hourly or daily pay rate.

Time and materials contracts are agile. Since the customer reimburses the contractor for the cost of materials and pays an hourly wage, unexpected delays, roadblocks, and other changes to the scope of work are covered.

Time and materials contracts allow for simple negotiations. Setting rules for what materials will be covered and what the hourly wage will be is simple with time and materials contracts.

Tracking time and materials is time consuming. Logging each and every material cost on a project is no small task, and failure to provide an accurate number upon completion means lower profit margins. Doing a thorough job here means you spend more time crunching numbers and less time doing the work.

Efficiency isn't rewarded. Since time and materials contracts pay by the hour or day, there's no real incentive to finish a project early. However, it's common practice to stipulate a bonus for finishing ahead of schedule.

Here's an overview of the pros and cons of time and materials contracts:

Pros of T&M
Dive Deeper: Cost-Plus Contracts
Cons of T&M

When you consider the unpredictable nature of any given construction project, the owner bears a considerable amount of risk with time and materials contracts. That's because they're required to pay the contractor for any unexpected costs, changes, or time overruns that take place over the course of the project, costing them more than they initially planned for.

Cost-plus contracts are flexible. Cost-plus contracts allow owners to make design changes along the way, and contractors know they'll be paid for the extra time or materials those changes incur.

Miscalculations aren't devastating. Since cost-plus contracts are flexible by nature, inaccuracies in the initial bid aren't as detrimental as they are with lump sum contracts.

Justifying some costs can be difficult. Cost-plus contracts require contractors to justify the costs on a given project. Sometimes those costs can be hard to account for, and owners can be resistant to reimbursing indirect costs like administrative expenses and mileage.

Fronting the cost of materials can put contractors in a bind. Since cost-plus contracts operate through reimbursement, paying more than you expected for materials could mean you're spread thin for the remainder of the project.

Cost-Plus Contracts

Cost-plus contracts, otherwise known as cost-reimbursement contracts, involve the owner paying the contractor for the costs incurred during the project plus a set amount of money for profit, which can be determined by a percentage of the total price of the project.
Dive Deeper: Unit Price Contracts
The costs covered by cost-plus contracts can involve direct costs (i.e. direct labor and materials), indirect costs (i.e. office space, travel, and communication expenses), and profit (i.e. the agreed upon fee or markup).

Pros of Cost-Plus

Unit price contracts simplify invoicing. Unit price contracts allow for increased transparency. Owners can easily understand each cost that goes into the final price of the contract because the price of each unit is predetermined. This helps avoid disputes and arguments when it's time to pay up.

If more work is required, the profit margin stays the same. Any extra work that's needed is simply added on as another pre-priced unit, making it easier to manage change orders and other alterations to the scope of work.

Predicting the final value of the contract can be difficult. Usually, the amount of units needed to complete a project isn't known immediately. This means owners may pay more than they expected.

Remeasurement can delay payment. Remeasurement, or the owner's ability to compare the price of each unit with the total cost of the project, can slow down payment. Although transparency is something we should all strive towards, this may be something you want to consider.

Cons of Cost-Plus

When it comes to cost-plus contracts, the majority of the risk is placed on the owner. That's because the contractor is paid for all costs incurred during the project, and any unforeseen expenses come out of the owner's pocket. For that reason, cost-plus contracts are best suited for projects in which a lot of creative flexibility is needed.

Unit Price Contracts
Dive Deeper: GMP Contracts
Unit price contracts divide the total work required to complete a project into separate units. They are also known as measurement contracts, measure and pay contracts, or remeasurement contracts. The contractor provides the owner with price estimates for each unit of work, rather than an estimate for the project as a whole.

Unit price contracts are useful for projects in which the work is repetitive, heavily dependent on material costs, and the amount of work needed isn't clear before the project is started.

GMP contracts make for quicker projects. Having a final contract price accelerates the bidding process, and it makes financing projects easier because lenders know the maximum amount a given project will cost early on.

GMP contracts incentivize savings. Having a fixed price overhead incentivizes contractors to reduce costs and finish ahead of schedule. Owners usually agree to share cost savings with their contractors.

GMP contracts place risk on contractors. Unfortunately, GMP contracts force the party doing the work to absorb cost overages in the event the contract price maximum is exceeded.

GMP contracts can take longer to review and negotiate. In order to protect themselves from exceeding the price cap, contractors may try to increase the maximum price of the contract. When this happens, the negotiation process is elongated and the project takes longer to start.

Pros of Unit Price

Cons of Unit Price

When it comes to unit price contracts, the majority of the risk lies with the owner because they must reimburse the cost of unexpected units that are added. However, the transparency they afford is a massive benefit to all parties involved.
Read more about AIA contracts
GMP Contracts

Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contracts establish a cap on the contract price. With this type of construction contract, the property owner won't exceed the contract price. Any material or labor costs above that price should be covered by the contractor.

Sometimes, another type of construction contract may also include a GMP provision. For example, a cost-plus contract could include a clause that limits total costs to a guaranteed maximum price.

Guaranteed maximum prices are a common feature in construction contracts, and they're best suited to projects with few unknowns. For example, the construction of a retail chain with plans that have been used over and over.

