One document, many people
A customer wants a new office wired. The installer, the electrician, the builder and the inspector all need to know the plan.
If each person works from their own idea, cable ends up where nobody expected. One agreed document stops that. It is the design specification.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Design specification | the document that says what will be installed, where and how |
| Statement of requirement | the customer's list of what they need, short name SOR |
| Bill of materials | a list of every item and how many are needed |
| Floor plan | a drawing of each room from above |
| Containment | trunking, tray or conduit that holds cable |
| Labelling | a clear name on every cable, socket and port |
| Warranty | a promise to put faults right for a set time |
| Declaration of performance | a maker's paper that states how a cable performs, including its fire class |
| Contractual penalty | money owed if the job is late or poor |
| Future-proofing | leaving room to grow so nothing is torn out later |
| Procedure | a set of steps to follow in order |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say what a design specification is for and name each of its parts.
Starter: links and channels
Have a go
Starter: links and channels
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The purpose of the specification
The specification gives a technical overview of the components. It is the one place where the design, the parts, the records and the rules are written down.
It is also a promise. The customer can check the finished work against it.
The parts, first half
| Part | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Statement of requirement | What the customer needs: users, outlets, speeds, places |
| Bill of materials | Every item, with a number: cable, panels, outlets, racks |
| Building plans | The walls, floors and ceilings of the building |
| Floor plans | Rooms, desks and where each outlet goes |
| Power and cooling diagram | Where the power sockets are and how air moves |
| Containment layout plans | Where trunking and tray run |
| Cable route plans | The path of every cable, from outlet to rack |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
The parts, second half
| Part | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Labelling | The naming scheme for cables, outlets and ports |
| Documentation | As-fitted drawings and test results handed over at the end |
| Certification and warranty | Proof the work passed tests, and the length of the guarantee |
| Declaration of performance | The maker's paper for the cable, including its fire class |
| Installation procedures | The method and safety steps to follow |
| Contractual penalties | What is owed if the work is late or below the standard |
| Future-proofing and growth | Spare capacity and space so the site can grow |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.