Introduction to Specifications: General Considerations and Division 1

Publisher Summary This chapter gives a general overview of the specifications and their importance in construction of an animal facility. Specifications describe how the project is administered, what products are provided, how they are installed, how they are tested, how building systems are engineered, how quality is safeguarded, and how the project is to be closed-out and finished. Specifications contain a great deal of critical information, such as final finishes for walls, floors and ceilings, equipment selections, options and accessories, engineering-system performance criteria, quality assurance procedures, product substitution options, construction sequences that safeguard quality, and scheduling and safeguards for renovations within an occupied facility. A facility director and veterinary professional should know all aspects of all elements of a building that will affect their ability to provide a quality operational environment. While it is good to trust the architect, engineer, and contractor, it is better to verify critical decisions personally. The specifications are crucial to knowing and verifying many of the critical decisions of the project.