General Construction Specifications
PART 1 - GENERAL
01 WORK INCLUDED
A. Materials, labor, installation methods, tools and services for a complete and operating installation of and systems contained in the Contract Documents and as listed below, but not limited to. The Contractor shall coordinate this section with other sections of the Contract Documents. The Contractor shall use the most stringent in case of any discrepancy.
B. Principal features of the work included are as follows.
1. Plumbing interface with site utilities.
2. Exterior plumbing excavation, backfilling and compaction.
3. Plumbing piping and accessories.
4. Plumbing piping hangers and supports.
5. Plumbing piping sleeves.
6. Plumbing piping insulation.
7. Plumbing piping identification and painting.
8. Plumbing specialties.
9. Plumbing fixtures.
10. Domestic water heater(s).
11. Rough-in installation, and final connection of services to Owner Furnished/Contractor Installed Equipment.
12. Anchor bolts, supports and similar items to be built into concrete, masonry and drywall board.
13. Counterflashing of penetrations thru roofs.
14. Testing and balancing of plumbing systems.
15. Preparation and submittal of maintenance manuals, shop drawings, product data and samples.
16. Plumbing submittals.
17. Maintaining a record set of Contract Drawings and/or sepias and marking them to indicate locations of concealed items, piping and associated items, and deviations made to suit conditions and production of plumbing as-built (record) drawings.
1.02 RELATED WORK
A. Cutting and patching.
B. Storage and protection.
C. Project record documents.
D. Concrete foundations, support and housekeeping pads.
E. Rough carpentry (fire treated wood support blocking in walls required for attaching plumbing piping and/or associated items.
F. Flashing (flashing for plumbing items penetrating walls and roof).
G. Electrical power, connections and interlocks, including control wiring (120 volt and above).
1.03 LOCAL CONDITIONS
A. Conform with and to local conditions. Coordinate with local utilities on size of required utilities, services, and pay fees required for such services.
1.04 INTENT
A. The Contract Documents (drawings, plans and specifications) describe the plumbing work of this project. Any item mentioned in one part shall be as binding as though mentioned in both.
B. The Contract Documents form a guide for a complete plumbing installation. Where an item is reasonably necessary but not specifically mentioned, such as unions, piping offsets, transitions, etc., for a complete system, provide same without additional cost to the Owner.
C. Plumbing layouts indicated on the Contract Drawings are diagrammatical only. Exact locations of piping, and fixtures shall be governed by the Drawings of related trades. Owner, Architect and Engineer reserves the right to make reasonable changes in location of plumbing and appurtenances.
1.05 DEVIATIONS
A. Deviations from Contract Drawings and Specifications shall not be made without the full knowledge and written consent of the Architect and Engineer.
B. Should the Contractor find during progress of work, that in his judgement, existing conditions make modification of any particular requirements desireable, he shall report such item promptly to the Architect/Engineer for decision or instructions.
1.06 QUALITY ASSURANCE
A. Comply and meet with applicable federal, state and local code requirements.
B. Comply and meet with applicable requirements of recognized industry associations which promulgate standards for the various trades.
C. Employ only qualified journeymen for prescribed and specified work. Employ competent, qualified mechanics to supervise the labor and installation.
1.07 CODES AND STANDARDS
A. Perform work specified and shown under Division 15 in accordance with required codes and standards listed below, and such standards that may be specified in other sections of the specifications. When these specifications are more stringent, they shall take precedence. In case of any conflict, obtain a decision from the Architect and/or Engineer.
1. NFPA 54: National Fuel and Gas Code.
2. NFPA 101: Life Safety Code.
3. Applicable federal, state and local building and trade codes and requirements.
4. ANSI Handicapped Code - A117.1.
5. Applicable federal, state and local administrative and energy codes.
6. Applicable local/city plumbing and fire protection codes and/or regulations.
7. AGA: American Gas Association.
8. ANSI: American National Standards Institute.
9. ASHRAE: American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.
10. ASME: American Society for Mechanical Engineers.
11. ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials.
12. AWWA: American Water Works Association.
13. SBC: Standard Building Code, including applicable plumbing codes (when applicable).
14. MSS: Manufacturer's Standardization Society of the Valve and Fitting Industry.
15. NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturer's Association.
16. NFPA: National Fire Protection Association.
17. UL: Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
18. FM: Factory Mutual Engineering (where applicable).
19. EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency.
1.08 COORDINATION
A. Visit the site and be informed of conditions under which work must be performed. No subsequent allowance will be made because of error or failure to obtain the necessary information to completely estimate and perform the work shown on the Contract Drawings, specified and/or involved.
