on every project there is always a crunch at the end to get all the final selections for the project, and yes sometimes those selections are not incorporated into the specifications, it all depends on who my client is, in this case my client is the architect, so I will take direction from the architect, the irony that prior to this project this developer contracted us directly, so getting that kind of information in a timely manner was easy. I’ve not worked with this team in the past, so it will be interesting to see if Architect will have his ducks in a roll. The other difference on this project is that the Design Architect has a much more significant role in the project, the Design Architect is based in Switzerland…but unfortunately I did not get an invite to attend the kickoff meeting in Zurich.
For user-friendliness, how about recording the specs as a talking book… in English and Spanish? Afterward, you can collect royalties for publishing them as sleep aids.
Or you could write them as a Dr. Seuss type documents, using a smaller vocabulary (I think he wrote one of his books with something like 50 words after being challenged to do so). That might be more “user-friendly”.
I would suggest that we start writing more “user friendly” specs when the attorneys start writing more “user friendly” agreements and contract condtions. Maybe the Drawings could be more “user friendly” as well (fewer detail on fewer sheets)>
or, you could just specify one product for each use, and require the manufacturer’s rep to supervise construction 100% of the time and warrant the work. the spec could be pretty simple: “Use Product X. Call Bob.”
Oh, I like that one! If we’re calling the question, I vote for Anne’s suggestion.
Lynn, I like your Dr. Seuss idea. Maybe we can put it to a beat and issue musical specs. It could be everyone’s new favorite lullabye.
Why not just specify “Ask Developer what he wants and provide it.” Seems like the Swiss Designer isn’t as focused on product selection as he/she should be. Hey, maybe you can just cut-and-paste your previous project spec for the same developer and see if they’ve changed any of their selections.
SPCWTR is on to something here. I would add the website URL after Bob’s name.
I love it when Anne chimes in. We miss her in Seattle.
Wayne
As a follow-on to Ken’s suggestion, I guess if Southwest Airlines flight attendants can make the obligatory preflight instructions more user friendly with rap music, so should specifiers with their specs, right?
Related to the “Call Bob” spec, one of my mentors here found a 100-yr old masonry specification: “Lay brickwork on front elevation like John Smith does.” True story.
We used to argue about whether that is a performance spec, or a reference standard.
George, that’s hilarious. Luckily there could only be one John Smith so they were sure to get what they wanted. Good thing he didn’t have a common name as that might have caused confusion.
Unless John was an institution in those parts, I would vote for the performance spec.