Scope and delivery
Project location, building type, procurement and contracting approach, design milestones, and anticipated specification submission dates.
TECHNICAL RESOURCES
Useful guidance for better-coordinated specifications.
Practical information for architects and design teams preparing, reviewing, and coordinating architectural construction specifications.
PROJECT PREPARATION
What to provide when engaging a specification consultant.
A concise project brief and coordinated source information help establish the scope and support efficient specification development.
Project drawings, reports and supporting documentation
Current architectural drawings, details and schedules; relevant consultant drawings and specifications; and available owner-provided information, including geotechnical reports, hazardous materials assessments, building condition assessments, existing facility documentation, surveys, environmental reports, and other technical studies applicable to the project.
Materials and performance
Selected materials, basis-of-design products, building systems, performance criteria, project standards, and decisions still requiring consultant direction.
Scope and coordination
Division 00 and 01 responsibilities, consultant specification assignments, review procedures, owner standards, and applicable procurement requirements.
SPECIFICATION ORGANIZATION
MasterFormat and UniFormat: different purposes.
Architects looking for a specification writer may encounter terms such as CSI specifications, CSC specifications, construction specs and architectural specifications. In this context, CSI and CSC commonly refer to the MasterFormat classification system used to organize construction specifications; the actual section content, three-part format and required master specification system depend on the project and owner requirements.
MasterFormat
Think of MasterFormat as the Dewey Decimal System for construction. It provides a standardized classification system that organizes construction requirements into numbered divisions and sections according to work results. This consistent structure makes it easier for architects, consultants, contractors, and other project participants to locate, reference, and coordinate technical requirements within construction specifications.
Explore technical specifications ↗UniFormat
Think of UniFormat as a way of breaking a building down into its major parts, such as foundations, exterior walls, roofs, interiors, and mechanical and electrical systems.
Rather than focusing on individual construction materials, UniFormat organizes these parts according to the functions they perform. This helps architects and owners describe the building, compare design options, and estimate costs early in the design process, before specific materials and products have been selected.
Explore outline specifications ↗The appropriate format depends on the project's design stage, intended use, and client requirements.
DOCUMENT REVIEW
Questions worth resolving before a specification submission.
Are material selections consistent between drawings and specifications?
Check that key assemblies, finishes, products, performance criteria, and schedules are coordinated. Identify outstanding decisions for the responsible consultant.
Are responsibilities clear where systems and trades meet?
Review interfaces, related work, delegated design requirements, testing, and coordination responsibilities to reduce duplicated or conflicting requirements.
Are project-specific requirements addressed?
Consider jurisdictional requirements, owner standards, access restrictions, occupied-building conditions, phasing, security, and other project constraints where applicable.
Have comments and revisions been incorporated consistently?
Confirm that agreed changes have been reflected in affected sections and that unresolved items are identified for design-team direction before issue.
High-performance building specifications
Explore how architectural specifications support LEED, Passive House, energy-code compliance, sustainable material selection and Division 01 documentation.
Sustainability & High-Performance Building Specifications ↗