Pros of GMP

Cons of GMP

Since the owner won't pay for any cost overruns, guaranteed price contracts shift a lot of risk onto contractors. Considering that risk, one thing contractors can do is use a good cost estimating software. Job costing is an important accounting process on any construction project, and having a solid estimate will minimize risk by helping contractors avoid overcharging or undercharging the owner.

Standardized construction contracts

At its core, every construction contract is an agreement. You and the hiring party should discuss the project parameters to reach a shared conclusion about the best type of contract to use. Ultimately, a good contract benefits both parties equally.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ConsensusDocs both produce standardized contract documents in a variety of formats, including the contract types here. Working from an existing, professional contract template can give you peace of mind that many other construction parties are using the same terms and provisions.

Within every type of construction contract, you'll still want to watch out for problematic clauses. And review the contract for provisions on retainage and contingency, both of which can affect your ability to get paid in a timely manner.

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The 5 Main Types of Construction Contracts Explained

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Because no two construction projects are alike, there are many different types of construction contracts out there to satisfy the needs of all parties involved. Knowing which contract suits the project best helps owners, contractors, and suppliers manage risk and ensure the work and payment go as smoothly as possible.

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Now that you know who drives product specification in construction, do you have a clear understanding of the various types of specification architects can use in a given project? The needs of each project dictate the unique specification requirements.

Following are the three most common types of building construction specifications used in commercial projects:

Performance Specifications address the operational requirements of an installation. The focus is on the project outcome, indicating how the final project must be able to function. Here, architects provide direction to the general contractor about what is needed and the general contractor must determine the best path to achieve the desired outcome. While this approach gives the general contractor flexibility in his construction approach, it limits how much authority an architect maintains once construction is underway.

Prescriptive Specifications contain detailed descriptions of what specific materials must be used as well as the installation instructions. This type of spec usually involves three key components:

1. General provisions: requirements surrounding codes and standards

2. Required products: the type of products required based on performance and structural stipulations

3. Execution procedures: how to do the install and measure its effectiveness

Prescriptive specs put a greater burden on the architect (as opposed to the general contractor) to ensure proper installation.

Proprietary Specifications demand that only one specific product be used for a given installation. It is commonly utilized if the portion of a project requires a certain performance that only one product can achieve. This could ultimately drive up project costs.

Along with these three types of construction specifications, specs can also be classified as "open" or "closed," a division often determined by the project's stage in design development. An A

open specification is when an architect does not name a specific supplier or product and allows for substitutions to be made by the contractor. It does not limit competition, but rather is dictated by a set of standards that more than one manufacturer can meet, allowing for many alternatives to be submitted for approval. Performance specifications are often considered to be open.

closed specification lists specific products, systems and manufacturers, with no alternatives or mechanisms to apply a substitution. Closed specifications are most often seen when matching a specification to an existing building, or when an exact duplication is important. By default, closed specifications are proprietary. However, they can be made "open" by not referring to a singular brand or providing requirements applicable only to a specific product. This is commonly done by adding "or equal" after the listed brand.

It is critical for building/design product manufacturers to understand the various classifications and types of specification in construction, as well as in which spec scenarios their products will most frequently be considered.

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Three Types of Construction Specification

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Now that you know who drives product specification in construction, do you have a clear understanding of the various types of specification architects can use in a given project? The needs of each project dictate the unique specification requirements.

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Construction contracts need to be as detailed as possible to ensure that the project is completed the way the client wants. One useful way to achieve this is through the specifications portion of the contract. This is where a customer can get as specific as possible to set the materials and installation standards they want.

What are Construction Contract Specifications?

Construction specifications are a part of the construction contract. They detail the work, materials, and installation required to complete a project. The specs are a subcontractor's field guide on what materials to use, how to install them, and the desired level of quality.

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)

Specifications can get incredibly technical. They are typically prepared by architects or engineers, so sometimes the technical jargon can be overwhelming and confusing. That's why the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) created a specifications index called MasterFormat, which has become the standard for the US construction industry. They are sections and numbers used to categorize specs and project information, and the MasterFormat creates a sort-of universal language for construction specifications.

Importance of Solid Specifications

The devil is in the details. A thorough set of specifications can help everyone on the project reduce costs, wasted time, and disputes. The more information provided, the better the chance of work getting done correctly. As a result, correct work means fewer defects, which means fewer change orders which means fewer disputes over additional compensation.

Furthermore, having a clear set of specifications using the MasterFormat divisions helps facilitate coordination and communication between all project participants. There will be a substantial decrease in the time spent on requests for clarifications concerning materials or installation. Lastly, when provided in advance, a solid set of specs can lead to more accurate bids, resulting in fewer cost overruns.

Types of Construction Contract Specifications

Generally, there are three different types of construction specifications found in contracts: prescriptive specifications, performance specifications, and proprietary specifications.

Prescriptive Specs

Prescriptive specifications provide step-by-step details and instructions on how the types of materials to be used and the desired installation methods. However, these types of specs can be split into three subcategories.

General Provisions. These provisions will reference national or state building codes and standards that must be complied with.

Required Products. Lists the type of products and materials required, based on the performance and structural requirements.

Execution Procedures. Details the methods of installation and how to measure quality or effectiveness.

