M02.01
Reading the spec: 09 67 00 and friends
How to find, mark, and not invent requirements in a project manual.
- Find the flooring spec and related sections
- Extract products, prep, mils, tests, and submittals into a job matrix
- Spot 'or equal' language without approving equals
Where the truth lives
Most of our work lives in CSI Division 09 — finishes — especially 09 67 00 Fluid-Applied Flooring. Pharma and containment work may also pull Division 07 (membrane), 09 67 23 (resinous), or owner standards that override CSI entirely (GM, hospital design guidelines, Piramal / corporate EHS). Always search the whole manual for 'resinous,' 'epoxy,' 'urethane,' 'cove,' 'ESD,' 'moisture,' and the product names listed.
Building the requirements matrix (every bid and every award)
- 01Identity
Project name, number, issue date, addenda. Freeze a PDF set. Never estimate from a forwarded photo of a page.
- 02System
Resin type, mil thickness, broadcast, topcoat, color, texture / coefficient of friction, cove height, ESD if any.
- 03Prep & tests
CSP profile, shot blast vs grind, moisture tests (often ASTM F2170), crack repair, joint treatment.
- 04Submittals & QA
Data sheets, samples, applicator qualifications, mockups, mil testing, punch, extra stock.
- 05Constraints
Odor, occupied space, hours, infection control, union, prevailing wage, owner-direct vendors.
Documents that sit next to the spec
| Document | Why admin opens it |
|---|---|
| Drawings (architectural, structural, process) | Extents, drains, pads, slopes, rooms included / excluded |
| Finish schedule | Room-by-room system, color, base |
| Owner standards | May ban products or require specific vendors |
| Division 01 | Submittal procedure, substitution process, closeout, hours |
| Concrete section | Who owns floor flatness, who owns moisture, who owns joints |
Takeaways
- The spec is the job. Marketing sheets are not.
- Related sections (concrete, joints, drains, walls) will kill you if ignored.
- Admin builds the requirements matrix; estimating owns interpretation.
SOPSOP Section 5 — Sales, CRM & EstimatingSOP Section 4 — Administrative Staff