lOMoARcPSD|37162916

Building Technology 4 - Specifications Writing and Quantity

Surveying
Architectural Reviewers (Technological Institute of the Philippines)

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BUILDING TECHNOLOY 4 – SPECIFICATIONS WRITING AND QUANTITY SURVEYING

MODULE 1: SPECIFICATIONS WRITING A format developed by the Construction Specifications

Institute for coordinating specifications, filing of technical
Definition and Types of Specifications data and product literature, and construction cost
SPECIFICATIONS accounting, organized into 16 divisions based on an
interrelationship of material, trade, or function.
The part of the contract documents consisting of a
detailed description of the technical nature of the 16-DIVISION UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION INDEX
materials, standards, and quality of execution of the work Division 1: General Requirements
to be placed under contract.
Division 2: Site Work
TYPES OF SPECIFICATIONS
Division 3: Concrete
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION
Division 4: Masonry
A specification that stipulates how a particular
component or system must perform without giving the Division 5: Metals
means to be employed to achieve the results.
Division 6: Wood and Plastics
DESCRIPTIVE SPECIFICATION
Division 7: Thermal and Moisture Protection
A specification that stipulates the exact quantities and
qualities of materials to be furnished and how they are to Division 8: Doors and Windows
be assembled in a construction. Division 9: Finishes
REFERENCE SPECIFICATION Division 10: Specialties
A specification that refers to a standard specification to Division 11: Equipment
indicate the properties desired in a material or
component and the methods of testing required to Division 12: Furnishings
substantiate the performance of products.
Division 13: Special Construction
PROPRIETARY SPECIFICATION
Division 14: Conveying Systems
A specification that stipulates the use of specific
Division 15: Mechanical
products, systems, or processes without provision for
substitution. Division 16: Electrical
Specification Writing Techniques ADVANTAGES OF 16-DIVISION FORMAT
WRITING STYLE  Provide a standard, fixed framework for organizing
specifications.
 Be accurate, brief and clear.
 Serves as a sequencing guide for arranging
 Avoid complex sentences and stilted (artificially specification sections. Provides easy retrieval of
formal) language. information.
 Provides easy retrieval of information.
 Use simple sentences and common words.
MODULE 2: ESTIMATING CIVIL WORKS
SENTENCE FORM
Means any works where the greater proportion of the
 Form simple declarative sentences or imperative works involves earthworks, the construction of bridges,
statements. dams and the like, but excluding works involving the
EXAMPLE: “Place a label on the front of the data outlet construction of a building, electrical and mechanical
face plate.” plant.

 Do not write in the indicative form. Excavation

EXAMPLE: “Contractor shall place a label on the front of The digging or removal of earth from its natural position,
the data outlet face plates.” or the cavity resulting from such removal.

 Start with a verb. A word of action.

SPECIFICATION LANGUAGE

 Words to avoid: ALL, ANY, EVERY, SHOULD,

COULD, PLEASE, MUST, IS TO.

 Terms should be defined in the contract.

Furnish: to supply and deliver to the project site, ready

to install.

Install: to place in position for service or use.

Provide: to furnish and install, complete, ready for use.

 Avoid using abbreviations in the body of a

specification.

 Every word in a specification is important. Do not

underline, bold, italicize, highlight. Backfill
Uniform System (Master Format)

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BUILDING TECHNOLOY 4 – SPECIFICATIONS WRITING AND QUANTITY SURVEYING

To refill an excavation with earth, stone, or other Estimating Masonry Works

material, esp. the space around exterior foundation
walls. Masonry

The required gravel bedding must be considered in the Building with units of various natural manufactured
computation for backfill. products, as stone, brick, or concrete block, usually with
the use of mortar as the binding agent.
Estimating Structural Works
Concrete Masonry Unit
THE MATERIALS IN CONCRETE
A precast masonry unit of Portland cement, fine
Concrete is a mixture of cement, paste, fine and coarse aggregate, and water, molded into various shapes.
aggregates. The cement paste consists of cement and
water which bind the fine and coarse aggregates. When Concrete Block
the mixture has sufficiently set, takes on the A hollow or solid concrete masonry unit, often incorrectly
characteristics of hard stone. referred to as cement block.
The fine aggregates in concrete should consist of natural Estimating Roofing Works
sand or inert material with similar characteristics, having
clean, hard and durable, grains, free from organic Roofing
matters or loam.
Any of the various water-resistant materials, as shingles,
The coarse aggregate should consist of crushed rocks of slates, or tiles, laid on a roof to shed or drain rainwater.
durable and strong qualities, or clean and hard gravel.
Ridge Cap
The size of the coarse aggregates varies from 20 mm to
38 mm (3/4 in. to 1 -1/2 in.) in diameter. A course or layer of roofing material covering the ridge of
a roof.
Water to be used for mixing concrete should be clean
and free from oil, acids, alkalis, salt and other organic Gutter
matter.
A channel of metal or wood at the eaves or on the roof of
Concrete Proportioning a building, for carrying off rainwater.