Performance Specs

Performance specifications will provide all of the operations requirements to complete a project. Instead of giving detailed instructions on how to achieve the desired final product, performance specs will describe the anticipated result. This leaves a broad amount of discretion to decide how to perform, as long as the desired outcome is achieved. Accordingly, performance specs will invariably include extensive testing provisions to ensure that the project meets all the operational requirements.

Proprietary Specs

These third types of specifications are the rarest of the breed. They are used when a specific type of product or material is required for installation. Typically, proprietary specs are used when doing renovations to an existing structure, and the client needs to match the improvements to the completed portion.

Liability for Specifications & Defects

So what's the point of splitting these specifications into different categories? The "implied warranty of specifications." Since subs are required to rely on these specs, they are presumed to be accurate. That is, unless there are glaring errors or omissions that should have been caught in the first place. Thus, when a construction defect arises, the party who will ultimately be held liable depends on what type of specification the sub was working from.

Performance specs allocate liability to the party performing the work because they have free reign to decide how the end result is achieved. Conversely, if the specs are prescriptive, the party who issued the specifications may be liable. Prescriptive specs provide play-by-play instructions to perform. If there is an error in the instructions, the contractor or sub shouldn't be on the hook for the defect.

Additional Resources

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What are Construction Specifications? | Construction Documents

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Construction contracts need to be as detailed as possible to ensure that the project is completed the way the client wants. One useful way to achieve this is through the specifications portion of the contract. This is where a customer can get as specific as possible to set the materials and installation standards they want.

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What type of construction project are you working on? This is an important question for a whole host of construction payment-related issues. In fact, determining the project type is an essential question that is asked of you every time you enter a new project.

Don't Bother With Building Types

For many folks in the construction industry, the "type" of construction project refers to the actual facility being constructed. Their different construction types, therefore, are simply:

Residential building construction

Industrial construction

Commercial building construction

Heavy civil construction

Why the building type doesn't matter

Breaking down construction projects by the type of facility is a good reference, but it's not the most helpful framework. Instead, it's much more important to categorize construction projects based on who owns it. Why? Because that's what state and federal laws care about when it comes to protecting your right to get paid.

Laws aren't concerned with the facility you're working on, and whether it's industrial or heavy civil. Instead, they set requirements based on who owns the project. Just look at prompt payment laws, mechanics lien and bond claim rights, and pretty much any other law that affects your right to payment on a job.

Types of Construction Projects: Look at the owner

Broadly speaking, you can separate construction project types into 3 categories:

1. Private Construction Projects

The first type of construction project is the Private Construction Project. Put simply, private projects are projects of every type that are owned, controlled or commissioned by a private party. Private parties include individuals, homeowners, corporations, other business entities, non-profit associations, privately funded schools, hospitals, publicly traded companies, etc. Anything, in other words, that is not the government.

Private construction projects come in all different shapes and sizes, and this is when it's useful to look at the character of the work performed to segment private construction into different subcategories. These subcategories would include:

Residential Construction

Whenever construction work is being performed to a single-family residence or a residential facility with (usually) less than 3 or 4 units. If you are working on an apartment complex this would more likely be considered a commercial project instead of a residential project. Similarly, if you are working at a condominium, the work would be residential if upon a single unit, but if on the entire complex or the common elements, the work would more likely be considered commercial.

Commercial Construction

Commercial construction is the construction of any buildings or similar structures for commercial purposes. Commercial construction includes a huge variety of projects including building restaurants, grocery stores, skyscrapers, shopping centers, sports facilities, hospitals, private schools and universities, etc.

Industrial Construction

This is a relatively small segment of the construction industry. These projects include power plants, manufacturing plants, solar wind farms, refineries, etc. While termed "industrial construction," it is pretty interchangeable with "commercial construction."

2. State Construction Projects

Some people get confused by the term "state" when talking about state construction projects because the term "state" can refer to projects commissioned by a county, city, municipality, government board, public school board or any other state-funded entity. The term "state construction" means, therefore, any government-funded construction that is not "federal" - which is discussed in the next section.

State construction projects can take a variety of forms.

They can be pretty traditional projects like the construction of a public school or government building (like a court room). These projects can also be pretty sophisticated, such as the construction of a bridge, sewer line, highways, etc.

3. Federal Construction Projects

Federal construction projects are very similar to state projects. Just like state projects they can take on a variety of forms: very simple and traditional, and very complex. And the stuff being constructed can be pretty similar to the stuff constructed by state authority: courthouses, government buildings, flood control projects, etc.

The difference between state and federal projects simply depends on who owns or controls the underlying project site. The difference is not which entity funds the project, because federal funds are all over state (and even private) projects. The difference is in who owns and controls the project.

If work is done on a state courthouse using federally provided funds, it is a state project. If work is done on a federal courthouse, however, it's a federal project. Work done on a federally funded interstate is usually a state project because the states control the highways. Work done through the US Army Corps of Engineers, however, even on state land such as the levees, is always a federal project because it is federally controlled.

Infographic - What's My Project Type?

Why It's Important to Know the Different Construction Project Types

Why does this all matter? The differences are very important because the laws governing your construction project are significantly different depending on the type of construction project.

First of all, mechanics lien requirements and bond claim laws are drastically different depending on your project type. But, that is not the only laws that are different. Labor laws and contracting rules are different depending on your project type, and more.

