SPECIFICATIONS may be the bane and boon of any project; they are, however absolutely necessary. If done correctly, they inform the contractor of exactly what, where and why the owner wants the contractor to work. They also leave the means and methods up to the contractor. When they cross these general rules, chaos reigns, and somebody pays dearly to correct the situation. This discussion will demonstrate some of the best and worst (?) possibilities of each, and how to avoid them as much as possible. Examples will be given of various agencies and organizations specifications, and how the author thinks they can be improved.

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