Specifications

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Specifications
• Specification specifies or describes the nature and class of the work,
materials to be used in the work, workmanship etc,. And it is very
important for the execution of the work.

• The drawings of a building or structure show the arrangement of the

rooms and various parts, and the dimensions – length, breadth and
height, with very brief descriptions of different parts.

• Drawings do not furnish the details of different items of work

completely, the quantity of materials, proportion of mortar and
workmanship which are described in the specifications.

• The combination of drawings and specifications define completely the

structure. And both are important parts of contract document.
Purposes:
•Define Quality and Materials: Specify the exact type, quality, quantity, and standards of materials
and products to be used.
•Describe Workmanship: Detail the nature, methods, and standards of labor and installation required.
•Clarify Drawings: Provide textual detail for elements that drawings can't fully illustrate, such as
specific product models, performance requirements, or construction processes.
•Form a Legal Contract: Become an integral part of the contract documents, offering legal
protection and a clear reference point for all parties.
•Guide Tendering and Pricing: Enable contractors to accurately calculate rates and costs for bids by
understanding the specified requirements.
•Facilitate Supervision and Quality Control: Serve as a guide for site engineers and supervisors to
verify that the work meets the defined standards and materials are correctly procured and checked.
•Prevent Disputes: Reduce misunderstandings and disagreements between owners, architects, and
contractors by providing explicit requirements.
•Provide a Basis for Payments: Allow for fair and accurate payment to contractors based on the
quality and scope of work performed according to the specifications.
•Aid in Testing and Handover: Outline requirements for testing materials and finished work, and
guide the process of project handover.
•Serve as a Reference: Function as a vital document for future audits, maintenance, and in case of
arbitration or legal disputes.
•Define Scope: Clearly set out the objectives, performance criteria, and deliverables necessary for
project completion.
Classification

General or Brief Specification:

➢ Describes about nature and class of work and
materials in general terms about various parts of
works.
➢ Gives the general idea of the whole work or
structure and are useful for preparing the
estimate.
Detailed Specifications:
➢ Specifies in detail i.e., not only the quality &
quantity of materials and workmanship, but also
the proportion of mortar, method of preparation
and execution and the method of measurements
and etc,.
1. Earthwork in Excavation in
Foundation:
➢ Excavation: As per the drawings i.e., required
length,owidth and depth.
➢ Finish of Trenches: Side surfaces should be truly vertical
and bottom surface are lightly watered
and well rammed to get uniform
leveled surface.
➢ Water & Finds: Should be pumped out without
taking extra charges.
Should be handover to the
Government or to the Owner (if it is
private property).
➢ Measurements: Rates will be considered including
timber and supports used for trenches.
2. Cement Concrete in Foundation:
➢Materials: Cement, Fine aggregate and Coarse
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aggregate
➢Proportion: 1:4:8
➢Mixing: Hand mixing or Machine mixing
➢ Laying and compaction: Not more than 20cm
and compacted to 15 cm thickness.
➢ Curing: At least for 7 days and no masonry
work should be carried out during
these periods.
3. SSM in Foundation / Coursed Rubble Stone Masonry:
➢ Materials: a) Stones should be hard, sound and free
from defects.
b) Size should not be less than 150
mm in any direction.
➢ Laying: a) Wetted before laying.
b) Laid truly horizontal and every
vertical joint shall be truly vertical.
➢ Bond or Through Stones: Intervals should not be less than
1.5 m in each course.
➢ Quoins: Corner stones should be dressed to correct
angle.
➢ Curing: At least 7 days
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Through Stones
4. Damp Proof Course:

➢ Materials: Cement, Fine aggregate and Coarse aggregate.

