Construction specifications: a blueprint for delivering great work

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["b"],["a",["href","https:\/\/event.on24.com\/wcc\/r\/4188657\/C82D9B1DFA76685240595E2673C86D84","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.deltek.com\/en\/products\/specification-solutions\/architecture-and-engineering"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.deltek.com\/en\/blog\/customer-story-kingdom-design-group?sourceid=60\u0026utm_source=in-whitepaper-link\u0026utm_medium=Download\u0026utm_campaign=AEC-Spec-Best-Practices-2023\u0026partnerref=Download_in-whitepaper-link_AEC-Spec-Best-Practices-2023"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/articles\/6543733-proven-specification-strategies-that-deliv?sourceid=60\u0026utm_source=in-whitepaper-link\u0026utm_medium=Download\u0026utm_campaign=AEC-Spec-Best-Practices-2023\u0026partnerref=Download_in-whitepaper-link_AEC-Spec-Best-Practices-2023"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.deltek.com\/en\/architecture-and-engineering\/specification-solutions","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/info.deltek.com\/specpoint-demo-request?sourceid=20\u0026utm_source=Online\u0026utm_medium=Advertising\u0026utm_campaign=AEC-AIA-Blog-Drawing-Spec-2023\u0026partnerref=Advertising_Online_AEC-AIA-Blog-Drawing-Spec-2023"]]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Construction\nspecifications: a blueprint for delivering great work"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Design\nprofessionals\u0027 wealth of knowledge, experience, and technical expertise is\ncritical for developing high-quality, well-coordinated construction specifications.\nOver time, many A\u0026E firms can accumulate vast knowledge, experience, and\nindustry expertise. However, in many cases\u2014particularly if your company does\nnot have a way to record or preserve that information\u2014when an employee leaves\nthe company, valuable knowledge can be lost."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In this article,\nyou will learn three ways to increase knowledge across your practice that boosts\nproject efficiencies, foster greater collaboration, and sets up your company\nfor long-term success."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],0,"1. \n"],[0,[],1,"Cultivate better\ndecision-making"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Fostering an environment of best practices\nis ideal for any company. In addition, you enable better decision-making by\ncultivating a culture where learning from each other is part of the standard\nway of working."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Here are five resources for developing\na construction specification best practice:"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"1. A standard answer to the same problem or\nquestion during construction "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"2. Information or knowledge from past projects "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"3. Golden nuggets captured within the contract documents"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"4. A construction method or process"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"5. A lesson learned from a specification or\ndrawing"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Best Practices can also be proactive. For\nexample, an employee can identify a potential issue or question before it\narises and bring it to the decision-maker for the possible creation of a best\npractice. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Within a company, every employee\nshould have access to and be able to request a best practices document.\nHowever, not everyone should be able to contribute to those best practices.\nBest practices should have a dedicated point of contact to streamline the\nprocess. Having a point person ensures a best practices document is in a\nconsistent format for the reader. Best practices should be concise, to the\npoint, and easily accessible. Learn more in the educational webinar: "],[0,[1],1,"Increase Project Efficiencies with Best\nPractices"],[0,[],0,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"No matter the situation, employees\nshould always have access to their company\u2019s best practices. Furthermore, these\npractices should always be dynamic, change over time, and be frequently\nupdated."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],0,"2. "],[0,[],1,"Boost efficiency and competency"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],1,"Specification writing for construction\nprojects"],[0,[],0," is\nessential and time-consuming work. In them, the design professional stipulates,\nin full detail, the range of acceptable construction materials, manufacturers,\nand systems for every aspect of a construction project. To learn how an AE firm\nsaves time and leverages industry standards to simplify specification writing,\nlook at "],[0,[3],1,"Kingdom Design Group"],[0,[],0,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Developing architectural\nspecifications and best practices can\nboost efficiencies and increase competencies. Here are examples of best\npractices:"]]],[3,"ul",[[[0,[],0,"\n"],[0,[0],1,"Design\nstandard"],[0,[],0," - Always place the resistive weather\nbarrier behind the continuous insulation. Only specify tamper-resistant screws\non educational projects. "]],[[0,[0],1,"Revit\nTemplate\/families"],[0,[],0," - Use 14-gauge\nhollow metal doors for education projects and families with hospital stop frames\nfor hospitals. When creating an ornamental fence, do not use curtain wall\nmullions; instead, use an ornamental family."]],[[0,[],0,"\n"],[0,[0],1,"Manufacturers\nand product types"],[0,[],0," - Only specify\nManufacturer A on projects from this owner\/developer. Only use impermeable\nweather resistive barriers on projects in climate zone X. Always specify an\nASTM F3010-compliant moisture mitigation product."]],[[0,[0],1,"Construction\nadministrative requirements"],[0,[],0," \u2013 Always\nrequire the contractor to submit installer requirements and require\npre-installation meetings on these products. For Division 01 requirements, you\nmay have specific Division 01 sections depending on if the project is\ndesign-build, design-bid-build, construction management, etc."]],[[0,[],0," "],[0,[0],1,"Assembly\ncomposition"],[0,[],0," \u2013 With the\ncement plaster assembly, always specify thermal insulation \u003E exterior\nsheathing \u003E resistive weather barrier \u003E continuous insulation \u003E lath\n\u003E plaster."]]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"3. A better way of collaborating"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Collaboration begins the\nmoment you start planning a project. Cooperatively working with one another using\nresources to foster a collaborative environment means the project will benefit\nthe client. Learn about construction specification strategies that deliver\nbetter-built projects in this "],[0,[4],1,"article"],[0,[],0,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"By sharing information\nand knowledge, we can break down the silos within the industry. It takes communication to understand the goals\nof each stakeholder in the project. The values and plans may need to align, but\neveryone can get on the same page by understanding and communicating. Sharing\nbest practices supports better decision-making and minimizes\nproject issues. Project teams that adopt a\ncollaboration mindset based on best practices will reap many benefits,\nincluding:"]]],[3,"ul",[[[0,[],0,"Fewer\nchanges and rework"]],[[0,[],0,"On-time\nproject delivery"]],[[0,[],0,"Projects\nthat stay on-budget"]],[[0,[],0,"Fewer\ncontract disputes"]],[[0,[],0,"Happier\nowners and other project stakeholders"]]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Conclusion"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Sharing\nbest practices across your organization is an excellent way to improve overall\nperformance and productivity. Regardless of the size of your group, team, or\ncompany, capturing and communicating your team\u0027s experiences and knowledge will\naccelerate learning for all involved. No matter their level of experience,\neveryone has something to share. Invite your employees to share their best\npractices. You never know who might come up with the newest and best idea."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Explore\nthe Possibilities "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The AEC industry is reshaping how it builds\nand manages projects, which means implementing modern technology. Deltek and\nAIA have teamed up to deliver"],[0,[5],1," Deltek Specpoint, home of AIA\nMasterSpec\u00ae,"],[0,[],0," which consists of comprehensive online\nbuilding product research and selection content combined with a streamlined\nspecification design and publishing tool that pulls from decades of experience\nserving the industry\u2019s specialized needs. Learn more "],[0,[6],1,"here"],[0,[],0,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"About Deltek"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Better software means better projects. Deltek\nis the leading global enterprise software and information solutions provider\nfor project-based businesses. More than 30,000 organizations and millions of\nusers in over eighty countries worldwide rely on Deltek for superior project\nintelligence, management, and collaboration. This includes over 11,000\narchitecture and engineering firms, representing 80% of the Engineering\nNews-Record (ENR) Top 500."]]]]}