These legal differences are why I disagree with the classification system - based on the building type - that so much of the construction industry uses. While the character of the underlying work is important to some degree, the big legal differences hinge on the private or public nature of the work.

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Types of Construction Projects: What Are They and Why You Should Care

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What type of construction project are you working on? This is an important question for a whole host of construction payment-related issues. In fact, determining the project type is an essential question that is asked of you every time you enter a new project.

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This Course Video Transcript

This course introduces the types of cost estimation from the conceptual design phase through the more detailed design phase of a construction project. In addition, the course highlights the importance of controlling costs and how to monitor project cash flow. Students will work on a break-even analysis of construction tasks in a project.

View Syllabus

Skills You'll Learn

Cash Flow, Cost, Cost Control, Cost Estimate

James Sneath, Associate Director of Cost Management at Turner and Townsend, Inc., illustrates how to build an estimate. Sneath does a deep dive into a schematic design project.

Taught By

Ibrahim Odeh, Ph.D., MBA

Instructor, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University

Okay, in this section, we're now going to discuss building the actual estimate itself. So far, Abraham, Ian, and myself have discussed the three main parts which are required before you start building the estimate. As a recap, these are, design understanding, measurement and how to take off, and pricing. Once you've understood these key areas, we can now start physically building the cost estimate. As part of building the estimate, we're going to discuss the following topics. Estimate classification, methods and formats of estimates, building and finalizing the estimate, and checks and due diligence. We've already discussed the design spectrum, covering all aspects of design, from concept, through to schematic, design development, and construction. All of these stages play a very important role in building the estimate and understanding the type of estimate you're actually building. Before you can even begin your take-off, you need to understand what class of estimate you will be building your estimate to. As you can see on the screen, your estimate will need to fit into one of the four design categories that we have already discussed. So you have your order of magnitude, or concept, your schematic design, your design development, and construction design. The reason why it is important you understand the type of estimate required is that it will affect the level of detail you'll go into with your measurement take-off. The level of detail you'll go into your sourcing of pricing. The contingency level and overall accuracy of your estimate. And level of overall detail of your estimate, e.g., a simple square foot basis of estimate would be more in line with a concept or schematic design. As you'll see on the screen, and as previously discussed in other sections of the module, the amount of contingency you allow for in your estimate goes hand in hand with the stage of design your project is at, or that has been nominated for the estimate. These are, concept stage, or order of magnitude, with a 25 to 50% level of accuracy. Schematic design stage, with a 15-20% level of accuracy. Design development stage, with a 10% accuracy. And construction stage at 5% accuracy. So it's very important you understand the cost of estimate and the amount of contingency you will need to include in the estimate, which is based on the accuracy of the design and other project documents. Okay, methods and formats of estimates. There are many ways that you can build or construct a cost estimate. Globally, there are several different types of estimate formats that can be used. But the most important considerations you need to have is the following. A logical, organized structure. Clear and user-friendly format. Common understanding for users, following construction principles. Now, the users primarily are architects, engineers, project and cost managers. So they all need to be able to understand it and use it at ease. The format is usually associated to the building's specifications and other building guidelines. From a cost point of view, it needs to financially make sense and flow well. Although there are several different types that are used globally, they will follow the same principle, just using different formatting styles and different terminology. The principles are nearly always the same. And you should be able to apply these to any country or regional estimating format used. Now, I've used a different estimating format in the UK, Australia, and the US. But the principles are always the same. In USA, the most common format is the MasterFormat, which stems from the Construction Specifications Institution, or more commonly known as CSI. CSI was set up just after the Second World War, with the main aim to bring organization and structure to the building industry. The cost and organization format has since evolved significantly. And there are 50 construction divisions that an estimate can be built upon. But commonly, in the workplace today, 16 of the MasterFormat codes or divisions used are the following. Now, you can see on the screen the 16 most common divisions used. Think of these as headings, that you will build your estimate and place the scope of work items that you've measured under these headings. So this is your top level. So Division 01- General Requirements. Now, these are site-specific items that are required to keep the day to day of the construction site running. For example, your crane hire. It could be storage containers, anything like that, that keeps the site running. In the UK and Australia and other parts of the world, these are commonly known as preliminaries. Next up, you got your Site Construction. This is typically your construction work to the existing site, and to even the building that is currently on the site. Works can include demolitions of existing buildings or general site demolitions. Division 03 is Concrete. So this is anything concrete-related, concrete for your foundations, concrete for your slab, your upper floors. This all comes into this division. Masonry, this would be your external walls, anything masonry related, internal masonry walls as well. Division 06 is your Woods and Plastics. 07- Thermal and Moisture Protection. Your roof items go into there. Doors and Windows. You got your Finishes in Division 09, Specialities in Division 10. Now, these would be toilet partitions or display cases. Division 11 would be Equipment, 12, your Furnishings. 13- Special Construction. Okay, these are items that are not typically in a construction project. For example, a swimming pool or a sauna. These are unique, special construction items. Now, bear in mind, you may not have any special constructions on the project you're working on. So you just do not include Division 13. And it's the same for any of the other divisions. You just exclude it. This is really just a guideline and format to follow to help build your estimate and for your user to understand and know where to find it when they're going through your estimate. Division 14 is Conveying Systems. So that's elevators, dumbwaiters, those kind of mechanical items. Division 15 is Mechanical. So this would include your HVAC and your plumbing. And Division 16 is Electrical. So this would be your main electrical and also your IT and AV items. This now gives you a feel of the 16 main construction divisions you typically use when building an estimate. As mentioned earlier, Think of these as your headings. Keep the CSI MasterFormat by your side and refer to it as you build your estimate, especially if you're new to building estimates, creating estimates. Always have this kind of literature to your side and use it as you're building the estimate. And over time, over years, you'll start to remember it, and you'll know it off by heart. The key is, you don't need to use every division. And you can use even more divisions, so look them up. As I mentioned earlier, there are 50 in total. The 16 mentioned earlier are the most common ones. The key is to review drawing set. Understand the estimate class. And use the MasterFormat divisions that work best with your design set, understanding the scope of works and the estimate class you're working in. Further to the MasterFormat, it should be noted that there's also a slightly more simplified estimating structure that can be used. And is ideal when you are producing an estimate in an order of magnitude or concept cost estimate. This is known as UniFormat. This is a nice, simple estimating format that is ideal when information is limited or you're at an order of magnitude or concept level of design. There are further levels and detail to each division. Let's keep it simple for today. They are SUBSTRUCTURE, SHELL, INTERIORS, SERVICES, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS, SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION, and BUILDING SITEWORK. So within SUBSTRUCTURE, you have your foundations, basement construction. In your SHELL, this would cover your superstructure. For INTERIORS, this would be everything, including your partitions, painting, and floor finishes. SERVICES, all of your mechanical, electrical, and plumbing sets. All of your MEP and associated items, such as AV and IT, all come into SERVICES. EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS, this is all your FF&E. SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION, this would be selective building demolition and hazardous materials. Now, your BUILDING SITEWORK is more your external works to the building. So this would be car parks, external stormwater, and things like that. Now let's recap. There are 2 main estimating formats used in the US, both from CSI. You have the MasterFormat with 50 divisions, 16 of them typically used. You have the UniFormat, which is elemental, simplified version, split into seven divisions. Whatever format you use, you just gotta make sure it's clear and there's an organized structure.

