Registered Specifications Writer
The RSW
designation is bestowed to individuals who have met the extensive project
experience requirements and demonstrated competency in preparing written construction
documents including contract administration duties within the CSC RSW
Certification Program. Candidates may have earned a diploma from an accredited
program in construction technology, architectural technology, or engineering
technology, or possess a university degree in architecture or engineering.
RSWs
are involved in both written and graphic contract documentation and provide
support to the design professional-of-record. Responsibilities include managing
and coordinating project specifications to minimize, mitigate and transfer
liability potential and risks, reading and reviewing drawings and
specifications across all disciplines and subject matter experts, and
supervising or carrying out contract administration duties. Competence is
verified by completing a research thesis and passing a professional practices
examination.
The
tasks performed by a RSW may be either technical or administrative and encompasses
the full project from beginning to end, frequently requiring communication with
clients, contractors, subcontractors, and project team members. RSWs may
operate independently as a consultant or as part of a design team, undertaking
a range of activities that include both technical and collaborative aspects.
Technical Support
·
Construction Specifications: RSWs develop, coordinate, and
organize the Project Manual and are skilled at producing technical
specification sections for various areas of design specialty, edit/modify
Divisions 00 and 01 based on contract delivery methods, and prepare and review
outline and project specifications based on instructions from design
professionals, and schematic or design drawings from initial design to
construction completion.
·
Guide or Master Specifications: RSWs can update or
write guide specification sections for product/system manufacturers, public or
private specification publishers, or design professionals.
·
Outline Specifications: RSWs prepare output specifications for
alternate financing and procurement projects (such as for Private/Public
Procurement P3 contracts), outline specifications, preliminary project descriptions, and
related documentation such as owner statements of design project requirements,
following client approved instructions and sketch drawings produced by the
design professional during the schematic design phase.
·
Material Knowledge: RSWs have extensive experience
and regularly consult manufacturer or supplier representatives (Certified
Technical Representatives), to stay informed about materials and installation
requirements for each project.
·
Contract Knowledge: RSWs have detailed knowledge of
the different forms of contract delivery and adjust the project specifications
to adapt content to align with the owner’s preferred agreement form (Stipulated
Sum, Unit Price, Cost Plus, GMP, Design-Build, Construction Management without
services and with services, AFP, and Progressive P3, and method of project delivery.
Project and Design Support
·
Collaboration: RSWs work
closely and communicate with design professionals, project managers,
construction managers, or other subject matter experts to prepare specification
sections that align with design intent and project goals within the Project
Manual.
·
Document Interpretation:
RSWs are qualified to assist in interpretations during the construction
administration phase to specification sections that they have prepared and submit
interpretations relating to coordination between different divisions of the
Project Manual.
·
Coordination: RSWs manage
coordination requirements for contributors to the Project Manual including
project specific requirements within the technical specifications.
·
Client and Team Communication: RSWs act as a hub for exchanging
information among architects, technicians/ technologists, engineers, clients,
contractors, and specialist consultants.
·
Risk Mitigation: RSWs identify and resolve
potential issues in construction specifications and drawings to prevent
misunderstandings or disputes, updating the master specification for future use
from construction administration feedback or project post-mortem reviews of
RFIs, SIs and project change directives and change orders.
·
Assisting in Quality Control:
RSWs regularly review drawings, delegated design calculations when experience allows,
or review background information for accuracy and compliance with project
standards or codes by comparing performance/design criteria described in the
written specifications to those required for the project.
Project Management and Organization
·
Contract Documentation: RSWs manage and coordinate written
contract documentation by editing and preparing content for Division 00 front
end and Division 01 general requirements, resulting in a Tender ready Project
Manual for design project procurement and construction.
·
Contract Language Review: RSWs review supplementary
conditions to the contract prepared by the owner's or client's legal counsel .
·
Contract Knowledge: RSWs have expertise with
construction contracts along with contract administration requirements under
this designation. Their industry proficiency encompasses Canadian Construction
Documents Committee (CCDC) standard forms of agreement, as well as federal,
provincial, and municipal government contract forms, and additional agreements
developed by owner associations or private developers.
·
Documentation Management: RSWs are responsible for documentation
management and typically include updates to the Project Manual arising from
addenda, supplemental instructions and change orders, during the project
lifecycle.
Site and Construction Support
·
Contract Administration:
The RSW designation requires professional industry experience hours of site
activities recorded to assist and perform contract administration scope of
services (along with a CCCA) as required and advises the design professional
when requested.
·
Change Documentation: RSWs
prepare or support contract administrators by recording and tracking changes or
modifications during construction and tracking information so that records
align more accurately with project conditions.
A RSW
serves as a written construction documentation specialist, possessing extensive
contract and materials knowledge and acumen to fortify design teams and improve
collaborative processes throughout the design and construction phases. This
consulting industry role contributes to potentially enhancing a firm's
competitiveness, profitability, operational efficiency, and minimizing
liability. An RSW designation provides industry confidence that the company and
the designated individual have proven expertise, validated through a rigorous
and widely respected registration program involving thorough research and
examinations.
