Introduction

A specification is a written description of the building to be constructed. It supplements the information on the drawings, and, like the drawings, it is a legal part of the contract between the client and the builder.

A specification might only be a few pages long for a small project such as an addition to a house, or it
might be a multi-volume set of bound books for a big project such as a shopping mall or high-rise building.

For a large commercial or industrial project there may be a specification for the architectural features, and additional specifications for the plumbing, electrical and mechanical requirements of the job. For house construction, one specification booklet is usually sufficient