Engineering and Construction

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Architectural design typically involves Divisions 2 to 14 of the Facilities Construction Subgroup. Although the basis for sequencing the Divisions in this subgroup is far more complicated, the first few divisions (those that are used in virtually all buildings) may be deduced by visualizing the sequence of postearthwork operations required in constructing the simple building shown in  Figure 1.5. The building consists of load-bearing masonry walls, steel roof joists, and wood roof deck.

FIGURE 1.5  A simple load-bearing masonry wall building with steel roof trusses and wood roof deck used as an aid to recalling the sequence of the first few (architecturally important) divisions of the MasterFormat.

The first operation is the foundations for the walls. Because foundations are typically made of concrete,   Concrete  is Division 03. After the foundations have been completed, masonry work for the walls can begin. Thus,   Masonry  is Division 04. After the walls are completed, steel roof joists can be placed. Thus, Division 05 is   Metals . The installation of the wood roof deck follows that of the steel joists. Hence,   Wood, Plastics, and Composites is Division 06.


After the roof deck is erected, it must be insulated and protected against weather. Therefore,   Thermal and Moisture Protection  is Division 07. Roofing and waterproofing (of basements) are part of this division, as are wall insulation and joint sealants. The next step is to protect the rest of the envelope; hence, Division 08 is   Openings . All doors and windows are part of this division, regardless of whether they are made of steel, aluminum, or wood.

With the envelope protected, finish operations, such as those involving the interior dry- wall, flooring, and ceiling, can begin. Thus, Division 09 is   Finishes . Division 10 is Specialties , which consists of several items that cannot be included in the previous divisions, such as toilet partitions, lockers, storage shelving, and movable partitions.

Obviously, the building must now receive all the necessary office, kitchen, laboratory, or other equipment. Thus, Division 11 is   Equipment . Division 12 is   Furnishings ,  followed  by Special Construction  (Division 13) and   Conveying Equipment   (Division  14).   

Before any construction operation can begin, there must be references to items that apply to all divisions, such as payment procedures, product-substitution procedures, contract-modification procedures, contractor’s temporary facilities, and regulatory requirements imposed by the city or any other authority having jurisdiction. This is Division 01, General Requirements  . Division 00 (  Procurement and Contracting  Requirements  ) refers to the requirements for the procurement of bids from prospective contractors.

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Architectural design typically involves Divisions 2 to 14 of the Facilities Construction Subgroup. Although the basis for sequencing the Divisions in this subgroup is far more complicated, the first few divisions (those that are used in virtually all buildings) may be deduced by visualizing the sequence of postearthwork operations required in constructing the simple building shown in  Figure 1.5   . The building consists of load-bearing masonry walls, steel roof joists, and wood roof deck.

FIGURE 1.5 A simple load-bearing masonry wall building with steel roof trusses and wood roof deck used as an aid to recalling the sequence of the first few (architecturally important) divisions of the MasterFormat.

The first operation is the foundations for the walls. Because foundations are typically  made of concrete,   Concrete  is Division 03. After the foundations have been completed, masonry work for the walls can begin. Thus,   Masonry  is Division 04. After the walls are completed, steel roof joists can be placed. Thus, Division 05 is   Metals . The installation of the wood roof deck follows that of the steel joists. Hence,   Wood, Plastics, and Composites is Division 06.

After the roof deck is erected, it must be insulated and protected against weather. Therefore,   Thermal and Moisture Protection  is Division 07. Roofing and waterproofing (of basements) are part of this division, as are wall insulation and joint sealants. The next step is to protect the rest of the envelope; hence, Division 08 is   Openings . All doors and windows are part of this division, regardless of whether they are made of steel, aluminum, or wood.

With the envelope protected, finish operations, such as those involving the interior dry-wall, flooring, and ceiling, can begin. Thus, Division 09 is   Finishes . Division 10 is   Special-
ties , which consists of several items that cannot be included in the previous divisions, such
as toilet partitions, lockers, storage shelving, and movable partitions.

Obviously, the building must now receive all the necessary office, kitchen, laboratory, or other equipment. Thus, Division 11 is   Equipment . Division 12 is   Furnishings ,  followed  by  Special Construction  (Division 13) and   Conveying Equipment   (Division  14).   

Before any construction operation can begin, there must be references to items that  apply to all divisions, such as payment procedures, product-substitution procedures, contract-modification procedures, contractor’s temporary facilities, and regulatory requirements imposed by the city or any other authority having jurisdiction. This is Division 01, General Requirements  . Division 00 (  Procurement and Contracting  Requirements  ) refers to the requirements for the procurement of bids from prospective contractors.

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Just as the construction drawings are prepared separately by the architect and each consultant for their respective portions of the work, so are the specifications. The specifications from various design team members are assembled by the architect in a single document called the   project manual . Because the specifications consist of printed (typed) pages (not graphic images), a project manual is a bound document—like a book.

The major component of a project manual is the specifications. However, the project manual also contains other items, as explained later in this chapter.

The set of construction drawings (from various design team members) and the project manual together constitute what is known as the   construction document set, Figure 1.3. The construction document set is the document that the owner and architect use to invite bids from prospective contractors.

FIGURE 1.3 A construction document set consists of a set of architectural and consultants’ construction drawings plus the project manual. The project manual is bound in a book format.

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Buildings cannot be constructed from drawings alone, because there is a great deal of information that cannot be included in the drawings. For instance, the drawings will give the locations of columns, their dimensions, and the material used (such as reinforced concrete), but the quality of materials, their properties (the strength of concrete, for example), and the test methods required to confirm compliance cannot be furnished on the drawings. This information is included in the document called   specifications. 

Specifications are written technical descriptions of the design intent, whereas the drawings provide the graphic description. The two components of the construction documents—the specifications and the construction drawings—complement each other and generally deal with different aspects of the project. Because they are complementary, they  are supposed to be used in conjunction with each other. There is no order of precedence between the construction drawings and the specifications. Thus, if an item is described in  only one place—either the specification or the drawings—it is part of the project, as if  described in the other.

For instance, if the construction drawings do not show the door hardware (hinges, locks, handles, and other components) but the hardware is described in the specifications, the owner will get the doors with the stated hardware. If the drawings had precedence over the specifications, the owner would receive doors without hinges and handles.

Generally, there is little overlap between the drawings and the specifications. More importantly, there should be no conflict between them. If a conflict between the two documents is identified, the contractor must bring it to the attention of the architect promptly. In fact, construction contracts generally require that before starting any portion of the project, the contractor must carefully study and compare the drawings and the specifications and report inconsistencies to the architect.

If the conflict between the specifications and the construction drawings goes unnoticed initially but later results in a dispute, the courts have in most cases resolved it in favor of the specifications—implying that the specifications, not the drawings, govern the project. However, if the owner or the design team wishes to reverse the order, it may be so stated in the owner-contractor agreement.