Book dossier

Writing Engineering Specifications

by Paul Fitchett

Engineers need to understand the legal and commercial context in which they draw up technical specifications. This thoroughly up-dated edition of Haslam's successful Writing Engineering Specifications provides a concise guide to technical specifications and leads the reader through the process of writing these instructions, with clear advice to help the student and professional avoid legal disputes or the confusion and time wasting caused by poor drafting. Designers and project managers should find this invaluable, and it should be helpful to insurers, lawyers, estimators and the like. The book starts with an examination of the law of contract and its application to construction, going through the various contract and payment types, including standard forms and a review of recent changes in contracting practices. It sets out the prices and cost effects of writing in a particular way. Chapters are then devoted to the planning of drafts and presenting a complete document, and to their effect on schedules, assessments and the commissioning of the project. The book concludes with a brief guide to English grammar, and gives a set of model specifications and layouts. The final chapter covers claims and how to manage them in interpreting what is written and how to deal effectively between the client and the contractor.