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Closed proprietary specifications may promote efficiency or save money in some large projects, but they have no place in most public or small-scale projects. A/Es need to know when they 're appropriate for a particular job and when they should be avoided. That's why closed specs need to be chosen according to the strict criteria spelled out by David J. Wyatt (e-mail: djwyattsm@alltel. net) in an article in the May 2004 Construction Specifier (Alexandria, Va.; 800-689-9 2900; www.construction specifier.com).
Wyatt defined closed proprietary specifications as limiting selection to one or just a few products with no possibility of substitutions or alternatives. he noted that closed specs are most efficient for the following types of projects:
* Prototype facility design.
* Projects with special requirements that can only be met by one or a few products.
* Expansions and renovations where existing systems will not work with components made by other manufacturers.
* Projects for owners with large physical plants, detailed facility maintenance requirements, or special purchasing arrangements with manufacturers.
The pros. Wyatt discussed why closed proprietary specifications work well in those situations:
* Many owners prefer to work with familiar products and choose to simplify maintenance requirements by limiting the number...