Product Descriptions CSC/CSI 3 Part Specifications

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Product Descriptions CSC/CSI 3 Part
Specifications

• Manufacturers Sales Tools
• Targeted to Design Consultants and Specifiers

This website provides copies of all source
documents.
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WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• What are product descriptions?
• What are CSC/CSI 3 part specs?
• Why are they important?
• Why should I provide them?
• When do I use them?

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Product Descriptions

• We define Product Descriptions as
• A summary document of all the product
  information that will be included in a
• Project Manual.
• It is characterized by
• Being written in point form
• Following the CSC/CSI 3 part specification as
  outlined in ProductFORMAT,
• complementary to CSC/CSI MasterFORMAT standard.
• Containing all the information required for
  bidding purposes
• Being useful at all stages of the project
  development process from the

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Product Descriptions

• Can be used by a large number
• of players from the conceptual
• stage of the project development
• process to final product selection.
• Significantly reduces the time of all players
• to find essential, relevant, information.

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Product Descriptions

• What do the multiple users need?
• Just the facts man! Just the facts!
• No fuss no marketing hype no pretty pictures.
• But how? What?...................................
  ........

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Product Descriptions

• ProductFORMAT
• To the Rescue
• The Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)
  format standard specifically developed for
  Product Descriptions.
• Follows the same 3 part format as product
  specifications
• Includes the same information available in
  specifications
• Ensures information can be found quickly, and
  efficiently.

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Product Specifications

• A document developed for use in Project Manuals
• that has been standardized for content and
  format according to industry standards for the
  commercial construction industry.
• Is written according to industry consensus
  Standards of Practice and Format
• Standards developed for the commercial
  construction industry in US/Canada.
• Contains all the information required to build a
  structure when accompanied by the contract
  documents, drawings, and associated schedules.
• Used for bidding purposes.
• Is legally binding if litigation occurs.

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Product SpecificationsStandards of Practice

• Standards of Practice
• A number of conventions that have voluntarily
  been accepted by the industry
• as standards of practice for the development of
  product specifications include
• Language the imperative mood
• Include only enforceable statements
• Adhere primarily to one of three approaches to
  writing specifications Proprietary,
  Descriptive, and //////////.

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Product Specifications Format Standards

• Everything in one location and one location
  only.
• MasterFORMAT
• Established numbered Divisions, Sections, and
  Subcategories that classify all
• activities and products for the development of
  specifications within a Project Manual.
• SectionFORMAT
• Established the structure of each Section of
  the Product Specification into 3 parts, and the
  information to be included.
• PageFORMAT
• Defines the page format to be used for each
  section of the Project Manual.
• All three consensus standards documents have been
  voluntarily developed jointly by
• Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) and
  Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) in
  the United States

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Why is this Important to Manufacturers?

• One Project Manual includes over 300
  product specifications. Producing them is
  time consuming. Let your potential customers
  know you have a current, accurate product
  specification and they will use it.
  Wouldnt you!
• Follow the rule Use it once use it
  twice! From your perspective, the more
  frequently your specification which sets
  the bar for the quality of the materials that
  are acceptable for the project is used, the
  more likely the specifier is to use your
  specification again. Thus increasing the odds
  that you will be the successful bidder.

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Why is this Important to Manufacturers

• Risk management a priority?
• Of course it is!
• If litigation occurs, you have ensured that the
  information
• on your product is current, accurate, and
  comprehensive.
• Can the courts ask for more?

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GETTING THE WORD OUT

• Product Descriptions and Specifications
• integral to your Marketing Plan.
• Include them in hard cover product manuals.
• Hand them out to prospects on
  CDs.
• Place them on your website.
• Use them in calls/presentations.
• Include them as part of your
  sales tool box.
• Advertise their availability in
  your brochures.
• YOULL BE GLAD YOU DID

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HOW CAN SPEX.CA HELP

• Your hosts at Spex.ca are
• Digicon Information Incorporated
• And
• Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)
• CSC promotes standards of practice and education
  for key players in the commercial construction
• industry.
• Digicon Information develops and promotes
  excellence in document development for the
  commercial
• construction industry.
• Check us out at www.csc.ca and www.digicon.ab.ca
• Contact Geri Watson at geri_at_spex.ca 519.712.9509
• Our Seal Program reassures specifiers that the
  information is current, accurate, and complete.