Design and Specification Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is a specification?
Specifications describe the materials and workmanship required for the project. They do not include costs, quantities or drawn information and need to be read alongside other information such as:-
Bill of Quantities, Schedules & Drawings
Specifications vary depending on the project. Performance Specifications gives suppliers more scope to innovate and adapt cost effective solutions. Prescriptive Specifications provide suppliers with a full design resulting in improved client certainty but create less opportunity for contractor innovation. Proprietary Specifications give reference to a single type of product to be used resulting in complete client certainty whilst sacrificing contractor innovation.
What are the main sections of a specification?
- Prelims
- Materials and Workmanship
- Schedule of Works
What is the RIBA Plan of Work?
It is produced by the Royal Institute of British Architects and describes the stages necessary to complete the briefing, design, construction and operation of a building.
The plan of work outlines the stages, core tasks and information required at each stage.
What is a Schedule of Work?
A schedule of works provides an instructional list of the works required. The schedule should allow the contractor to identify any significant work and materials that will be required. References to requirements around quality criteria are provided through supporting specifications. The location and size of the project is provided on accompanying drawings.
What are Provisional Quantities?
A ‘provisional quantity’ refers to an estimated quantity of work required to complete a construction project where the exact amount required cannot be determined at the time of tendering. This is often due to unknown factors around the design or site conditions. Provisional quantities are usually included within the contract sum and are subject to adjustment once more information is made available during the project which allows an accurate quantity to be determined.
What is a Provisional Sum?
A provisional sum is an allowance (or best guess), usually estimated by a cost consultant, that is inserted into tender documents for a specific element of the works that is not yet defined in enough detail for tenderers to accurately price.
Defined - those which have been described in sufficient detail that the contractor is expected to have made allowance for them
Undefined - less well described and so the contractor cannot be expected to make allowance for them
What is a Schedule of Rates?
A schedule of rates is used when the nature of the work is known but cannot be quantified. In the absence of an estimate, the contractor will provide unit rates against the items that are intended to cover all likely activities that might form part of the works. As the extent of the works is unknown, the rates are used to provide for overheads, profit and general prelims such as scaffold, power, supervision and welfare. On projects longer than 18 months, escalation provisions may apply which are based on annual percentage increases or stipulated indices.
What is a Designers Risk Assessment?
Designers Risk Assessments are used by designers to identify hazards or any hazardous activities in order to eliminate or reduce them. Through their use, the risks identified are aimed to be designed out at the design stage and those that cannot be omitted are highlighted for mitigation where possible. The HSE publish a red, amber, green list to assist designers in ascertaining what should be encouraged or eliminated.
What are the Building Control Performance Standards?
The Building regulations set the standards to be achieved within the construction of Buildings. The Building Control performance standards are produced by the Building Control Performance Advisory Group which help ensure uniformity between local authorities and approved inspectors to adopt a consistent approach when assessing compliance with the standards.
The performance standards are made up of:-
- Policy Performance and Management Systems.
- Resources.
- Consultation.
- Pre-application contact and provision of advice.
- Assessment of plans.
- Site Inspection.
- Communications and Records.
- Business and professional Ethics.
- Complaints Procedure.
