Project Specifications

A project specification is an essential part of the design, and states how the work should be executed to ensure that it meets the designer’s assumptions. Each project generally requires its own project specification. In the simplest terms this might be an engineer’s drawing with the specification written as notes on the drawing. On more complex projects the project specification is usually issued as a separate contract document.

The project specification should ideally conform to well-recognised ‘standard’ specifications, e.g. the National Structural Steelwork Specification for Building Construction (NSSS) and the Model Project Specification for the Execution of Steelwork in Bridge Structures. These have been developed by industry to reflect best practice, and their use will reduce uncertainty and minimise cost.

Information Sources:

• National Structural Steelwork Specification for Building Construction, (5th Edition), The British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd. and The SCI, 2007.
• Commentary on the NSSS for Building Construction, (4th Edition), The British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd. and The SCI, 2003.
• Model Project Specification for the Execution of Steelwork in Bridge Structures, The Steel Construction Institute, 2008.
• Steel Buildings, Chapter 15, The British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd., 2003.