➢ Water Proofing Compound: Standard water proofing
compound added with approval of the
Engineer– in–charge.
➢ Laying: a) Laid as per the drawings and should not laid
across the openings.
b) The formwork shall be removed carefully after
24 hours.
➢ Curing: At least 10 days.
➢ Application of Bitumen: Two coats of bitumen is applied. The
layers of bitumen must be blended with coarse
sand immediately after laying.
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5. Ist Class Brickwork in Superstructure
➢ Materials – Brick, Cement and Fine aggregate.
Brick: Soaking at-least 12 hours before use. And soaking
shall be continued till the bubbling will be ceased.
Fine aggregate: Sharp, clean and free from organic and
foreign matters. For rich mortar coarse or medium sand
should be used and for weak mortar local fine sand may
be used.
➢ Laying – Unless specified English Bond,
Not more than 1 metre height at a time,
Truly horizontal and vertical joints,
All joints are raked and faces of the wall cleaned
at the end of the each day’s work.
➢ Scaffolding – Necessaryoand suitable.
➢ Curing – At-least 10 days after laying.
➢ Measurement – Cum.
Rubble Masonry
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➢ Materials –
Stone Requirements
•Quality: Stone must be hard, sound, durable, and free from cracks, decay,
weathering, and other impurities like earth or oil.
•Source: Must be from an approved quarry.
•Grading/Size: Minimum dimensions are often specified, e.g., not less than 15cm
(Coursed Rubble) or 20x15x10cm (Random Rubble).
•Water Absorption: Should absorb no more than 5% of its dry weight in water
when tested (e.g., per IS:1124).

➢ Mortar Requirements
•Mix: A specific cement-sand (e.g., 1:3 to 1:6) or lime-surkhi/sand (e.g., 1:2 to
1:3) mortar is specified.
•Preparation: Materials are first dry-mixed to the correct proportion, then water
is added gradually to achieve a uniform, workable consistency.
•Application: Mortar must be fresh and used within its workable period.
➢ Laying & Workmanship
•Wetting: All stones must be thoroughly wetted before laying.
•Laying: o
•Stones laid with the broader face downwards.
•Vertical joints must be broken.
•Face joints should be filled with mortar and chips, not exceeding a specified thickness (e.g.,
20mm).
•Interstices can be filled with small stone pieces (spalls) embedded in mortar.
•Bonding:
•Bond Stones (Through Stones): Required to extend through the wall for strength, often at
regular intervals and staggered.
•Quoins (Corner Stones): Dressed to angles and laid alternately as headers and stretchers.
•Headers & Stretchers: Alternate these in the faces of the wall.
➢ Construction Details
•Height of Work: Masonry construction height is often limited per day (e.g., not more than
60cm).
•Finishing: Joints are struck flush or raked (if plastering/pointing is planned) when mortar is
green.
Curing & Protection - o
•Curing: The top surface of the completed
masonry must be kept moist (e.g., flooded with
water).
•Moisture Maintenance: The entire wall face
should be kept moist for a specified period (e.g., at
least 7 or 10 days).
•Protection: Protect the masonry from external
agencies while green.
Ashlar Masonry
➢ Material Selection
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•Stone Type: Hard, sound, durable, and tough stone from an approved
quarry.
•Quality: Free from cracks, cavities, holes, or patches.
•Strength: Minimum crushing strength of 3.5 N/mm² is recommended.

➢ Stone Dressing & Dimensions

•Dressing: Stones are chisel-dressed on all beds (sides) to be perfectly true
and square or rectangular.
•Faces: Faces are finely tooled for a smooth texture.
•Joints: Bed and side joints should not exceed 3 mm in thickness.
•Dimensions:
•Height: Minimum height of 20-30 cm (or 1/3rd of the wall thickness).
•Length: Not to exceed three times the height or 3/4th of the wall
thickness.
•Height-to-Breadth Ratio: Height is generally never less than breadth.
➢ Laying & Construction
•Courses: Stones are laid in regular, uniform horizontal courses.
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•Bond: Alternate headers and stretchers are used, with a proper break in joints in consecutive
layers.
•Natural Bed: Each stone is laid on its natural bed.
•Plumb & Level: The wall must be kept perfectly plumb (vertical) and in true level.
•Work Rate: Limit construction to a maximum of 60 cm height per day.
•Bond Stones: Sufficient bond stones or through stones extending the full wall thickness must
be used.

➢ Mortar
•Type: A rich, fine mortar (e.g., cement mortar 1:2 to 1:4 or lime mortar 1:1 to 1:2) is specified.
•Application: Joints are struck and finished at the time of laying if pointing isn't a separate
item.

