Outline specs - useful or not?
Future Outline Specs?
Easy to produce
Concise major materials list
Document important project aspects
Set criteria for construction documents
WHY?
WHEN?
WHAT?
Design decisions
Materials, products & systems descriptions
Special conditions & requirements
Conditions affecting cost & quality
Explain project to owner and lenders
Update SD pricing
Checklist for construction documents
Terminology coordination between specs and drawings
Contractual requirement
AIA B101 & EJCDC E-500
Design Development, usually
Schematic Design, occasionally
HOW?
Organized by MasterFormat
More than a table of contents
3-Part SectionFormat not required
Level 2 titles & streamlining writing style
EXAMPLE!
CSI Project Resource Manual (PRM)
Masterspec
SPECTEXT
PRM Outline Article Titles
System Description
Submittals
Quality Assurance
Warranty
Components
Fabrication
Preparation
Installation
Field Quality Control
Schedules
Figure 4.9-A page 4.47
PRM Outline Spec
Figure 4.9-B page 4.48
PRM 5.8.11 Streamlining
Adhesive: Spread with notched trowel
Equipment: Install plumb and level
Portland Cement: ASTM C 150, Type I
Aggregate: ASTM C 33
Air Entraining Agent: More-Air Brand, More-X Manufactureing Co.
CSI Project Resource Manual (PRM) 4.9.1
Reduce Verbiage, especially product descriptions
WHO?
Architect
Engineers
Specialty Consultants
Civil Engineer
Landscape Architect
Structural Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Plumbing Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Interior Designer
Food Service
Security
Audio Visual
Lighting
Vertical Transportation
are the authors
are outlines written
are outlines written
are outlines written
outline specifications
do outlines include
ALTERNATIVES?
Preliminary Project Descriptions
Multi-Purposed Specifications
Group Poll #2
What outline example most closely matches your typical project?
PRM using article titles
PRM using MasterFormat Level 2 titles
Masterspec
SPECTEXT
None; I use something entirely different
Group Poll #1
For your typical projects, outline specs are...
Always produced and used
Sometimes produced and used
Produced, but rarely used
Seldom produced and used
Never produced

Group Poll #3
What outline spec alternative do you favor, if any?
PRO!
CON!
for traditional outlines
for traditional outlines
Inconsistent approach by all consultants
Few basis of design products are named
Throw away document
Reqiures duplicated effort
Limited continued use

Group Poll #4
Will traditional outline specs continue to be produced as a design deliverable?
Absolutely
Probably
Doubtful
Absolutely not

Advantages
Easily understood by owner and lenders
Can be used for all design phases
Follows preliminary estimating format
Document design process
Record options and decisions
Quality control checklist
Advantages
Create information once
Use single source document throughout
Easily add or remove data
Make decisions in context of full spec
Word Processing Example
Spreadsheet Example
Spreadsheet Pivot Table Extraction
Hidden text shown in blue shading for easier recognition
Word processing hidden text produces non-sequential numbering
CSI Specifying Practice Group
Disadvantages, if any?
Design-Bid-Build Delivery Method
Negotiated or Design-Build Delivery Method
Schematic Design, often
Design Development, major CD specs written
Multi-purposed specifications
Preliminary project descriptions
Something entirely different
None, outlines are useful as they are