How is this right answer?!

project management
1

ISN’T THE OUTLINE SPECS IN DD. ??? PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS ANSWER OF ONE OF THE QUIZZES…

(screenshots removed)

2

Hi @karim.yussuf! Thank you for your question.

Outline specifications could take place in either SD or DD, depending on the project. As stated in the quiz answer explanation, it is a general list that identifies the scope of work and lists major CSI divisions of work for the project. Therefore, it is one of the earliest steps in the design process.

For this question, we must determine the appropriate items to be performed, as well as the sequence they will take place in. You can use a variety of strategies here, including a process of elimination and a logical order of operations. I would tackle this question as follows:

  1. First, eliminate the unused answer choices.
  • Programming occurs before SD, so this choice will not be used.
  • Bid review and submittal review occurs after CD, so these choices will not be used.

  1. This leaves us with our three answers to be put in order: outline specifications, MEP/S coordination, and project manual.

  2. Start with what I know:

  • The project manual will be developed during the CD phase, as it entails detailed information of the project in conjunction with the construction documents.
  • Outline specifications could be issued in either SD or DD, so we must determine which of the two makes most sense given the information provided.

  1. We cannot perform MEP/S coordination if we do not know what systems will be used, so we will want to have outline specifications completed prior.

  2. Therefore, outline specifications will occur during the SD phase and MEP/S coordination will occur during the DD phase in this scenario.

I know this is a lot, but remember that you are to provide the best correct answer(s) on the ARE, even though other answers may be “correct” in different scenarios. Hope this helps!

FYI - we do not allow screenshots of our paid content to be shared, so I have removed them from your post.

Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles

3

Thanks Kiara, and you might be right. But I was talking about how B101 listed this issue. it’s clearly stated that Outline Specs happens during DD. that’s why I wanted to confirm!

4

@karim.yussuf I understand where you are coming from and yes, the AIA B101 states: "The Design Development Documents shall also include outline specifications that identify
major materials and systems and establish, in general, their quality levels."

While the outline specs would typically be issued in DD per the contract, they could also take place during SD (or at least start to be developed earlier). As we all know, every project is different and various factors contribute to schedule decisions. For exam purposes, I would use what you know from the contracts, while considering all information presented in a given question. In this question, there were other factors to consider which resulted in outline specs occurring earlier in the design process.

Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles