What Are Sheet Specs? Exploring These Powerful Documents

Construction specifications are a fundamental element of complex construction projects. They provide the necessary guidelines to bring the project to life with the expected results. However, spec writing is a challenging task. Even with the support of software and digital technologies, the process requires resources, time, and expertise. Considering that, generating detailed specs is not always worth it for projects with a limited scope as the time and monetary resources to develop them might not be worth it.

That being said, as more and more organizations realize the value of specs, decision-makers in small-scope projects require solutions that can give them the benefits of specifications without the effort of generating a huge document. That is where sheet specs come in. This invaluable document is revolutionizing how stakeholders communicate the requirements of small projects to prevent misinterpretations that can lead to costly mistakes.

Keep reading to learn everything about this powerful feature that is now available in RIB SpecLink.

What Are Sheet Specifications?

Sheet specifications are project specifications formatted and placed on one or more drawing sheets. You may hear them referred to as “sheet specs” or “specs on drawings.” They are used in limited-scope projects like renovations or small jobs where the contractor is known.

While the practice has existed for years, sheet specifications are growing in popularity for certain types of commercial construction projects – primarily small projects or renovation jobs that don’t require a full manual but still require more detail than what the current short form provides.

The issue with sheet specs is that even though they have been used for many years, they are not always appropriately developed, leading decision-makers from small projects to skip specs altogether. However, with the changing regulatory landscape of our industry, even the smallest projects need to have something to support the scope and requirements that are agreed upon with contractors, which is why construction specification tools like RIB SpecLink are starting to offer this powerful feature in a way that is efficient and provides added value to users. 

Why Are Sheet Specifications Used?

Now that you better understand sheet specifications, let’s explore their value and how they differ from traditional specs.

Scope

Projects with a minimal amount of demolition or construction or a limited number of trades involved might be candidates for using this feature. Sheet specs are a reduced selection of specifications. They are formatted for placement directly on drawing sheets in preference to publishing a fully bound project manual. Visually, sheet specs are more often laid out in a columnar arrangement and focus tightly on the expected qualitative outcome of the project. Sheet specs are no less enforceable than their foundational master guide specifications from where they are derived. All project participants benefit significantly from the relevance, currency, and defined intention that any well-constructed spec delivers.

Scale

Often, a sheet spec project might be considered small, not in importance, but in the actual area, the square footage, being addressed. Even if the project is intricate or specialized, its limited size makes it a sheet spec prospect because there are still fewer, even if highly detailed, sections to consider for inclusion.

Complexity

A narrow scope and focused coverage generally mean fewer variations in construction issues, product components, and interconnected assemblies. Again, this is not an absolute, but when this is the case, sheet specs can reflect this simplicity to optimize constructor confidence (and possibly price) to accomplish the work. Also, communication between involved parties is more easily accomplished as the circle of participants is smaller and probably less distributed.

Schedules

Project design and construction schedules are rarely generous, and maximizing successful outcomes on smaller, fast-paced projects is even more challenging. Sheet specs are one way to make these types of projects work without compromising quality and stating explicit result expectations.

Time

Yes, all documentation must be reviewed for completeness and correctness. Still, sheet specs often have fewer sections to consider, and the emphasis is only on essential standards, code compliance, and exacting characteristics of products and systems. This greatly reduces the time spent editing. The circumstance is further enhanced by using specification programs with a “toggle” feature to switch between outline, short-form, and complete section specifications.

How is Sheet Specification Content Formatted and Placed on Drawings?

Source

Most building design and construction projects undertaken will be supplied with some form of master guide specification as best defined by the “CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide.” The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is unquestionably the authority on all things specifying. Their efforts and resources underpin the fundamental organization, defined vocabulary, and written documentation used on building projects worldwide.

Professionals employ OmniClass™, MasterFormat™, and UniFormat™ structures almost universally, and the resultant manuals comprised of 3-Part master guide specifications are recognized by any design and construction professional.

Extraction

Sheet specs are simply another (maybe narrower) view of those familiar master guide specifications. More accurately, they are a particular stylistic format of short-form specifications. They are structured for placement directly on project drawing sheets, which they most often describe. Short-form specs are themselves derived from comprehensive specification sections that assure continuity.

Format

The organizational layout of sheet specs is subject to many factors, not least of which is personal or firmwide preference. In general, the outcome will be columnar and continuous. Thus, it is suggested to forgo the traditional Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 labels found in master guide specifications but retain the basic order of a section for consistency. Plan to maintain the appropriate section numbers and titles, then develop the sub-narrative with line numbers that echo what would have been the ‘Parts’ (i.e., 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, . . ., then 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 . . . and so on) and then any sub-paragraph letters (i.e., a, b, c, . . .). Selective use of bold text and limited indentation will aid readability.

Placement

The sheet spec will primarily be anchored tightly to a left gutter (margin) as columns, similar to a traditional newspaper. To inform the sheet spec approach, consider how general notes, various product and finish schedules, and construction details are organized elsewhere in the drawing set. Drawing sheet layouts often have some incorporated modularity. This may be right to accommodate the sheet specs as well.

Want To Learn More?

The ability to generate sheet specs is only one of numerous tools incorporated into RIB SpecLink that can contribute to your success. In today’s competitive landscape, you cannot afford to miss out on the benefits digital construction technology offers, regardless of how small the project might be.

Our leading cloud-based specification software RIB SpecLink offers advanced functionalities to make the specification process more collaborative, efficient, and accurate, translating into fewer errors and misunderstandings during the project lifecycle. If you are ready to benefit from innovative specification technology, get a demo for RIB SpecLink today!