What is a 3-part specification?
Specifications from building product manufacturers are essential for construction projects. They serve as guidelines from the product designers to the construction teams to communicate the intentions of the product design. It is vital for product manufacturers to ensure that the sections of their guides are designed to clearly communicate the purpose and use of the product to all those involved in the construction process.
To assist manufacturers in creating quality specifications that clearly communicate the use of their products in projects, the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI ) has created a formatting guide for manufacturers to follow when creating specification documents. This guide consists of three parts, also known as a 3-part specification.
Example of a three-part specification from Luxer One (click for the full document)
These guide specifications should cover all options for a product or product line. For example, manufacturers of sealants and caulks for the building envelope should clearly state how their products are used for air and vapor barriers, glazing systems, and sealants and adhesives. Design specifications should be written in such a way that all options and selection criteria are clear.
The CAD files of the products must be included in the specification in a format that can be easily incorporated into the BIM (Building Information Modeling) file. When creating suitable specifications, manufacturers need to consider how architects and other specifiers will use their products in 3-part guides.
It is also important to understand the role of CSI specifications - which are not architectural drawings - that show visual connections, sizes and details. Project stakeholders use them to follow the standards of construction language for building specifications. CSI specifications provide efficient organization of information into classifications to create simple and consistent project reports.
3-part specification format
In CSI specifications, each section is divided into three parts: Part 1 - General, Part 2 - Products, and Part 3 - Execution. Each part consists of information specific to that section of the specification. The three parts are contained in all sections of the specification and have a uniform number and heading.
Part 1 - General: Contains administrative activities, procedural requirements and quality assurance guidelines. This includes the quantities, distribution and responsibilities of each party in the supply chain, which are described in more detail in the General Conditions of Contract.
Part 1 sets out specific requirements for materials and workmanship and specifies the requirements for the documentation to be submitted. For example, it sets out conditions for documentation to be submitted to an architect for approval of use, quality assurance and administrative requirements for mechanical insulation, i.e. for the application of thermal insulation to mechanical systems, including HVAC systems, ducts, boilers and pipework.
Part 2 - Products: Identifies the specific product characteristics and conditions of product quality requirements. It describes the materials, products, equipment and often the manufacturing tolerances and testing requirements expected of the manufacturer. Part 2 also indicates where the descriptions of the specified products or materials can be found. Manufacturers must clearly classify the products by name and product number so that they can be clearly identified in the specification.
Part 3 - Execution: Indicates specific installation requirements and specifies how the products described in Part 2 are to be used in the project. It specifies the required quality of workmanship without prescribing the contractor's procedures, but prescribes the requirements for quality control on site. Part 3 contains product-specific provisions and explicit conditions for installation.
Each of the three parts contains a standard arrangement of paragraphs and items that appear in the specification only when they apply to the subject of the section and are arranged in the appropriate order. This enables systematic and easy retrieval of information.
Building product manufacturers write guides in the form of a well-thought-out, three-part specification to give the architect guidance on how to incorporate the manufacturer's product into a project. Thousands of products can be specified for a particular building project, from flooring to roofing materials, electrics to door hardware, lighting to building materials and everything in between. The three-part guide specification makes it easier for product manufacturers to tell their customers where to specify their products, and it makes it easier to incorporate their products into customer projects.
Although architects often specify products through a particular manufacturer, there is usually an "or equivalent" designation, especially in public tenders. However, a manufacturer that provides a unique or proprietary product has a good chance of winning the bid.
Why manufacturers should provide 3-part specifications
Firstly, it is essential that specifications are written in accordance with CSI guidelines to ensure industry acceptance and consistency. Product specifications should serve as a guide to help the architect and construction teams understand the goal of the design and how it fits into the project.
A manufacturer's specification guide should include all product and product line options to help the architect decide which products to select. Ultimately, it is the product manager's job to specify their company's architectural, engineering and construction products for a wide range of projects.
Architectural and construction teams require an enormous amount of information for the design and construction of buildings. It is beneficial for the product manufacturer to make life as easy as possible for these customers in order to be the product of choice. As mentioned earlier, most specifications require an "or equivalent" for each product.
4 guidelines to specify your products with a 3-part specification
1. make it easy for your customers (architects, engineers, contractors and purchasers).
Make sure you take the workload off your architectural clients by providing them with all the information they need in the right format so they can easily include it in their project manual. Providing your specifications in a three-part specification guide will make your client's job easier and significantly increase the likelihood of you being specified for their project. Also include relevant supporting documents such as brochures, data sheets, test and quality documentation, drawings, photographs and field-proven performance results.
