Systems Building and Performance Specifications

ARE 459

CONTRACTS & SPECIFICATIONS

Specifications Handout # 4

By By ZulfikarZulfikar A. A.A. A.

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Systems Building Approach

Definition of Performance Specifications

Examples

Approach to Performance Specifying

Requirement

Criterion

Test

Organization of Performance Specs

Summary

Objectives of Class :Objectives of Class :

To introduce the concept of systems building approach To provide an understanding of the Key Concepts in

Performance Specifying.

Systems Building Systems building and design are concerned with systems, Systems building and design are concerned with systems,

assemblies, and composites rather than with individual materialsassemblies, and composites rather than with individual materialsand products and products

An approach to systems building requires that the design team An approach to systems building requires that the design team establish the parameters for a project, setting forth aesthetic establish the parameters for a project, setting forth aesthetic controls, with the specifications team establishing the controls, with the specifications team establishing the performance characteristics required to meet these conditions. performance characteristics required to meet these conditions.

The design of a building system cuts across the design disciplinThe design of a building system cuts across the design disciplines es as we know them today. It requires the merging of architects andas we know them today. It requires the merging of architects andengineers to design composite units and, in turn, it requires a engineers to design composite units and, in turn, it requires a joint effort to evolve performance specifications. joint effort to evolve performance specifications.

Systems Building First, new test methods have to be devised to cope with the First, new test methods have to be devised to cope with the

requirements of systems and assemblies. This requires the requirements of systems and assemblies. This requires the establishment of criteria for establishment of criteria for structural adequacy, fire structural adequacy, fire resistivityresistivity, , thermal conductivity, sound attenuation, andthermal conductivity, sound attenuation, and mechanical and electrical properties to provide for physical mechanical and electrical properties to provide for physical

comfort by concomfort by con-- trolling heating, cooling, and illumination. trolling heating, cooling, and illumination.

Recognizing that performance specifying requires verification ofRecognizing that performance specifying requires verification ofthe criteria by standard test methods, some standardsthe criteria by standard test methods, some standards--making making associations are now involved in developing testing procedures tassociations are now involved in developing testing procedures to o measure and assess performance specifications. measure and assess performance specifications.

Systems Building

Individual or combined sections on materials and Individual or combined sections on materials and their installation, as currently specified in their installation, as currently specified in descriptive specifications, are replaced by descriptive specifications, are replaced by systems performance systems performance

Specifications where technical sections establish Specifications where technical sections establish the parameters of assemblies of floors, ceilings, the parameters of assemblies of floors, ceilings, walls, roofs, mechanical systems, and so forth, walls, roofs, mechanical systems, and so forth, on the basis of life safety, acoustic environment, on the basis of life safety, acoustic environment, durability, and other recognized attributes. durability, and other recognized attributes.

Definition

PerformancePerformance--Based Specifying:Based Specifying:Establishing the required performance of a Establishing the required performance of a

building or building element before it has building or building element before it has been designed.been designed.

Used whenever it is necessary to fix the Used whenever it is necessary to fix the quality of a building project early in the quality of a building project early in the project project especially with designespecially with design--build.build.

Performance-Based Specifications: Describe the required characteristics of physical Describe the required characteristics of physical

elements of the building, such as building shell or elements of the building, such as building shell or interior partitions.interior partitions.

State clearly how the completed building element State clearly how the completed building element must perform, totally independent of any design must perform, totally independent of any design solutionsolution

Are ideal for designAre ideal for design--build projects because they do build projects because they do not limit the designnot limit the design--builder to predetermined builder to predetermined materials and systemsmaterials and systems

Allow a designAllow a design--builder to propose the most costbuilder to propose the most cost--effective solutioneffective solution

Examples Construction Specifications:Construction Specifications:

Interior Partitions: Two layers 5/8Interior Partitions: Two layers 5/8--in. gypsum drywall on 20 in. gypsum drywall on 20 gage 3gage 3--5/8 in. metal studs 245/8 in. metal studs 24 o.c.o.c.

Performance Specifications:Performance Specifications: Interior Partitions:Interior Partitions:

Provide NICProvide NIC--36 between spaces of similar function.36 between spaces of similar function. Provide 1 hour fire resistance at corridors.Provide 1 hour fire resistance at corridors.

Limit total thickness to 5 inches maximumLimit total thickness to 5 inches maximum..

Performance Specification

Relax. ItRelax. Its onlys only brain surgerybrain surgery, ,

not not spec writingspec writing..

Examples

Construction Specifications:Construction Specifications: Exterior Skin: ASTM C 216 modular face brick, Exterior Skin: ASTM C 216 modular face brick,

Type S mortar; ladderType S mortar; ladder--type reinforcing at 8type reinforcing at 8vertically, ties @ 24vertically, ties @ 24 o.c.o.c.

Performance Specifications:Performance Specifications: Exterior Walls:Exterior Walls:

Overall UOverall U--value: Minimum 0.12value: Minimum 0.12 Overall STC not less than 43Overall STC not less than 43 Withstand 35 Withstand 35 psfpsf pressure, max 1/360 deflectionpressure, max 1/360 deflection

Components:

PerformancePerformance--Based Specifications:Based Specifications:Element (e.g., exterior wall)Element (e.g., exterior wall)Factor (e.g., water intrusion)Factor (e.g., water intrusion)Requirement (keep rainwater out of Requirement (keep rainwater out of

building under 25 mph wind load)building under 25 mph wind load)Criterion (no leakage when tested per Criterion (no leakage when tested per

ASTM E 330 @ 6.24 ASTM E 330 @ 6.24 psfpsf differential differential pressure with 5 gal/pressure with 5 gal/sfsf/hr water./hr water.

