Specifier Course

The CSC Specifier course is a comprehensive overview of the construction specification profession in Canada. At the completion of the course, students will have a solid grasp of a specifier’s role, legal issues including contracts, bidding and disputes, writing style used in the profession and how to close out a project. A wide range of professional scenarios are explained, often using real-life examples.

 Skills acquired in this course include: 

• Understanding legal contracts

• Understanding the function of the project manual and associated drawings.

• Developing the basis for good specifications.

• Improved writing skills

• Understanding the process of researching and selecting products.

The CSC Specifier course continues from where the PCD course ends and is a more in-depth education on the special techniques and skills required to write the procurement and contractual requirements of: Division 00; the administrative, procedural and temporary requirements of Division 01; and the technical specifications of Divisions 02 – 49.

Completion of this course is mandatory in the process of becoming a Certified Specification Practitioner (CSP). It also reduces the number of hours required to become a Registered Specification Writer (RSW).

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Lesson 1 Introduction 

1          Introduction

2          Key Concepts

3          Learning Resources

Lesson 2 General Review  

1          Introduction

2          Professional Practice

3          Specifications

4          Contracts

5          Project Delivery Methods

6          Contractor’s Jurisdiction

Lesson 3 Types of Construction Contracts and Project Delivery Methods 

1          Introduction

2          Contracts

3          Project Delivery Methods

4          Delivery Management Types

5          Specifier’s Scope of Work

Lesson 4 Procurement and Contracting Requirements 

1          Introduction

2          Fairness

3          Bidders

4          Bidding and Procurement Documents

5          Bidding and Contract Law

6          Bidding Instructions

7          Contracts

8          Alternatives and Substitutions

9          Bid Evaluation

10       Contract Award

11       Post-Bid Negotiations or Rebidding

Lesson 5 Lien Legislation, Bonds, Insurance and Dispute Mechanisms 

1          Introduction

2          Lien Legislation

3          Bonding

4         Construction Insurance

5          Bonus, Penalty and Liquidated Damages

6          Disputes during the Project

Lesson 6 Specification Writing Basics: Grammar, Spelling and Conventions 

1          Introduction

2          Vocabulary

3          Spelling

4          Grammar

5          Style

Lesson 7 Specification Writing – Getting Started 

1          Introduction

2          Consistent Terminology

3          Drawings and Specifications

4          Interpreting Drawings

5          Schedules

6          Document Precedence

7          Specifications

8          Developing a Checklist

9          Preliminary Project Description and Outline Specifications

10       Client Requirements

11       Specifier’s Contribution

12       Coordingating with Division 01

Lesson 8 Writing From a Master Specification 

1          Introduction

2          Master Specifications

3          Advantages of Master Specifications

4          Commercially Prepared Masters

5          How to use a Master Specification

6          Creating an Office Master

7          Updating your Master

8          Practice Writing

Lesson 9 Writing Original Specification Sections 

1          Introduction

2          Original Specification Sections

3          Practice Writing

Lesson 10 Product Selection, Research and Assessment

1          Introduction

2          Procuring Project Information

3          Product Assessment and Interpreting Data

4          Selection of a Product by its Properities

5          Research New Products

6          Product Information and Format

7          Manufacturer’s Product Literature

8          Product Assessment and Comparison

Lesson 11 Codes and Standards 

1          Introduction

2          Laws

3          Codes, Regulations, Legislation and Acts

4          Standards

5          The Authority Having Jurisdiction

Lesson 12 Division 01 – Administrative and Procedural Requirements 

1          Introduction

2          General Information

3          Administration and Procedural Sections

4          Contract Changes

5          Submittals

6          Meetings

7          Coordination and Responsibility of the Contractor

8          Safety of the Project Site

Lesson 13 Division 01 – Temporary Facilities and Controls 

1          Introduction

2          Temporary Facilities and Controls Sections

Lesson 14 Division 01 – Performance Requirements and Life Cycle Activities 

1          Introduction

2          Product Requirements

3          Execution and Closeout

4          Performance Reuqirements

5          Life Cycle Activities

6          Start-Up, Demonstration and Testing

7          Owner Training and Demonstration

8          Operating and Maintenance Manual

9          Commissioning

10       Conclusion

Lesson 15 Relationships and Coordination – Divisions 00, 01 and Technical Sections 

1          Introduction

2          Relationship Between Divisions 00 and 01

3          Relationship and coordination of the Contract and the Front End

4          Contract Coordination

5          Coordination with Single and Mutilple Contracts

6          Other Issues

Lesson 16 Specifying Quality and Performance Requirements 

1          Introduction

2          Assessing Quality

3          Coordination with Division 01

4          Submittals

5          Performance Requirements

6          Mock-Ups

7          Warranties and Guarantees

Lesson 17 Specifying For Special Requirements

1          Introduction

2          Public Sector

3          Sustainable Design

4          Specifying Emerging Trends or New Products

5            Summary 

Students should have:

• Experience reading construction drawings;
• Experience reading construction specifications;
• Experiences researching construction materials;
• Experience researching construction reference standards.
• Or, Construction related Certification from a Technical College or University.

 To find out more about course offerings email info@csc-dcc.ca or click on the website of the Chapter nearest you.