B. Carefully review and examine the Contract Drawings and Specifications so as to be thoroughly familiar with items which require plumbing connections and coordination.
C. Notify other tradesmen of any deviations or special conditions necessary for the installation of work. Resolve interferences between work of various contractors prior to installation. If necessary, remove and properly reinstall without additional cost to the Owner, Architect and/or Engineer, work not installed in accordance with the Contract Drawings and Specifications and without proper coordination. The Architect shall be the mediating authority in deviation and conflict disputes arising on the project.
D. Provide "right-of-way" to piping which must or shall require slope for drainage.
E. Coordinate and advise masonry and drywall sub-contractors to leave proper and required chases and openings. Place outlets, anchors, sleeves, and supports prior to pouring of concrete, or installation of associated work. Should Contractor neglect doing this, any cutting and/or patching required shall be done at the Contractors expense.
1.09 SUBMITTALS
A. Within thirty (30) calendar days after the award of contract for the work, and before installation, Contractor shall submit product data as required and as described below.
1. Submit in three-ring hard cover binder book, or other binded book means, the following items under the Specifications Sections as listed. Submittal of the following shall be issued together, simultaneously as described above. If submittal is not submitted as described herewith, it is subject to rejection, in whole, and shall be returned for compliance and resubmittal.
a) 15410: Plumbing Piping and Accessories.
b) 15415: Plumbing Piping Hangers and Supports.
c) 15420: Plumbing Piping Sleeves.
d) 15430: Plumbing Piping Insulation.
e) 15435: Plumbing Identification and Painting.
f) 15440: Plumbing Specialties.
g) 15441: Plumbing Fixtures.
h) 15445 thru 15451: Domestic Water Heater.
2. Include fixtures, sizes, utility sizes, trim, and finishes.
3. Submit and indicate pump(s) type, capacity, power requirements, and affected adjacent construction. Include certified pump curves showing pump performance characteristics with pump and system operating point plotted.
4. Submit any necessary information for Architect/Engineer to understand properly the data submitted. Architect/Engineer reserves the right to request additional submittal information.
5. Submit a minimum of eight (8) copies of the complete submittal as described above and herewith for review. Contact Architect for proper and required submittal process and procedures.
B. Products or materials not specified or listed as an equivalent product or material under all specifications sections, and products or materials not submitted for prior to bid approval shall not be acceptable for installation. If any said non-approved products or materials are submitted for construction installation they shall be rejected. If any said non-approved products or materials are installed, they shall be removed from their installation location(s) and removed from the project site, and replaced with approved product(s) or materials at no cost to the Owner/Architect/Engineer. No exceptions shall be accepted.
02 NON-SPECIFIED/LISTED PRODUCT OR MATERIAL SUBSTITUTIONS
A. Prior To Bid Approval Product or Material Substitution Submittal Process.
1. Any product or material not listed as acceptable, or listed as an equivalent, under the Contract Specifications, or shown on the Contract Drawings, in which any manufacturer, Contractor, or subcontractor would like to submit on for approval shall meet the following criteria. If the following criteria is not complied with, the product or material substitution requested shall be denied.
a) Refer to Specifications Section 15309: Plumbing Product or Material Substitution Request Form. Comply fully with this request form by completing it and following the herewith pre-bid submission specified requirements. Failure to follow the specified submission process and requirements shall result in rejection of the submission for substitutions of products or materials, in part, or in whole.
b) Shall be submitted ten (10) working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) prior to the announced bid opening date.
c) The submission of any product or material shall be in the office of the Engineer of record on or before the eleventh (11) working day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) by 5:00 P.M. prior to the announced bid opening date, to be considered for prior bid approval.
d) Each submission shall give all required information regarding the product or material, so as to fully convey the equivalence of the product or material including; capacities, construction, warranties, sizes, installation requirements, connections required, cutsheets and any other items specified, to be given consideration for prior bid approval.
e) Each submission shall have an attached letter or form requesting prior bid approval, along with the Substitution Request Form and it shall be dated and shall list addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers and contact persons names, in the event the Architect/Engineer need to verify information on the product or material submitted.
f) It is the responsibility of the manufacturer, the manufacturer's representative, Contractor, or sub-contractor to prove the submitted product or material is an equivalent.
g) Telephone calls or fax transmissions requesting approval, or to discuss the substitution, shall not be accepted.
h) Products or materials submitted, following the above listed procedure correctly, and found by the Architect/Engineer to be an equivalent and acceptable to be submitted on this project, shall be approved in a written addendum prior to the announced bid opening date. Verbal approvals shall not be given.