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Estimate Classification, Methods and Formats - Building the Estimate | Coursera

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Video created by Columbia University for the course "Construction Cost Estimating and Cost Control". James Sneath, Associate Director of Cost Management at Turner and Townsend, Inc., illustrates how to build an estimate. Sneath does a deep dive ...

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Home - Construction Specifications Institute

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Owners, architects, and designers must be specific about the work needed on a project. If you communicate what needs to be done poorly, it can result in huge delays, change orders, and rising costs. The construction industry created a process to ensure that construction specifications communicate project needs efficiently. This process consists of 3 types of construction specifications that help detail the workflow.

What are Construction Specifications?

Construction specifications, also called specs, are the details for the work that needs to be completed in a construction project. These details include information such as materials, the scope of work, installation process, and quality of work. Subcontractors and teams use these specs as a guide to choose the right materials for the specific project. The specs discussed between the project owner and the contractor become a part of the legal documents for the project.

Architects or designers create construction specifications before work actually starts. But many involve project engineers for technical help. In every construction project, there are three types of construction specifications. The three types of construction specifications are prescriptive, performance, and proprietary.

Prescriptive Specifications

Of the three types of construction specifications, prescriptive specs focus on the details for the types of materials used and the installation of said materials. Architects or engineers tend to take over the job of project design in prescriptive specs. Prescriptive specs give a better image of what the final product will look like compared to other specs.

Prescriptive specs can be broken up into three separate parts: general, products, and execution. General consists of information such as national quality standards, product handling, design requirements, and keeping quality control. The products phase will go over the different products necessary for each task as well as the individual performance levels of each product. The execution phase will go over how to prepare materials and go through with installing them. This process also involves testing the quality of the materials and checking if they were installed correctly.

Performance Specifications

After prescriptive specs come performance specs. Performance specs discuss the operational requirements of a project. It details what the final installed product has to be capable of doing. In this phase, the owner or general contractor doesn't give a subcontractor specs detailing how to finish the job. Instead, designers and architects give contractors details on how the final product has to work in this phase. For example, a contract asks the team to make a pump that pumps 300 gallons per minute. There are no directions on how to make the pumping system go that fast, so it is up to the contractor to figure it out.

Of the three types of construction specifications, this phase involves most of the testing to make sure a project meets all of its operational requirements. The architect or engineer describes the project outcome, and trusts the trade contractor's experience to get there. Since the contractor has to figure out what to do, decisions about materials and strategy move away from the architect and engineers and shift towards the contractor.

Proprietary Specifications

Proprietary specs are used when you need to use a single type of product for any kind of installation. These are the least common of the three types of construction specifications, but they are for jobs involving existing equipment and already completed installations. When the owner or client wants to be consistent with their materials or just prefers a specific type of material, use proprietary specs. Contractors use proprietary specs when their section of the project is dependent upon the performance of a specific product.

Architects and engineers tend to try and avoid proprietary specs because it can lead to promoting a specific manufacturer. Favoring a manufacturer can discourage competition during the bid phase of the project, which may increase the total cost of the project. Architects and engineers will give the contractor a list of reliable suppliers to choose from to stop this.