Flashing

Pieces of sheet metal or other thin, impervious material

installed to prevent the passage of water into a structure
from an angle or joint.

Roofing Sheets of Various Lengths

Corrugated galvanized iron, aluminum, fiberglass, long

span pre-painted steel and cement asbestos sheets are
some examples of roofing materials manufactured in
various lengths. Based from the spans of the rafters or
trusses, the most suitable measurements of roofing
panels are chosen. These are indicated in the detail
drawings of the roof construction

The roof covering may consist of a single row of long-

span roofing as shown on the left portion of the roof in
Fig. F-2, or of two or more short layers of corrugated
G.I., aluminum, etc., as shown on the right side. L 1, L2,
L3 and L4 represent the 4 layers of roofing sheets used.
The layered panels may have uniform or of different
lengths.

METAL REINFORCEMENT

Steel is the most widely used reinforcing materials for

almost all types of concrete construction. In estimating
the quantity of steel reinforcing bars, one has to consider
the additional length for the hook, the bend and the
splice whose length varies depending upon the
limitations as prescribed by the National Building Code.

MODULE 3: ESTIMATING ARCHITECTURAL

MATERIALS AND FINISHES Formula for Estimating Roofing Sheets

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BUILDING TECHNOLOY 4 – SPECIFICATIONS WRITING AND QUANTITY SURVEYING
The data needed in estimating the roofing materials are
their effective widths and the length in which they are
available .in the market. And, to estimate the number of
roofing sheets per layer horizontally on a shed, gable or
butterfly roof, the rule to follow is:
The standard lengths of ordinary corrugated GI sheets
range from 1.80 meters (6') to 3.60 meters (12'). When
used on steep roofs, the minimum end laps between
sheets should be 0.25 meter and 0.30 meter for roofs
with moderate slope, respectively.
The standard width of corrugated GI sheets is 0.81
meter (32"). Allowing a side lap of 0.10 meter between
sheets, the effective width of each is 0.72 meter.
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Estimating Plain G.I. Fascia, Flashing, Ridge Roll
and Valleys
For estimating the number of ready-made plain G.I.
fascia flashings, ridge or hip rolls and valley with
the standard length of 2.40 meters (8 feet), use the
formula:
Length of Installation refers to the total length in meters,
of the roof parts to be fitted with the roofing accessory
mentioned above. The denominator 2.10 meters is the
effective length of each accessory after deducting 0.30m
(12") as end lap between joined pieces. The length of
fascia flashings at gable roof ends and those of hip rolls
and valleys should be based on their sloped
measurement. In this connection, it is advisable to plot,
even only roughly, at scab 1:20 meters the spans and
inclinations of the hips and valleys and get their correct
length with the used a scale. It is not correct to take their
measurements directly from the roof framing plans. For
the sloping fascia flashings used at gable roof ends, their
length can be measured with a scale from the elevation
drawings or from the length of rafters or top chords of
trusses.
Estimating Ceiling Works
Ceiling
The overhead interior surface or lining of a room, often
concealing the underside of the floor or roof above.
Drop Ceiling
A secondary ceiling formed to provide space for piping or
ductwork, or to alter the proportions of a room.
Suspended Ceiling
A ceiling suspended from an overhead floor or roof
structure to provide space for pipes, ductwork, lighting
fixtures, or other service equipment.
Ceiling and Partition Boards
A rule of thumb formula for calculating the number of
boards required for ceiling and partition is:
Dividing the area of the partition or ceiling by the area of
one board gives the exact number of boards required if
there is no waste of material, whatsoever. It is therefore
multiplied by 1. I0 to add 10% as margin for wastage.
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BUILDING TECHNOLOY 4 – SPECIFICATIONS WRITING AND QUANTITY SURVEYING

MODULE 4: ESTIMATING ARCHITECTURAL

MATERIALS AND FINISHES

MODULE 5: ESTIMATING ELECTRICAL MATERIALS

MODULE 6: ESTIMATING PLUMBING FIXTURES AND

MATERIALS

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