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What is SpecList?
SpecList is a new concept for building construction projects that will ideally begin in the design phase. The premise of SpecList is to replace specification sections with checklists. Each specification checklist includes the same information as the specification would, but it is reformatted to be database friendly. This allows the critical specification requirements to be simply outlined and thus, easier for the contractor to understand and easier for the designer to back-check. It also allows the design information for each building component to be stored in a database. This includes the General, Product and Execution requirements.
What would such a SpecList look like?
Let's start with the three specification sections:
General
Often, the General section of the specification outlines a summary of the specification section. However, it commonly lists the submittal requirements from the beginning of construction to the end, such as product data, shop drawings, installer qualifications, warranty, as-builts, etc. A checklist for these items can track their submittal history, without the details of comments or responses. (Comments and responses can be stored elsewhere.)
Products
This section is often represented on Pre-Functional Checklists as the Model Verification section. Reformatting this section as a checklist and putting it into a data base makes for extremely easy comparison during the submittal review process. The design has already highlighted the critical product information which is now listed outright for the contractor to verify is incorporated into their product selection.
Installation
This is the section that is typically represented in a Pre-Functional Checklist or an Installation Checklist. The only reason that SpecList is different is that the checklist is customized by the designer during the design phase. As the components are installed, each step can be checked off by the contractor and double checked by the designer during construction administration.
Quality Control
Quality control tests can be located in any of these sections. Quality control tests can be performed by 3rd parties or contractors. They can be submitted to the design team or witnessed by the design team. These different options require flexibility in order to be tracked via checklist. To track them properly and in full detail, these can be separated from the three sections above and tracked as individual checklist items.
General
Often, the General section of the specification outlines a summary of the specification section. However, it commonly lists the submittal requirements from the beginning of construction to the end, such as product data, shop drawings, installer qualifications, warranty, as-builts, etc. A checklist for these items can track their submittal history, without the details of comments or responses. (Comments and responses can be stored elsewhere.)
Products
This section is often represented on Pre-Functional Checklists as the Model Verification section. Reformatting this section as a checklist and putting it into a data base makes for extremely easy comparison during the submittal review process. The design has already highlighted the critical product information which is now listed outright for the contractor to verify is incorporated into their product selection.
Installation
This is the section that is typically represented in a Pre-Functional Checklist or an Installation Checklist. The only reason that SpecList is different is that the checklist is customized by the designer during the design phase. As the components are installed, each step can be checked off by the contractor and double checked by the designer during construction administration.
Quality Control
Quality control tests can be located in any of these sections. Quality control tests can be performed by 3rd parties or contractors. They can be submitted to the design team or witnessed by the design team. These different options require flexibility in order to be tracked via checklist. To track them properly and in full detail, these can be separated from the three sections above and tracked as individual checklist items.
How does this make things easier?
There are a few ways this makes the construction process easier. As SpecList grows, completion of checklists becomes even easier.
SpecList is stored in a database. This allows each construction component to be stored and tracked. As submittals are sent by the sub-contractors and construction managers, they are automatically tracked and dated. As submittals are entered into the system, the submitted products are automatically compared to the design products and the differences are highlighted to the designer. If there are no differences, the products are automatically accepted. The information is constantly tracked and can be polled for reports or back-check at any time.
SpecList is database oriented and continues to grow. For every SpecList that is created, it can be reused again and again any time that product is selected by the designer. The only information that changes is the operational characteristics which would normally be listed on the equipment schedule. Designers can create their own database of SpecLists for the products they use regularly. Owners can do the same if there are products they prefer and often Owner's utilize different designers. SpecList can be mixed and matched in any project. An Owner's SpecList can be printed and inserted into the Architect's or Engineer's construction documents. The sections that are created as SpecLists can still be managed through the database.
Imagine a component being selected and utilized by the design team as the basis of design. SpecList can be provided by the manufacturer for this product. If the contractor chooses to utilize the same product, the submitted SpecList matches the design SpecList and the database can be set to automatically accept the submittal.
SpecList is stored in a database. This allows each construction component to be stored and tracked. As submittals are sent by the sub-contractors and construction managers, they are automatically tracked and dated. As submittals are entered into the system, the submitted products are automatically compared to the design products and the differences are highlighted to the designer. If there are no differences, the products are automatically accepted. The information is constantly tracked and can be polled for reports or back-check at any time.
SpecList is database oriented and continues to grow. For every SpecList that is created, it can be reused again and again any time that product is selected by the designer. The only information that changes is the operational characteristics which would normally be listed on the equipment schedule. Designers can create their own database of SpecLists for the products they use regularly. Owners can do the same if there are products they prefer and often Owner's utilize different designers. SpecList can be mixed and matched in any project. An Owner's SpecList can be printed and inserted into the Architect's or Engineer's construction documents. The sections that are created as SpecLists can still be managed through the database.
Imagine a component being selected and utilized by the design team as the basis of design. SpecList can be provided by the manufacturer for this product. If the contractor chooses to utilize the same product, the submitted SpecList matches the design SpecList and the database can be set to automatically accept the submittal.