Be as Specific as Possible

Planning out a construction project is very time consuming and requires a lot of detail. It may seem overwhelming and tedious, but it is an essential step in starting a construction project. Without it, you waste times and money trying to figure it out. The more time you spend detailing each step of the project, the more likely your vision for the project will be executed accurately. By using these tools for stellar construction specifications you benefit the project.

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3 Types of Construction Specifications - eSUB Construction Software

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Owners, architects, and designers must be specific about the work needed on a project. If you communicate what needs to be done poorly, it can result in huge delays, change orders, and rising costs. The construction industry created a process to ensure that construction specifications communicate project needs efficiently.

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Building materials are, unsurprisingly, often at the center of discussions about fire damage, as we saw earlier this year following the destruction of a mid-construction apartment building in Raleigh, North Carolina.

It makes sense that the more fire-resistant a building is, the larger and taller it is permitted to be. In that same vein, a building made entirely out of combustible materials must be smaller. So how do we determine the fire-resistance rating and codes associated with a structure? There are five different building construction types, each with fire-resistance ratings (the duration for which a passive fire protection system can withstand a standard fire resistance test) that apply to the structural frame, bearing and nonbearing walls, floor, and roof.

The International Building Code spells it all out for us in Chapter 6: Types of Construction. It's a hefty chapter with various charts and footnotes to review, so we've put together the very basic characteristics of each building type here:

The most stringent of building types when it comes to fire-resistance rating requirements, a Type I building, including its roof, must be composed of noncombustible materials like concrete and steel.

With noncombustible steel or concrete structural framework, walls, and floors, Type II is similar to Type I, but requires lower fire-resistance ratings. It's a very commonly used construction type and Type IIB has no fire resistance requirements for any of the building elements, provided that there is adequate fire separation distance, as laid out in Table 602.
Type III
Also known as a brick-and-joist structure, a Type III building has exterior walls built out of noncombustible materials (like masonry or concrete) and the floors, roof, and structural framework can be made of any material permitted by the code (like wood).
Type IV
Buildings constructed out of heavy timber (HT) are designated Type IV. With noncombustible exterior walls and interior elements made out of solid or laminated wood, a Type IV building cannot have a wood column any less than 8 inches thick or a wood girder any less than 6 inches thick. While similar to a Type III, Type IV instead relies on the fire-resistant nature of the large dimension lumber in place of a prescribed fire-resistance rating.
Type V
The most combustible of the five building types and the only one that allows for combustible exterior walls, Type V buildings allow both the exterior walls and interior framing to be wood. It's a common construction method for single-family homes.

When combined with the occupancy, building construction type is a driving factor for many code requirements. It's one of many details that must be considered during the design phase of a construction project, especially when determining the overall goals and ultimate use of the building.

For more information, check out Chapter 6 of the 2015 International Building Code here.

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Building materials are, unsurprisingly, often at the center of discussions about fire damage, as we saw earlier this year following the destruction of a mid-construction apartment building in Raleigh, North Carolina. It makes sense that the more fire-resistant a building is, the larger and taller it is permitted to be.

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Types and Uses of Construction Specifications

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construction spreadsheet - Google Search

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excel template cost estimate template schedule renovation cost spreadsheet construction budget worksheet excel construction cost breakdown construction estimate spreadsheet budget template construction project management

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9 Essential Blogs for the Construction Industry – Updated for 2020!

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9 Essential Blogs for the Construction Industry – Updated for 2020!

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We really appreciate good content about the construction industry that's interesting, helpful, and teaches us a thing or two that we didn't know beforehand. With that being said, here is our all-new list of 9 essential construction industry blogs for 2020 (and beyond!) that should be interesting to just about anyone in the construction industry.

9 Essential Blogs for the Construction Industry

Before we get started, a mild disclaimer of sorts: not all of the following are blogs, technically speaking. Some are better-defined as industry news sites or digital magazines. However, all of them have great content specially created for the construction industry. We wholeheartedly endorse them all.

With that being said, let's proceed to the list!

Construction Dive is big, thorough, informative, and is always an interesting read. We've linked to their articles more times that I can count. And frankly, I can think of no better endorsement than that.

We're big fans of both of these companies. We knew we wanted to include both of them in this list, and we just hated the idea of picking one over the other....so, here we are with a tie for number 8! Forget all of those silly sayings about how unappealing a tie is in a competition. Both of these companies our winners in our book - and both have great blogs that are absolutely worth checking out.

7. LetsBuild (formerly GenieBelt)

We have a bit of a blog crush on these guys. LetsBuild is a European construction tech company based in in Denmark. Not only do we like their style, it's also great to get a perspective from outside the U.S.

Procore is undoubtedly one of the big dogs in the construction technology space, having reached unicorn status around a year ago. But credit where credit is due - their impressive blog looks like a million...I mean, make that a billion bucks.

We get along great with the eSub guys, both personally and professionally. Their blog is an industry must-read, especially for subcontractors. eSub even contributes content to the Levelset blog on occasion.

The construction business owner site is jam-packed with useful information, including helpful articles around a variety of topics, webinars, and other resources (including trade show and event coverage). We've been fans of theirs for years - check them out for yourself.

This is another massive site with a ton of information, including deeper dives into equipment and a number of other subjects. Levelset often contributes to another of their special sections, Profit Matters.

