Systems Building and Performance

Specifications
ARE 459
CONTRACTS & SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications Handout # 4
By
By
Zulfikar Zulfikar A. A. A. A.
Presentation Outline
Presentation 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 materials
assemblies, and composites rather than with individual materials
and 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 disciplin
The design of a building system cuts across the design disciplin
es
es
as we know them today. It requires the merging of architects and
as we know them today. It requires the merging of architects and
engineers 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
resistivity
resistivity
,
,

thermal conductivity, sound attenuation, and
thermal conductivity, sound attenuation, and

mechanical and electrical properties to provide for physical
mechanical and electrical properties to provide for physical
comfort by con
comfort by con
-
-
trolling heating, cooling, and illumination.
trolling heating, cooling, and illumination.

Recognizing that performance specifying requires verification of
Recognizing that performance specifying requires verification of
the criteria by standard test methods, some standards
the criteria by standard test methods, some standards
-
-
making
making
associations are now involved in developing testing procedures t
associations are now involved in developing testing procedures t
o
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

Performance
Performance
-
-
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 design

especially 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
solution
solution

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

Allow a design
Allow a design
-
-
builder to propose the most cost
builder to propose the most cost
-
-
effective solution
effective solution
Examples

Construction Specifications:
Construction Specifications:

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

o.c.
o.c.

Performance Specifications:
Performance Specifications:

Interior Partitions:
Interior Partitions:

Provide NIC
Provide 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 maximum
Limit total thickness to 5 inches maximum
.
.
Performance Specification

Relax. It
Relax. It

s only
s only
brain surgery
brain surgery
,
,
not
not
spec writing
spec 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; ladder
Type S mortar; ladder
-
-
type reinforcing at 8
type reinforcing at 8

vertically, ties @ 24
vertically, ties @ 24

o.c.
o.c.

Performance Specifications:
Performance Specifications:

Exterior Walls:
Exterior Walls:

Overall U
Overall U
-
-
value: Minimum 0.12
value: Minimum 0.12

Overall STC not less than 43
Overall STC not less than 43

Withstand 35
Withstand 35
psf
psf
pressure, max 1/360 deflection
pressure, max 1/360 deflection
Components:

Performance
Performance
-
-
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
psf
psf
differential
differential
pressure with 5 gal/
pressure with 5 gal/
sf
sf
/hr water.
/hr water.
An Approach to Performance Specifying
The most recent effort to develop a method for performance speci The 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 Devel Developed 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 el Both 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 requirement The term "attribute" can be defined as a performance requirement. .
The term "built element" is defined as the system, sub The 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 th The 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 de A 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 7 If 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 c fire 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 performance
Elevator performance
Alternative Performance
Specifications

State intended life span in years, e.g.:

State intended life span in years, e.g.:

20
20
-
-
year roof
year roof

50
50
-
-
year windows
year windows

List and specify acceptable solutions, from

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

List unacceptable solutions, allowing design

List unacceptable solutions, allowing design
-
-
builder to provide alternatives
builder to provide alternatives
Organization of Performance
Specs

Based on UniFormat, not MasterFormat
Based on UniFormat, not MasterFormat

Whole Facility Requirements
Whole Facility Requirements

Substructure
Substructure

Shell
Shell

Interiors
Interiors

Services
Services

Equipment and Furnishings
Equipment and Furnishings

Demolition
Demolition

Sitework
Sitework
Requirements for the whole
facility apply to everything below
Performance specifying Tools

CSI and DBIA:

CSI and DBIA:
PerSpectiveTM
PerSpectiveTM

DBIA/CSI joint venture
DBIA/CSI joint venture

BSD:
BSD:
PerSpective
PerSpective
Performance specifying Tools

This is the first performance
This is the first performance
-
-
based specifications software
based specifications software
created specifically for design
created 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 design
customized for individual projects, both owners and design
-
-
builders will find it invaluable.
builders will find it invaluable.

Based on CSI/
Based on CSI/
CSC's
CSC's
UniformatTM
UniformatTM
,
,
PerSpectiveTM
PerSpectiveTM
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;
specifiers
specifiers
who need a performance specifications master;
who need a performance specifications master;
design
design
-
-
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 materials
assemblies, and composites rather than with individual materials
and products
and products

Performance
Performance
-
-
Based Specifying: Establishing the required
Based Specifying: Establishing the required
performance of a building or building element before it has been
performance of a building or building element before it has been
designed.
designed.

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