➢ Finishing
•Cleaning: Brush completed stonework clean with fiber brushes and minimal clean water,
avoiding wire brushes or acidic compounds.
•Pointing: Joints are finished at the time of laying unless specified otherwise.

➢ Protection
•Lifting: Use gunny bags under ropes to prevent damage to stone edges during lifting.
•Water Repellent: An optional water repellent (like sodium methyl siliconate) can be flood-
applied when dry.
CM Plastering
➢ Materials
•Cement: Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) conforming to relevant standards
(e.g., IS 269).
•Sand: Clean, well-graded river sand, free from impurities and screened.
•Water: Clean and potable.

➢ Mix Ratio
•Interior Walls: A common mix is 1 part cement to 4-6 parts sand.
•Exterior/Moisture-Prone Areas: A stronger mix, like 1 part cement to 3-4
parts sand, is often used.

➢ Surface Preparation
•Cleanliness: The wall must be free of dust, grease, loose particles, and oil.
•Bonding: Roughen the wall surface and rake out mortar joints to a depth of
about 12mm to create a mechanical key for the plaster.
•Dampening: Thoroughly wet the surface for several hours before plastering.
•Projections: Knock off any projections greater than 12mm.
•Fittings: Install electrical conduit and plumbing lines before plastering.
➢ Application (Multi-Coat Plaster for Rough Surfaces)
•Guide Marks (Dots/Screeds): Apply plaster patches (dots) or strips (screeds) to establish a
true level and plumb surface guide.
•First Coat (Scratch/Base Coat):
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•Apply a thickness of 10-15 mm, pressing the mortar firmly into the surface.
•Before it hardens, scratch the surface diagonally with a tool to create a key for the next
coat.
•Second Coat (Floating Coat):
•Apply a 3-8 mm coat over the set scratch coat.
•Level using floats and a straight edge.
•Third Coat (Finishing Coat):
•Apply a final 3-5 mm coat for the desired smooth finish.

➢ Curing
•Keep the plastered surface continuously moist for a minimum of 7 to 10 days to ensure proper
hydration and strength gain.
•Protect the surface from rain, sun, and frost during curing.

➢ Finishing & Quality Control

•Finish: The final surface should be smooth, free of cracks, holes, and imperfections.
•Verification: Frequently check line, level, and plumb using a long straight edge and plumb
bob.
•Cleanup: Immediately remove any excess mortar from frames and fittings
 Cement Pointing
➢Materials

➢Preparation of Surface:
Joints shall be raked upto a depth of 20 mm
Surface was wahed and cleaned and kept wet
for tw days before pointing.
➢Mix Proportion:
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1:2 or 1:3 for cement sand
1:1 for lime surkhi mortar or kankar lime mortar.
➢ Curing
Types of Pointing
Flush pointing
Ruled pointing
Weather pointing etc,.
2.5 cm Cement Concrete Flooring:
➢ Materials
➢ Mix proportion:
1:2:4 or 1:2.5:3.5 as specified.
➢ Surface preparation:
Base shall be rough and watered. Afterwards, it
will be levelled and divided by aluminium or glass
panels strips of thickness 3 mm and depth equal
to thickness of floor and shall be fixed on the base
with cement mortar. Required camber provided
for draining was water.
➢ Laying
Bottom layer – 22 mm
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Top layer – 3 mm
Unevenness levelled by cement mortar 1:2.
Finally, the surface levelled and finished with
wooden or steel floats by applying cement slurry
and the whole operation of laying shall be
completed by 30 minutes.
➢ After laying: o
The surface is undisturbed for 2 hours and
covered by gunny bags.
After 24 hours, cured by flooding with water
and kept flooded for at least 7 days.

The surface of floor may be polished if specified.

Mosaic or Terrazo Floor:
➢Materials:
Marble chips: 1.5 to 3 mm.

➢Surface preparation:
Base shall be rough and watered. Afterwards,
it will be levelled and divided by aluminium or
glass panels strips of thickness 3 mm and depth
equal to thickness of floor and shall be fixed on
the base with cement mortar. Required camber
provided for draining was water.
➢Laying:
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Bottom layer – 2 to 2.5 cm of CC 1:2:4
(1:2.5:3.5, as specified)
Top layer – 6 mm mix of cement and
marble chips in 1:1.5 . Within two hours of
bottom layer top layer will be laid. And, it is laid
in more thickness in order to get required
thickness after polishing ang finishing.

The surface is undisturbed for 2 hours and

covered by gunny bags and kept undisturbed for
two days.
• Finishing: o
• Cut and rubbed by sand stone blocks
• Neat cement paste is applied and undisturbed for 6
days and then the surface shall be rubbed by
corborundum stones until entire surface show granular
appearance.
• After final rubbing, the surface is cleaned by washing
with soap water and then with clean water.

• Finally, after the surface is absolutely dry, oxalic acid

powder shall be well rubbed with few drops of water
until the surface becomes perfectly smooth and glossy
appearance.
RCC Work
➢ Materials
•Reinforcement: Steel bars must be free from rust, oil, or grease, meet IS
specifications, and be accurately bent according to the design.
•Concrete: Proportions must follow the specified grade (e.g., M20), and
aggregates should be clean and free from impurities. The water-cement
ratio must be controlled to prevent cracking.

➢ Formwork
•Materials: Use seasoned timber or steel plates that are free from defects.
•Construction: Joints must be perfectly closed, and the framework must be
sufficiently braced and supported.
•Removal: Formwork should be removed after a specified curing period
without causing any shock or vibration to the concrete. For example, props
are often eased out with wedges, not knocked out.
➢ Mixing and Placing
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•Mixing: Follow the proportions specified for the concrete mix grade
and use proper mixing methods.
•Placing: Concrete must be placed carefully, ensuring it fills all spaces
within the formwork and around the reinforcement.
•Compaction: Compaction should be done by mechanical means like
vibrators or rollers to achieve the required density and remove air
pockets.

➢ Curing
•Start: Curing should begin approximately 24 hours after the concrete
has been placed and finished.
•Duration: The concrete must be kept wet for a minimum of seven days
to prevent shrinkage cracks.
•Protection: The work must be protected from damage and rapid drying
during the curing period.
➢ Other specifications
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•Plastering: As a finishing step, plastering is often specified with a
certain thickness and mortar mix (e.g., 1:3 cement mortar).
•Smoothness: Surfaces should be finished to a smooth and true
surface, with frequent checks using a straight edge.
RCC Slab work
Painting on Steel and Iron Work:
➢ All rust scales, dirt, suppliers delivery marks, oil, grease,
etc., shall be removed by rubbing with sand paper before
painting.

➢ Red lead will be applied before erection except the

surfaces where the concrete will be in contact. Where
corrosive is likelihood from sea atmosphere, a coat of raw
linseed oil shall be applied on the surface immediately
after cleaning before the 1st coat of red lead is applied.

➢ Two to three coats applied at right angles to each other

after erection. Each coat shall be allowed to dry before
applying succeeding coat.
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➢ Painting will be carried out during dry weather.
Varnishing:
➢ Knots, holes, cracks etc., shall be filled with putty.

➢ The surface is rubbed down with sand paper to remove

any grain marks.

➢ Two coats of boiled linseed oil or two thin coat of glue

applied and each coat shall be allowed to dry up and
rubbed down smooth with a fine sand paper.

➢ The varnish shall be applied with brushes using strong

firm strokes, of brushes and spread evenly. In no case
sand paper shall be rubbed across the grain, which may
cause the finest marks on the finished surface.
➢ Specified quality of copal varnish shall then laid on the
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prepared surface in thin coats unless other brand is
specially mentioned.

➢ For new wood work a second coat shall be applied

after the first coat of varnish has thoroughly been dried
up.

➢ Varnish will be applied during dry season.

Scaffolding
First Class BBM in Superstructure
RCC Slab work
Double Channeled Mangalore Tiles
➢ Materials 0
➢ Framework
➢ Finishing Work
➢ Measurment
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Asbestos Cement Corrugated Roofing
Sheets
➢ Materials 0
➢Framework
➢Laying and Fixing
➢ Slope
➢Special Fixtures
➢ Measurements