specification
A specification is a specific description of a particular subject. An engineering specification contains detailed description of all workmanship and materials which are required to complete an engineering project in accordance with its drawing and details. The technical drawings of a structure will show the proportions and relative positions of the various components of the structure. Many a time it is not possible to furnish the information on the drawings, regarding the quality of materials to be used and the quality of workmanship to be achieved during construction, due to shortage of space. This data regarding the materials and workmanship is conveyed in a separate contract document which is known as the “specifications” for the work. Thus, the drawings with the specifications will completely define the structure. The specification is furnished separately along with drawings and is an essential part of all engineering contracts.
Necessity of specifications
- The cost of an unit quantity of work is governed by its specification.
- Specifications of a work are required to describe the quality and quantity of different materials required for a construction work and is one of the essential contract documents. Thus a contractor can make a program to procure the materials required for a project and the owner can check the quality of materials conforming to the specification avoiding dispute with contractor.
- This also specifies the workmanship and the method of doing the work. Thus specification of a work serves as a guide to the supervising staff of the contractor as well as to the owner to execute the work to their satisfaction.
- A work is carried out according to its specification and the contractor is paid for the same. Any change in specification changes the tendered rate.
- As the rate of a work is based on specification a contractor can calculate the rates of various items of works in a tender with his procurement rates of materials and labour. Thus tender paper without specifications of works is baseless, incomplete and invalid.
- Specification is necessary to specify the equipments, tools and plants to be engaged for a work and thus enables to procure them beforehand.
- The necessity of specification is to verify and check the strength of materials for a work involved in a project.
- Specification is an essential contract document and is required for Arbitration or court cases.
