Final specifications are the specifications issued at RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design). They describe the materials, products, workmanship and performance required for the works in enough detail for construction and, usually, for tendering.
Specifications can be prescriptive, naming particular products, materials and methods, or descriptive and performance based, setting out the outcome required and leaving the contractor or specialist to select a solution that meets it. Many projects use a mix of both. For the QS, the final specifications are a key tender document alongside the drawings and, where used, the bill of quantities, and they directly affect pricing. Points to check include:
- consistency between the specification, drawings and bill of quantities;
- whether named products allow an equivalent, which affects competition and price;
- any performance specified items that pass design responsibility to the contractor.
Related terms: Specification, Contractor’s Design Portion, Bill of Quantities, Technical Design.