Architectural firms typically have a Standard Specifications Guide that includes product specifications and templates for all project manuals. It serves as the firm's private Sweets™ directory for selected industry products.
Architects cannot create product specifications from scratch and instead rely on their Office Master Spec Guidelines. Your goal is to have your products included in the Office Master Specifications so that you are the preferred products when designing a building. This starts with you having a thorough 3-part specification guide.
And of course, the exclusivity of a highly sought-after product gives you the upper hand. An example of this is DuPont's Tyvek® brand. Tyvek® was launched 60 years ago and was touted as "superior performance based on unique material science". Sure, DuPont had the wherewithal for marketing, but it was also an originally proprietary waterproofing material for homes and commercial buildings. By the 1970s, it was used in the construction industry worldwide and still holds a market share of over 50 percent in home waterproofing and weatherproof barriers.
2. give your sales team the tools for success
Don't let your sales team walk around with off-the-shelf presentations. Give them material that can be tailored to the prospect's specific needs.
A well-worded and properly formatted specification guide will help build the specifier's confidence in the manufacturer's ability to be a supportive partner. Many manufacturers are passed over for poorly prepared product specifications, sometimes relying only on standard product brochures and generic documentation. Spec writers should have hands-on experience with building materials and methods that give them insight into real-world applications and allow them to use that insight to develop specification guide formats that can be used as relevant sales tools.
3. avoid competitive pressure
Always be aware that most, if not all, of your competitors offer current three-part CSI specification guides. Therefore, it is imperative that you find ways to differentiate yourself. Stricter specifications and unique problem-solving features will always win the day.
But sometimes it's all about perception. From the 1970s to the mid-1990s, a Cleveland-based company sold a high-end fastener for three times the price of its nearest competitor. It had a slight blue tint in the coating, was sold in a blue box (the primary competitive product was in a plain brown box) and suggested it was made of a better alloy. The product had the same performance as the competition, yet it dominated this market segment for 25 years.
4 Communicate in the standard language of the industry
Guide the architect along the path of least resistance and speak their language. By adhering to the industry standard three-part specification guide and communicating in an organized manner using standard terminology, architectural symbols and familiar formats, you demonstrate that you are meeting the needs of the architect and the contractor.
Conclusion: Why manufacturers should provide 3-part specifications to their audience
Three-part specifications provide comprehensive information in an organized format for architects, specifying engineers and contractors. As a manufacturer, you should start by listing your products in Dodge Construction's Sweets database, a comprehensive, subscription-based data platform that has been used by the commercial construction industry for decades. It's an online resource for detailed product information, BIM objects, CAD details, specifications and other pertinent information about specific products and their manufacturers.
Product manufacturers can use this platform to find, quote, specify and incorporate products into projects, and architects, planners, contractors, engineers and facility managers can access and download all the information they need on over 100,000 products.
With construction starts soaring by 27 percent in December 2022 and large increases in manufacturing and infrastructure projects, it is essential for product manufacturers to get their slice of the pie.
The three-part CSI specifications provide architects with concise and easy-to-understand information on how a product can fit into their specification for a project and what product details need to be specified. Searching through reams of data can take hours, but when the information is organized into 3-part specifications, the search can take only moments.
As the name suggests, 3-part specifications include three parts of the product specification: general, products and design. And each of the three parts provides a standardized format for presenting specific product information.
In simple terms:
- General is the preamble
- Products provides the details
- Execution explains the application
Architects, design engineers and site managers shouldn't have to search for every available product detail. It's like the design engineers at BMW who are entrusted with the interior of the car. They don't want to worry about the design of the instrument cluster, they just want suppliers like Bosch or the IAC Group to meet the specification and provide all the necessary documentation to make a simple product selection.
By following the three-part specification methodology, manufacturers are helping potential customers find the appropriate and accurate information they need to design a structure, improving their chances of being included in construction projects.
Learn more:
Interested in providing your customers with a configured 3-part specification?
Get in touch with the CADENAS team here to find out how easy it can be.
Read more:
Why should manufacturers provide BIM object files to their audience?
How to approach architects and planners online
Which BIM formats are preferred by architects?
Sources include:
- ABB
- American Institute of Architects
- Institute of Building Specifications
- National Institute of Building Sciences
- Statista
- The Construction Specifier
- ZeroDocs