Construction Executive holds a very special place in our hearts here at Levelset - we have a very close working relationship with them. Perhaps not surprisingly, this is also the outfit that we contribute content to most often. We can't wait to see what they have in store for us.

...and the Number 1 construction industry blog is....

...wait for it....

As CEO Scott Wolfe Jr (himself an extremely prolific blogger) likes to say, "great content is a part of Levelset's DNA." And folks, let me tell you that truer words have never been spoken.

Educating the industry has been a part of Levelset's mission since its founding, and our commitment to that goal has never wavered. From our blog, to our encyclopedic construction payment resources, downloads, legal advice center, and more, we work hard every single day to provide information that helps people in the construction industry do their jobs - and get paid for them.

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9 Essential Blogs for the Construction Industry - Updated for 2020!

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We really appreciate good content about the construction industry that's interesting, helpful, and teaches us a thing or two that we didn't know beforehand. With that being said, here is our all-new list of 9 essential construction industry blogs for 2020 (and beyond!) that should be interesting to just about anyone in the construction industry.

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Construction has resumed at Penn National's mini-casino in Springettsbury Township, and officials said they expect the project to wrap by mid-2021.

The project, which temporarily halted construction in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, picked back up again a few weeks ago, according to Jeff Morris, a spokesperson for Penn National.

"Construction is resuming and we expect to open the facility in the second half of 2021," Morris said via email.

The $120 million project, which was originally estimated to be completed in 12 months, was unanimously approved for a gambling license by the state Gaming Control Board last December.

But then the pandemic halted the construction in March. In July, roadwork at the site, at the former Sears story in the York Galleria mall, 2899 Whiteford Road, resumed.

That work, which entailed repairing the road and entrance onto Whiteford Road, is now finished, according to Don Bishop, a Springettsbury Township supervisor and liaison to the community development department.

"We had a great deal of confidence in Penn National Gaming throughout the pandemic," Bishop said via email. "They were in a really tough spot but they continue to keep us up to date. We are very pleased that they are continuing with the project."

Hollywood Casino at the York Galleria was the third Category 4 license approved by the state after a 2017 expansion in Pennsylvania gambling laws allowing for up to 10 permits for these "satellite" casinos.

Penn National selected the York Galleria as the site of its first mini-casino in September 2018. The company bid the highest - $50 million - to place a casino in York County.

In August 2019, the Springettsbury Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a conditional use application for construction of the casino.
- Reach Tina Locurto at tlocurto@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @tina_locurto.

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Construction underway again at mini-casino at York Galleria

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Construction has resumed at Penn National's mini-casino in Springettsbury Township, and officials said they expect the project to wrap by mid-2021. The project, which temporarily halted construction in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, picked back up again a few weeks ago, according to Jeff Morris, a spokesperson for Penn National.

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construction blueprint formats - Google Search

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floor drawings house architectural cad drawings blueprint reading construction drawings construction documents reflected ceiling plan excel drawing sizes technical drawing

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Types and Uses of Construction Specifications

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SketchUp for Construction Documentation: Plan Template

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GENERAL CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS IN ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

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GENERAL CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS IN ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

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1. Requirements of Regulatory Agencies

Codes and standards: All electrical equipment, materials, installation and workmanship shall comply with the latest edition of the applicable codes and standards of any of these organization listed below:

1. National Electric Code (NEC).

2. Underwriter laboratories (UL).

3. Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

4. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

5. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).

6. Insulated Power Cable Engineers Association (IPCEA).

7. American National Standards Institution (ANSI) and or BS code, IEE regulations or VIDE or any other approved equivalent standards.

2. Materials

Al materials furnished under this specification shall be new and shall conform to any of the standard such as Underwriters Laboratories, the American National Standards Institute, the National Fire protection Association or BS or equivalent.

Where material standards have not been established by UL/ANSI/NFPA/BS/VDE standards or quality and performance shall be those of the reputed manufacturer.

Each major class of equipment through out the installation shall be by a single manufacturer.

Catalogue and samples of all equipment and materials to be supplied under this specification shall be submitted prior to installation for approval.

Wherever applicable and appropriate, the manufacturer's test certificates shall be submitted for approval.

The contractor shall furnish all valid documents to show that the materials proposed to use in the project are readily available, guaranteeing the availability of spare parts within the Kingdom.

3. Drawings

The drawings and specifications are intended to describe the work comprehensively, but are not intended to be complete in every detail. Wherever reasonably implied by the nature of the work, all materials shall be furnished and installed by the contractor as a part of his contract work. Any omissions from either the drawings or the specifications are unintentional and it shall be the responsibility of the contractor to include all such items and to provide and install all systems complete and in operable condition.

All contract drawings of any trade which may effect the location of any outlets, apparatus & equipment shall be consulted to avoid possible interferences and permit full coordination of all work.

All electrical equipment such as junction and pull boxes, panel boards, switches, controls and such other apparatus as may require maintenance and operation periodically shall be made easily accessible. Although the equipment may be shown on the drawings in certain locations, the construction may disclose the fact that such locations do not make its position readily accessible.

The contractor shall prepare detailed working drawings for approval to the Supervising Engineer. These drawings shall comply with and complement the contract drawings to the extent of showing the physical layout of all equipment, details of installations, materials and methods. No changes shall be made without the prior approval of the Supervising Engineer.

