Writing Engineering Specifications

This concise guide to technical specifications leads the reader through the process of writing these instructions, with clear advice to help the student and professional avoid legal disputes or the problems caused by poor drafting.

Acknowledgements

ix

Introduction

1

(2)

Specifications in context

3

(26)

Introduction

3

(1)

Contracts and bargains

3

(10)

Tendering and negotiation

13

(6)

Hierarchy of documents

19

(2)

Degree of definition

21

(1)

Forms of payment

22

(3)

Financing

25

(1)

Incentives

25

(1)

Liquidated damages

26

(1)

Position of the Engineer

27

(2)

Recent developments and standard forms

29

(16)

Introduction

29

(1)

Industry reviews

29

(1)

Partnering

30

(2)

Supply-chain management

32

(1)

Framework agreements

32

(1)

The Internet in engineering contracts

33

(2)

Directives from the European Union

35

(1)

Industry standard forms

36

(9)

Presenting specifications

45

(21)

Before drafting

45

(1)

The form of contract

45

(1)

Technical and general specifications

46

(1)

Presentation

46

(1)

Style -- method or result?

47

(7)

Type of specification

54

(5)

Sources generally

59

(4)

Effects of size

63

(2)

Summary: style, type and source

65

(1)

The effect of specifications

66

(20)

The careful specifier

66

(1)

The influence of standard on cost

67

(1)

Approvals

68

(2)

Responsibility to the client

70

(1)

Responsibility to the contractor

71

(1)

Workmanship

72

(1)

Inconsistency

73

(1)

Errors

73

(1)

Specifications in subcontracts

74

(1)

Nominating suppliers and subcontractors

74

(1)

Other contractors on site

75

(1)

Obsolescence in specifications

75

(1)

The tender

76

(1)

Bills of quantities

77

(2)

Cost estimates

79

(1)

Measurement

79

(2)

Operation and maintenance manuals

81

(1)

Samples

82

(2)

Inspection services

84

(1)

Annotated specifications

84

(2)

Writing specifications

86

(31)

How to start

86

(1)

Beginnings, middles and ends

87

(1)

Sketching the plan

88

(1)

First plan to first draft

89

(1)

Handling input from others

89

(2)

From the general to the particular

91

(1)

Active and passive

92

(1)

Flow diagrams and logic

93

(1)

Interlocking workscopes

94

(1)

Use of definitions

95

(3)

Interpretation of lists

98

(1)

Paragraph structure

99

(1)

Types of sentence

100

(1)

Contents list

101

(1)

Cross-references

101

(1)

Accuracy and clarity in writing specifications

101

(16)

Grammar

117

(29)

Why grammar?

117

(1)

The eight parts of speech

118

(1)

Subject and predicate

118

(2)

Types of sentence

120

(1)

The object

121

(1)

Verbs

122

(7)

Phrases and clauses

129

(6)

Punctuation generally

135

(8)

Writing formulae

143

(1)

Numbers

144

(1)

Sentences and paragraphs

145

(1)

Model specifications and layout

146

(26)

Introduction

146

(1)

Document management

147

(1)

Model specifications

148

(24)

Claims

172

(18)

Introduction

172

(1)

Partnering

172

(1)

The claim -- what is it?

173

(1)

A specifier's role

174

(4)

Specification and modifications

178

(1)

Effects of correspondence

179

(1)

Warranty schedule

179

(1)

Insurance claims

180

(1)

Performance bonds and bank guarantees

181

(1)

Parent company guarantees

181

(1)

Submitting complete claims

182

(1)

Managing the claim: assembling evidence

182

(4)

Prevention of claims: change orders

186

(1)

Readiness to pursue claims

187

(1)

Alternative dispute resolution

187

(1)

Paraphrasing

188

(1)

Emotion

189

(1)

Conclusion

189

(1)

Appendix A

190

(2)

Appendix B

192

(3)

Appendix C

195

(1)

Notes

196

(1)

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Writing Engineering Specifications

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials