Specification Fundamentals for Engineers: Organization, Methods & Best Practices

Course Description

This course introduces the core principles of construction specifications based on CSI standards and certification frameworks. Participants will explore how drawings and specifications work together, how to organize content using formats like MasterFormat and UniFormat, and how to apply different specifying methods—descriptive, performance, reference standard, and proprietary. Through a structured overview of section organization and naming conventions, learners will gain clarity on how specifications communicate design intent, manage risk, and maintain project quality. By the end, participants will confidently navigate, interpret, and apply specifications within professional construction documentation.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the complementary roles of drawings and specifications in construction documents.

2. Identify the major organizational formats for specifications and their applications in practice.

3. Explain the structure and purpose of the three main parts of a specification section and their role in construction project communication.

4. Compare the different methods of specifying methods by defining each method and discussing scenarios for their use.

5. Analyze the evolution of specification titles, including the shift to action-oriented naming conventions.