An Approach to Performance Specifying The most recent effort to develop a method for performance speciThe most recent effort to develop a method for performance specifying is the fying is the

work of the work of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Developed criteria for the Department of Housing and Urban DevelDeveloped criteria for the Department of Housing and Urban Development opment for use in Operation Breakthrough; the second is for the Public for use in Operation Breakthrough; the second is for the Public Buildings Buildings Service for office buildings. Service for office buildings.

Both are based on a matrix consisting of attributes and built elBoth are based on a matrix consisting of attributes and built elements or ements or subsystems subsystems

The term "attribute" can be defined as a performance requirementThe term "attribute" can be defined as a performance requirement. .

The term "built element" is defined as the system, subThe term "built element" is defined as the system, sub-- system, or assembly system, or assembly specified on a performance basis. specified on a performance basis.

An Approach to Performance Specifying The performance requirement is then developed on the basis of thThe performance requirement is then developed on the basis of three ree

major categories: requirement, criterion, and test. major categories: requirement, criterion, and test.

These three elements constitute a performance specification for These three elements constitute a performance specification for a a proposed subsystem, as follows: proposed subsystem, as follows:

Requirement:Requirement: A qualitative statement of the deA qualitative statement of the de-- sired performance sired performance

Criterion:Criterion: A quantitative statement of the desired performance A quantitative statement of the desired performance

Test:Test: An evaluative procedure to ensure compliance with the criteria An evaluative procedure to ensure compliance with the criteria

Example If a ceiling is selected as the subsystem (see D in Exhibit 7If a ceiling is selected as the subsystem (see D in Exhibit 7--1) and the attribute, 1) and the attribute,

fire safety, is to be considered, the performance requirements cfire safety, is to be considered, the performance requirements can be developed as an be developed as follows: follows:

Requirement Requirement 1: Provide fire safety. 1: Provide fire safety. Criterion Criterion 1: Maximum flame spread 25.1: Maximum flame spread 25. Test Test 1: ASTM E84. 1: ASTM E84.

Requirement Requirement 2: Provide fire safety. 2: Provide fire safety. Criterion Criterion 2: Smoke development shall not exceed 75. 2: Smoke development shall not exceed 75. Test Test 2: ASTM E84. 2: ASTM E84.

Requirement Requirement 3: Provide fire safety. 3: Provide fire safety. Criterion Criterion 3: Heat release rate shall not exceed 1000 kW 1m2. 3: Heat release rate shall not exceed 1000 kW 1m2. Test Test 3: ASTM E906. 3: ASTM E906.

Why Arent Performance-Based Specs Used More? Stating performance criteria in a clear and Stating performance criteria in a clear and

unambiguous way can be difficult.unambiguous way can be difficult. Many important aspects of building performance have Many important aspects of building performance have

no established standards for measurement.no established standards for measurement. In practice, Very few standards exist on the In practice, Very few standards exist on the

performance of systems, assemblies, and composites. performance of systems, assemblies, and composites. We are more accustomed to performance We are more accustomed to performance

specifications for some building elements than others, specifications for some building elements than others, e.g.:e.g.: Elevator performanceElevator performance

Alternative Performance Specifications State intended life span in years, e.g.:State intended life span in years, e.g.: 2020--year roofyear roof 5050--year windowsyear windows

List and specify acceptable solutions, from List and specify acceptable solutions, from which designwhich design--builder may choosebuilder may choose

List unacceptable solutions, allowing designList unacceptable solutions, allowing design--builder to provide alternativesbuilder to provide alternatives

Organization of Performance Specs Based on UniFormat, not MasterFormatBased on UniFormat, not MasterFormat

Whole Facility RequirementsWhole Facility Requirements SubstructureSubstructure ShellShell InteriorsInteriors ServicesServices Equipment and FurnishingsEquipment and Furnishings DemolitionDemolition SiteworkSitework

Requirements for the whole facility apply to everything below

Performance specifying Tools

CSI and DBIA: CSI and DBIA: PerSpectiveTMPerSpectiveTMDBIA/CSI joint venture DBIA/CSI joint venture

BSD: BSD: PerSpectivePerSpective

Performance specifying Tools This is the first performanceThis is the first performance--based specifications software based specifications software

created specifically for designcreated specifically for design--build projects. build projects. A complete relational database, set up so that it can be A complete relational database, set up so that it can be

customized for individual projects, both owners and designcustomized for individual projects, both owners and design--builders will find it invaluable. builders will find it invaluable.

Based on CSI/Based on CSI/CSC'sCSC's UniformatTMUniformatTM, , PerSpectiveTMPerSpectiveTM has has been written to be useful to everyone involved in the been written to be useful to everyone involved in the process: owners to describe their technical requirements; process: owners to describe their technical requirements; specifiersspecifiers who need a performance specifications master; who need a performance specifications master; designdesign--builders responding to an RFP; and owners, designers builders responding to an RFP; and owners, designers and constructors during the design and construction phases and constructors during the design and construction phases for easier and more specific communication for easier and more specific communication

Summary of Key Concepts in Performance Specifying Systems building and design are concerned with systems, Systems building and design are concerned with systems,

assemblies, and composites rather than with individual materialsassemblies, and composites rather than with individual materialsand productsand products

PerformancePerformance--Based Specifying: Establishing the required Based Specifying: Establishing the required performance of a building or building element before it has beenperformance of a building or building element before it has beendesigned.designed.

Are ideal for designAre ideal for design--build projects because they do not limit the build projects because they do not limit the designdesign--builder to predetermined materials and systemsbuilder to predetermined materials and systems

The performance requirement is then developed on the basis of The performance requirement is then developed on the basis of three major categories: requirement, criterion, and test. three major categories: requirement, criterion, and test.