I) Submit Plumbing Product or Material Substitution Request Form and associated specified items in duplicate, two (2) copies each. One (1) copy shall be returned to the party submitting the request form.
03 OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE MANUALS
A. Three sets of the following data are required.
1. Operating and maintenance instructions.
2. Spare parts list.
3. Copies of approved submittal data.
4. Equipment warranties.
5. Copies of domestic water piping system(s) disinfectant residual test results report.
B. Arrange each set of data in an orderly way, and bind each set in a separate three-ring, hard cover binder book or books form.
C. Upon completion of work, deliver one complete set to the Owner or Owner's Representative.
1.12 DELIVERY AND STORAGE OF MATERIALS
A. Use care in loading, unloading, transport, and storage of products, items and materials to keep said products, items and materials from damage.
B. Replace with new products, items or materials any products, items or materials which become damaged.
C. Storage products, items and materials from weather in a clean and dry place.
1.13 RECORD DRAWINGS
A. Keep a record set of blueline prints at the job site exclusively for recording deviations from those Contract Drawings which are necessary because of job conditions. Record locations and depths of buried and concealed piping by indicating top depths of buried piping and the distances from fixed, easily identifiable objects such as building walls. Where pipes are concealed in walls, indicate distances off of building corners or other building features not likely to be disturbed by future alterations or construction. Mark deviations in colored pencils or pen so that work of various systems can be easily identified. Deliver this set to the Owner or Owner's Representative upon completion of subparagraph "B" listed below.
B. When work is completed, record all deviations on clean reproducible sepia copies of Contract Drawings and submit sepias of completed "Record Drawings" to Owner or Owner's Representative for required distribution.
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
04 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
A. Within the Contract Documents, relating to plumbing systems, manufacturers' names, catalog numbers, and other references to materials and are made. Such references and specifications are made so as to establish the standards of quality and types required for this project, and not to totally limit competition. Hence, the "or equivalents" are as listed in the specifications and also the availability of the request for product or material substitution herewith. Reasonable requests for product or material substitution of prior approved products as an "equivalent" shall be considered if the set guidelines listed under Paragraph 1.10 "Product or Material Substitution" are followed as listed. It is, and shall be, the sole judgement of the Architect/Engineer for acceptability of products, items and materials proposed for substitution based on the prior approval of submitted information, and the past experience of said products, items and materials.
B. Products, items, equipment, fixtures and materials used, approved, and installed in carrying out these specifications shall be of domestic origin and manufacture, unless specified to be of a foreign manufacturer.
C. Use specified products, fixtures, and materials as a basis for bidding.
D. Where substitutions are desired, comply with the specified requirements of Paragraph 1.10 "Product Substitution", and Specifications Section 15309: Plumbing Product or Material Substitution Request Form.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
05 LOCATIONS
A. Plumbing layouts indicated on the Contract Drawings are diagrammatical. Exact locations of pipes and may vary because of conflicts with work of other trades. Contractors shall work out any and all conflicts where relocations will not affect operation or appearance of systems. Where conflicts cannot be worked out between trades, Architect/Engineer shall decide. Architect/Engineer reserves the right to make reasonable changes in exact locations without additional cost to the Owner/Architect/Engineer.
B. Locate fixtures, and materials requiring periodic servicing so that it is readily accessible. DO NOT back up services sides to walls, nor place it too close to other to make service impractical.
06 UTILITIES, EXCAVATING AND BACKFILLING
A. Perform trenching, excavation and backfilling for plumbing systems work in accordance with other sections of these specifications.
07 CUTTING AND PATCHING
A. Repair or replace routine damage caused by cutting in performance of contract work.
B. Correct unnecessary damage caused due to installation of mechanical, plumbing or any division of contract work.
C. Perform repairs with materials which match existing and install in accordance with the appropriate section of specifications.
08 COUNTERFLASHING
A. Counterflash pipes and any penetrations thru roofs and exterior walls as required to provide a watertight seal. Refer to other sections of the specifications for additional requirements.
