Working Internationally: Delivering Specifications for Projects

David Smith

RIBA International - 23rd March 2012

Contents

IntroductionAppointmentRole of the Local Partner

Specification Format and Content

Design Standards and Products

Points to Note

Appointment

• Factors Affecting Specifications– Level of Design– Responsibilities of the Team – Design Deliverables– Procurement Strategy– Form of Contract– Duties of Local Partner

• Identify Scopes• Planning Responsibility• Building Control

– Standards International/ Local• Building Codes e.g. IBC

– Sustainability Requirements– Be clear what will initiate payment

Role of the Local Partner

• What Can Go Wrong?– Different interpretations

• Quality• Levels of Design

– Contractor Design• Market capability

– Risk associated with handover• Dropping the baton

– Concept/ visual design intent being dumped as soon as a local Architect /Contractor is on board

• What To Do About It?– Clarify Issues

• Design Responsibility• Translations• Deliverables

– Sub-consultancy agreement• Responsibility Matrix • Manage Expectations

– Appoint local Designers ASAP– Clarify terms

• Performance Design etc. – Get the right people doing the

right tasks e.g. planning and permits

Design Standards and Products

• Standards– International– Local– Performance Criteria

• Local Construction Expertise– Material availability– Construction skill set

• Products– Source– Quality– Availability– Sustainability requirements– 3 items in Spec

• Performance, prescriptive, D&B

Specification Format and Content

• Format– CAWS– CSI– Local

• Content– Quality level– Local availability– Level of detail

• Language– Translation– Technical Checking– TimeKING ABDULAZIZ CENTRE FOR WORLD CULTURE – DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA Reproduced by kind permission of Snøhetta & MIR

Points to Note

• Essential actions– Interrogate the appointment– Local partner selection– Use the specification

effectively– Secure quality– Ensure standards and

format are what’s required

YAS Marina – Abu Dhabi

Thank You

dave.smith@davislangdon.com