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quick links
Googling For Specs
  • Don't bother with the terms "specification" or "architecture", too much computer architecture stuff has specs.
  • Most specs still use the 1995 Masterformat number; if you don't know that, search for the product name instead.
  • The words "PART 2" in quotes, along with a subject matter term, will often get true 3-PART specs as opposed to other really useless stuff.
Specifiers' Library Spec Collections Available Free of Charge
THE PATH TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS

When you need to prepare a spec on a subject that is not included in SpecLink, look first for a similar spec in SpecLink that can be modified. If none is close enough, there are two basic options: 1) get a spec from someone else, or 2) invent it yourself. Since option 1 is so much easier, we've compiled some sources of specs that the authors are giving away. Besides these collections, most building product manufacturers provide a spec describing their products, which is a starting point at least. And you might be surprised what you can find with a simple Google search.

When using a spec prepared by someone else, be sure you understand the underlying assumptions – not necessarily apparent to the reader. The sources listed here all assume that the building project is being constructed in the USA (or from US products, under US conditions) and that the assumed project delivery method is "design-bid-build", competitively bid, single prime contractor, with an agreement and general conditions like those published by AIA, EJCDC, ConsensusDOCS, or DBIA - unless otherwise indicated.

The term "master guide" specification is usually used to refer to specification text that is prepared with the intention that it be edited or customized for specific projects. Master guide specifications usually include more than one way to specify the same product and include as many installation options as seem appropriate to the authors. Because master guide specifications include options for flexibility, no master guide specification should be considered complete or even internally consistent in its unedited form. 

The term "sample" specification is usually used to refer to specification text that is an example of how to prepare a specification for a particular product and application.

Project specifications (i.e. prepared for a specific project) can also be used for another project. Be aware that the author of the original spec considers that project specification his intellectual property. Re-using project specs usually requires a lot of caution, because options not needed for that project have been deleted (by the way, this doesn't happpen when using SpecLink).

Building product manufacturers often provide master guide specifications based on their own products. Many understand and follow CSI's 3-PART Format and recommended practices -- many do not. Word processing files are commonly very poorly formatted, making formatting to suit the project requirements or importing into SpecLink time-consuming.

SpecLink referenced document If you can get a spec as a word processing file, you can usually import it into SpecLink very quickly. If you have a choice of formats, RTF or Doc are best; HTM and PDF are almost impossible without retyping. See User Manual Chapter 4 for details.

National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)

  • www.wbdg.org/ccb
  • Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS) (NAVFAC, COE, and Air Force) and NASA: PDF and SpecsIntact-editable files.
  • Other Agencies: Various word processing formats.

This website contains the design standards and guide specifications of many U.S. government agencies that contract for construction, including NASA, NAVFAC, the Corps of Engineers, Department of Veterans Affairs, the Bureau of Reclamation, and others. This is the only way to obtain the guide specifications those agencies require A/E's to use.

These all assume Federal agency contracting documents and the Contracting Officer role not normally used in private work. The specification contents and style are oriented to the type of work of the specific agency.

These specs can be used in two ways: 1) print the PDFs and re-type them (or find a way to hack the PDF files), or 2) use the SpecsIntact proprietary word processor which is free for the download. If you need a lot of these specs it might be worth the effort to install it and use its Word export function. (The name SpecsIntact refers to the word processor but is also commonly erroneously used to refer to the spec contents. The word processor is so awful that no one who doesn't have to uses it. Its main utility resides in its project management and reporting facilities, which, if not required for government purposes, are not essential.)

SpecLink referenced document SpecLink eliminates many of the problems that the SpecsIntact word processor provides utilities for, including reference standard reconciliation and consolidation, cross reference reconciliation, submittal reports, and automatically generating a Table of Contents. SpecLink also eliminates the massive file management headache of dealing with dozens of individual files.

ARCAT, Inc.

This is a collection of building product manufacturers' proprietary specifications. Coverage of subject matter is spotty and is mostly limited to product types that tend to have proprietary features. You're not likely to find specs on types of work that requires products from a number of different manufacturers. Like all proprietary (or "brand name") specs, the manufacturers control the content, but the manufacturer-specific text can often be deleted.

Download the RTF format – the styles used in the documents minimize the cleanup required before importing.

Reed Construction Data, Manu-Spec®

This is a collection of building product manufacturers' proprietary specifications. Two methods of specifying are typically used in each section:  pure proprietary (brand names only) and descriptive proprietary (sole source). Although the official name of this service is "CSI's Manu-Spec", CSI no longer controls it.

Download the DOC format – the styles used in the documents minimize the cleanup required before importing – you will still have to save as RTF first.

The SpecLink Specifiers' Library is provided as a service to our customers by Building Systems Design, Inc. Sources of information and costs are subject to change.