09 CONNECTIONS TO EQUIPMENT OR FIXTURES FURNISHED BY OWNER OR "OTHERS"
A. Install Owner furnished equipment, fixtures or and fixtures furnished by "others" and make final utility connections shown on the plumbing contract drawings that require such. Field verify exact connection points and installation required.
B. Provide proper rough-ins, piping, valves, unions, strainers, pressure reducing valves, and associated items and connect equipment.
C. Operating valves and controls shall be provided as an integral part of Owner or "others" furnished or fixtures.
D. Rough-ins of utilities which conflict with approved shop drawings, or manufacturers cutsheets shall be changed at no expense to the Owner/Architect/Engineer.
010 SERVICES OF SYSTEMS
A. If fixtures, products or are placed in service prior to final acceptance of the project by the Owner/Architect/Engineer, operate strictly in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
1. Employ competent, qualified personnel in operation of fixtures, products and equipment.
2. Provide proper operation and cleanliness.
3. Where water gauges indicate a necessity, install new filters. Clean strainers in systems before turning over to Owner after final acceptance of the project by the Owner/Architect/Engineer.
4. If Owner/Architect/Engineer directs it, open up fixtures, products or for inspections, close fixtures, products or equipment, and operate in his/their presence for as long as he/they determine it is necessary.
B. Lubricate and service fixtures, products and and perform such other maintenance as required to place in first class operating condition.
C. Before final review and inspection of project by the Owner/Architect/Engineer, Contractor and subcontractors shall clean and polish all fixtures, products, and materials. Also, all required balancing of systems, systems tests, and the placement of all systems in full operating condition shall be completed. If upon the start of the final review and inspection the Owner/Architect/Engineer determine that the above requirements have not been meet, the Owner/Architect/Engineer reserves the right to refuse a final review and inspection at that time, and the total cost of rescheduling the final review and inspection including travel, meals, and any reasonable expenses, shall be paid for in full by the Contractor. Refer to the paragraph below for additional requirements in relation to final reviews and inspection.
3.02 FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF SYSTEMS
A. Complete the following before requesting a final review and inspection.
1. Work required under this division of the specifications except as permitted. Special attention shall be paid to completion of work required under the sections for plumbing, fire protection, and medical gases identification, cleaning, test and start-up requirements and any related electrical provisions.
2. Final review and inspection shall not take place until requirements and specifications of paragraph/subparagraph 3.06-C have been completed.
3. Furnish required and specified operating instructions, diagrams, project record documents and associated items and requirements in accordance with Division One (1) of the specifications.
4. Owner/Architect/Engineer shall accept the project on the basis of final tests, reports and visual on-site inspection. Contractor/Subcontractor shall furnish the necessary mechanics to operate any and all systems and shall make the required and/or requested necessary adjustments, and shall assist with, and during, the final review and inspection.
B. Contractor/Subcontractor shall certify in writing the following items have been completed prior to final review and inspection.
1. Owning and operating manuals have been completed and delivered to the Owner or Owner's Representative.
2. Any, and all, required and specified certifications by individual sections of the specifications and Contract Drawings have been completed and delivered to the Owner or Owner's Representative.
3. Record "as built" drawings delivered to the Owner or Owner's Representative.
4. Any herewith specified requirements for completion before final review and inspection.
3.03 WARRANTY AND SERVICE
A. After final acceptance of the project by the Owner/Architect/Engineer, the Owner shall accept and assume responsibility of supervision, operating and maintaining fixtures, items, and systems. The Owner shall lubricate motors and other operating components, cleaning of strainers, make minor adjustments for proper operating conditions, and report defective materials and/or workmanship to the Contractor. The Owner shall and will make emergency repairs only if the Contractor is totally unavailable, and such repairs shall in no case void a warranty or guarantee.
B. During the warranty period of one (1) year after the date of Certificate of Substantial Completion, the Contractor and/or supplier shall replace defective parts, materials and correct defective workmanship without delay.
C. For fixtures, items and or defective workmanship critical to operations, the Contractor/Supplier is expected to normally perform warranty work within 24-hours after notice from the Owner. Should it be impractical for the Contractor/Supplier to comply within this specified time limit, the Owner shall be made aware of the delay and other appropriate arrangements shall be worked out with the Owner to maintain necessary operational capability.
D. For fixtures, items or not critical to building operations, warranty work shall be performed as soon as possible, normally within five (5) working days. Should availability of repair, parts, fixtures, items or make the foregoing time limit impractical, the Owner shall be notified of the circumstances and an expected correction date.
END OF SECTION
