As a generic National Master Specification, NATSPEC includes most, but not all, technical requirements for the majority of projects. Each worksection is provided as a Template in MS Word for the specifier to customise for their project.
To customise the NATSPEC Template to reflect project specific requirements, some or all of the following may be required:
- Deletion of inappropriate options where the NATSPEC Template provides mutually exclusive options (e.g. different roofing or door frame assembly types).
- Deletion of lengthy prescriptive or performance material where a proprietary specification is appropriate and is permitted by the client.
- Deletion of clauses with prompts where the information conveyed in schedules or drawings (e.g. location).
- Deletion of NATSPEC material intended only for custom-made options or for generic specifying. Many items are not usually custom-made (e.g. roller shutters and luminaires).
- Allowance for silence in the documents, permitting the contractor to decide on the method, material, or quality to use, where the Templates offer acceptable alternatives from which the contractor must choose. The contractor may reasonably be expected to select some appropriate, minor materials (e.g. fasteners, adhesives) in any case.
- Deferral to the NATSPEC default provision (e.g. AS/NZS 4455.1 for masonry units, AS/NZS 3982 for urinals) where satisfactory.
- Deletion of Prototypes, Samples and Tests clauses and subclauses where they are not warranted by the size and complexity of the project. Note that testing of structural elements such as concrete, and other elements which are built to a performance specification, is always advisable.
- Revision of the default quality level so that it is above the industry standard, or the requirement level stipulated in the NATSPEC documents, after determining the quality level available in the market and required by the client.
- Additional requirements not covered in the NATSPEC worksections, eg. additional performance testing or specific submissions.
To customise a Template for your project, we recommend the following steps:
Step 1 - Identify clauses not required
Delete unnecessary clauses. Highlight clauses you are unsure about and leave until later.
Step 2 - Identify subclauses not required
Delete unnecessary subclauses (and associated prompts). Highlight subclauses you are unsure about and leave until later.
Step 3 - Identify paragraphs and subparagraphs not required
Delete unnecessary paragraphs and subparagraphs (and associated prompts). Refer to the hidden Guidance text.
Step 4 - Complete the write-in options
Complete the options, [complete/delete] (link) prompts and schedules.
Step 5 - Add new material
Add original material not in the NATSPEC Templates (although sometimes mentioned in the Guidance text) where required.
Check against standards and other technical literature, particularly for availability and the variables, which need to be specified. Begin with the worksections about which you know the most. Use the NATSPEC style.
Step 6 - Edit standard text
Systematically edit Normal (link) (default) NATSPEC Template text where it conflicts with project requirements, the drawings, completed prompts or with added new material. In particular, default standards or descriptions may conflict with proprietary items.
If required, you may insert hyperlinks into the worksection text for office or client policy requirements. Standard NATSPEC Template text may also be modified to incorporate a preferred style or where greater detail is required. A word of warning: the more this is done, the less valuable the standard text becomes and the more work for the specifier.
Optional style text (blue with a grey background) (link) covers items specified less frequently. It is provided for incorporation into Template text where it is applicable to a project.
Step 7 - Complete
Repeat the steps as often as required until the worksection is complete. In particular, make sure all NATSPEC text options have been considered, all defaults evaluated, and all prompts completed/deleted. Make sure that no uncertain items remain – if in doubt at this stage, leave them out.
For more information see:
A paper on the importance of specifications, specification methods and the structure of technical information, using the AUS-SPEC and NATSPEC systems, specifying ESD and suggested standards for use by offices of different disciplines.
A more comprehensive guide to using SPECbuilder, NATSPEC’s online specification compilation software.
NATSPEC Specification Word processing & Production
Tips and tricks on how to use some Microsoft Word features that help with the production of specifications