Education Report - Specifier: October 2015

The Principles of Construction Documentation (PCD) is scheduled to begin October 19th and there is still time to register. Feedback from previous students is the classroom learning environment is the best way to help learn and better understand the subject matter. The PCD is the first course, and a prerequisite, for all of the CSC education streams. These are Certified Technical Representative, Certified Construction Contract Administrator, and Certified Specification Practitioner. It is also a strong foundational course for people who are new to the construction industry or want to better understand construction documentation (specifications, drawings and schedules), products, bidding procedures and contracts.

The focus is to emphasize the relationship that exists between specifications and drawings, and the role of the industry participants. Contract documents and the project manual have an intrinsic relationship with each other, with standard pre-printed contract documents, and with associated documents; this course explains these relationships.

Introduction

Construction Process: Players and Roles; Owner Expectations; Budget Process; Project Phases; and the Bidding Process

Production of Construction Documents: The Project Manual; Format Documents; Specifying Methods; Language and Style; Specification Writing, Editing and Co-ordination; and Document Interpretation

Forms of Contract: Contract Delivery

Codes and Standards: Codes and Code Content; Standards and Testing Agencies; Zoning By-Laws and Permits; and Environmental issues

Risk Management Issues: Risk and Liability

Legal Issues: Legal Issues; and Contract Law and Court Decisions Building Science: Basic Building Principles; Product Evaluation and Selection; Sustainability Issues; and Diagnostic Methods, Non-Destructive Testing

Contract Administration: Authority of the Contract Administrator; Time Management; Submittals, Alternatives and Substitutions; Changes in the Work; The Commissioning Process; and Performance, Termination and Dispute Resolutions

Communications: Communications and Projects on the Internet

Trends in the Construction Industry: The History of Standardizing Construction Information; New Initiatives in Standardization; and Professional Development

The CSC Vancouver chapter was planning to have a Construction Contract Administration begining this fall. However, there were not enough students registered and otheres that required the PCD pre-requisit. Based on the schedule of those that were going to register the Chapter has postponed the course until the beginning of 2016. When the dates have been confirmed I will e-mail those who have contacted me in and post the information on the website.

The CSC Vancouver chapter has reached out to a few potential instructors about teaching previous courses. If you are interested in teaching a full course or would like to help co-teach a course please contact me to discuss your interests.

For further information please contact me at robert@div7.ca

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