Topic 8: Calculations and Specifications

Calculation and specification

Vital aspects of technical documentation. They ensure that the design, materials, and methods are accurately defined, properly measured, and systematically planned

Calculations

Provide the quantitative basis for determining the size, dimensions, and quantities of construction elements

Used by engineers to determine the loads that a building must withstand and the properties of members that comprise its structure

Specifications

Describe the quality, standards, and procedures to be followed

Building load

Force that a home frame must be able to withstand

Frame

Made up of a collection of carefully spaced-apart beams and columns that is used to build multi story buildings

Column

Vertical load-bearing component in building structure, which is mainly designed to carry the compressive axial and buckling load

Beam

Horizontal structural member in building construction, which is designed to carry shear force, bending moment, and transfer the load to columns on both ends of it.

Walls

An upright structure made of masonry, wood, plaster, or another material used to enclose, divide, or another protect a space, especially one that is vertical and serves as the interior or exterior siding of a building

Slab

Level structural element of building which provided to create a flat hard surface

Factor of Safety

This ensures that the building can perform safely and reliably throughout its design life.

Bill of Materials

Detailed list of all materials, quantities, and costs needed for a project

Specification

A written document describing in detail the scope of work, materials to be used, methods of installation, and quality of workmanship for a parcel of work to be placed under contract; usually utilized in conjunction with working (contract) drawings in building construction

Specification

Written documents that describe the materials and workmanship required for a development

Prescriptive specification

It conveys the requirements of a project through a detailed explanation of the materials that the contractor must use, and the means of installing those materials.

General

Consists of information such as national quality standards, product handling, design requirements, and keeping quality control.

Products

Describe in detail the various products required for the task covered by the Specification along with the individual structural and performance requirements of each product.

Execution

Explain how to prepare the materials and conduct the installation, including the testing requirements to be followed

Performance specification

Discuss the operational requirements of a project. It details what the final installed product has capable of doing.

Propriety specification

Requires the use of a single approved product type for any particular installation. It is often used in cases where there is an existing equipment or installation on site. The specific brand or product

Prescriptive Specification

Performance Specification

Proprietary Specification

Types of Specification

Construction specifications

Crucial documents that work alongside drawings to guide a building project

General Specifications

Commonly used in commercial and residential work.

They provide information on products, materials, installation processes, and quality testing standards without specifying a particular manufacturer.

Detailed Specifications

More precise, covering every aspect of construction, down to the number of screws used

General Specifications

Detailed Specifications

Types of Construction Specifications

Standard Specifications

Cover common requirements like flooring materials or steel thickness that can be used across similar projects.

Special Specifications

Used for unique or complex situations, such as installing a specific brand of windows, and require approval from key stakeholders

Serve as a Blueprint

Help Control Costs

Promote Quality

Importance of Specification