4. Manufacturer's Working Drawings

The contractor shall obtain manufacturers working drawings for all specialist items of equipment such as distribution boards, panel boards etc. and submit them to the Supervising Engineer for their approval before commencement of manufacture.

5. Record Drawings and Maintenance Manuals

On completion of the contract the contractor shall provide one set of record negatives on heavy duty PVC reproducible film and three sets of dye line prints of the works as installed. The drawings shall indicate the route and size of all conduits and cables installed whether buried or surface fixed type and rating of luminaires, details of the circuits used on all distribution board and the drawings showing all other services called for, in the electrical section. Schematic contract drawings shall also be submitted incorporating the details of any changes made during the contract.

The contractor shall also submit three copies in plastic covers of a maintenance and operating manual for specialist plant describing the maintenance routines, method of adjustment, typical fault finding routines and wiring diagrams. It shall also include a comprehend list of materials, accessories and equipment used in appropriate replacement part reference numbers.

6. Electrical Power Supply

Power will be 380/220V (or 415/240V), 3-phase, 60 Hz (or 50 Hz) with provision for utility connection. Distribution will be 380/220V (or 415/240V), 3-phase, 4-wire and 60 Hz (or 50 Hz).

7. Coordination with Supply Authority

The contractor shall coordinate with the local electricity supply authority to agree their precise requirements on the site and final details and positions for metering equipment, service connection etc.

The contractor shall also be responsible for advising the supply authority to when the permanent supply will be required for programming and progressing their activities on the site.

8. Location of Electrical Equipment

The location and dimension of electrical equipment shown on plans shall be considered as approximate and diagrammatic only. The contractor shall determine the exact location to meet the field conditions, avoid interference with other equipment and services or for other sufficient reasons. The mounting heights of electrical equipment where not indicated or detailed on the plans, shall be as noted below:

1. Convenience outlets, telephone outlets and television antenna outlets 300 mm above finished floor to bottom of the box.

2. Light switches, push button station, selector switches and all other toggle or control switches 1200 mm above finished floor to bottom of the box.

3. Panel boards for lighting, power, telephone and other auxiliary systems 2000 mm above finished floor to top of panel.

4. Disconnect switches, service switches and individually mounted starters and connector approximately 1500 mm above finished floor to center line.

5. Fire alarm pull station 1200 mm above finished floor to bottom of the box.

6. The mounting height for all equipment, except as noted shall be as recommended by the equipment manufacturer.

7. All switches, socket outlets and any other power outlets in the kitchen and toilet shall be mounted as 1200 mm above finished floor level.

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General Conditions And Requirements in Electrical Construction Contract

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Codes and standards: All electrical equipment, materials, installation and workmanship shall comply with the latest edition of the applicable codes and standards of any of these organization listed below: National Electric Code (NEC). Underwriter laboratories (UL). Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE). National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

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Information on the standards referenced throughout the Guide Specification, provisions for quality assurance for piping system installation and requirements for the delivery, storage and handling of materials referenced in the Guide Specification. The bulk of Part 1 is made up of Section 1.1, which is a list of the most common standards related to the manufacture of copper and copper alloy piping system products and materials. The standards included were written or published by the following:

ASTM International (ASTM - formerly American Society for Testing and Materials)

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

American Welding Society (AWS)

ASME International (ASME - formerly American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Manufacturers' Standardization Society (MSS)

Compressed Gas Association (CGA)

ASSE International (ASSE - formerly American Society of Sanitary Engineering)

The contents of this section are useful in determining whether the materials/products proposed for use in the piping system are manufactured in accordance with a nationally recognized standard, or if a component with a nationally recognized standard can be generically specified in its place.

Specific information on the pipes/tubes, fittings, and joining materials allowed under this Guide Specification. The majority of this section is comprised of information regarding the composition and usage of the different joining materials allowed for joining copper and copper alloys under this Guide Specification.

Installation methods and procedures allowed under this Guide Specification for the installation of copper and copper alloy piping systems. This includes information on alternate field-fabricated fittings/connections, requirements for piping joint construction, piping protection, and hanger and support spacing. This part also contains Section 3.3 - Pipe and Fitting Applications, which matches the common pipe/tube standards with the compatible fittings standards and options available for joining the two. The options outlined in this section are based on commercially available pipe/tube and fittings sizes and also consider the availability of components based on variables such as temper and schedule or type.

Minimum recommendations on pipe/tube, fittings and joints allowed for specific piping system applications. This Part also includes specific installation requirements as necessary for each piping system application. Recommendations are included for the following piping system applications:

water distribution piping systems
(above and below ground)

soil, waste and vent piping systems
(above and below ground)

storm drainage piping systems
(above and below ground)

hydronic heating piping systems
(above and below ground)

air conditioning and refrigeration piping systems

fuel gas distribution piping systems
(natural and LP gas)

fire sprinkler piping systems

non-flammable medical gas piping systems

medical vacuum piping systems

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Information on the standards referenced throughout the Guide Specification, provisions for quality assurance for piping system installation and requirements for the delivery, storage and handling of materials referenced in the Guide Specification. The bulk of Part 1 is made up of Section 1.1, which is a list of the most common standards related to the manufacture of copper and copper alloy piping system products and materials.