Specifications Matter
Multiple failures due to improper material use and installation

Specifications Matter

Location - Somewhere in Texas

Date - Spring - 2023

Scenario - Small town dealing with product failure

We have always done it this way”

“We have never had any problems before”

“We just put it all in the same way

Sound familiar? Some of you may have heard one, two, or all of these used as justification for not following standards and specifications.

Failure under roadway

Specifications and standards were created to help ensure that the owner of an infrastructure project receives a finished project, constructed in a manner that will adequately perform its’ function and provide a desirable service life.? Additionally, the Engineer is ethically and professionally tasked to consider the health, safety and welfare of the ?public in his or her design of the project.? Those governing specifications were created through collaboration between engineers, contractors, material suppliers, and the owners.? National standards are consulted, and through the combined experience and expertise of the interested parties, the specification is written.? Stakeholders are ?typically given the opportunity to review and comment, and then a final version is issued.?

Improper material use leads to failure under roadway

Inspectors are deployed to ensure that the contractor is constructing the project to the specifications of the Engineer and the owner.? This will then provide a useful piece of infrastructure for the benefit of the ultimate owners, the taxpayers of the community.?

Inadequate material strength and improper installation

When projects are constructed without following the applicable standards, problems can occur.? Not always, of course, but how many times is acceptable?

A project comes to mind, where a material was used in an application that was not allowed by the governing specifications.? It was also not installed per applicable local and national standards.? Because of this, the taxpayers of this community were rewarded with the need to pay for this project twice.?

“We like paying taxes and love paying twice for the same project”.? The next time I hear this will be the first.?

This failure required a complete replacement of the sewer line, as well as the concrete roadway above and adjacent.? ??

Complete road replacement

Ironically, the product chosen is not to blame.? The contractor chose to use a material that could not meet the loading requirements of the project, (thus not allowed in the specification) and did not follow the proper installation guidelines.? Someone should have had to review, and either approve or deny the contractor’s request to use a material not allowed by the municipality for this application.? Or, did the engineer disregard the municipality’s design standards by allowing the product’s use on this project?? Should the inspector have been looking for compliance of this product with, and installation per the municipal standards?

Major disruption to traffic

While the answers to these questions ultimately determined who was at fault, the reality for the residents is that they will pay financially, and with the detours, dust and noise from the construction, for a second time.

Replacement of failed material

Specifications AND their enforcement matter.?



Amen Brother. Specs DO matter.

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Ron Reichert的更多文章

  • Copy of The Old Defenders

    Copy of The Old Defenders

    Location – Baltimore, Maryland Date – September 1814 Scenario – Major General Samuel Smith prepares for the arrival of…

  • Lives, fortune, honor.............

    Lives, fortune, honor.............

    Location: British North American Colonies Date: July, 1776 Scenario: 13 British Colonies file for divorce We…

  • Life's Journey

    Life's Journey

    We are all at different stages of our journey through life, and whether we want to admit it or not, some of us are much…

  • We Live Among Giants

    We Live Among Giants

    We Stand On the Shoulders of Giants Immigrants, farmers, laborers, foundrymen, mechanics, sailors, clerks, engineers…

    1 条评论
  • The Old Defenders

    The Old Defenders

    Location – Baltimore, Maryland Date – September 1814 Scenario – Major General Samuel Smith prepares for the arrival of…

  • A Matter of Principal vs Going Along

    A Matter of Principal vs Going Along

    Location: Dorchester County, Maryland Date: 1778 Scenario: Matthias Travers named Captain of Dorchester County Militia…

    2 条评论
  • Something is Fishy!

    Something is Fishy!

    Location: Fish Market – Baltimore, Maryland Date: 1970 something Scenario: Young boys strolling through fish market…

    1 条评论
  • A Heritage of Honor

    A Heritage of Honor

    Immigrants, farmers, laborers, foundrymen, mechanics, sailors, clerks, engineers, husbands, brothers, fathers, sons..

  • For the Greater Good

    For the Greater Good

    When: August 1776 Where: Long Island, New York Scenario: General Washington’s Army on the brink Some have stated that…

    2 条评论
  • Lives, fortune, honor.............

    Lives, fortune, honor.............

    Location: British North American Colonies Date: 1776-1783 Scenario: 13 British Colonies file for divorce We, therefore,…

    1 条评论

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了