TY - GEN
T1 - Developing a Successful Specification for Horizontal Directional Drilling
AU - Cohen, Aaron
AU - Ariaratnam, Samuel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 ASCE.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Contract specifications are critical to the success of all construction projects. This is especially important when engaging in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) projects given the general lack of knowledge of the technology by the design community. Specifications serve as the tool to communicate the requirements and expectations of the owner and the owner's representatives, and are the foundation for the construction documents that contractors rely upon to build the project. A poorly written specification does an inadequate job of communicating the owner's expectations and is generally the cause of construction claims. The adoption of HDD for the installation of underground utilities and pipelines has increased over the past two decades further necessitating the need for comprehensive specifications. Unfortunately, HDD specifications often fall short of effectively communicating project expectations. In many cases, these specifications are constructed by "cutting and pasting" sections from numerous specifications thus often being unrealistically restrictive or falling short of addressing critical issues specific to HDD. This paper discusses some of the key elements for developing a successful horizontal directional drilling specification as well as identifying some of the pitfalls to avoid. Examples of both effective and ineffective HDD contract specifications are discussed, demonstrating the consequences of poorly written specifications. Additionally, the paper discusses the new Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Specifications Section 608 "Horizontal Directional Drilling", which was released in January 2016.
AB - Contract specifications are critical to the success of all construction projects. This is especially important when engaging in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) projects given the general lack of knowledge of the technology by the design community. Specifications serve as the tool to communicate the requirements and expectations of the owner and the owner's representatives, and are the foundation for the construction documents that contractors rely upon to build the project. A poorly written specification does an inadequate job of communicating the owner's expectations and is generally the cause of construction claims. The adoption of HDD for the installation of underground utilities and pipelines has increased over the past two decades further necessitating the need for comprehensive specifications. Unfortunately, HDD specifications often fall short of effectively communicating project expectations. In many cases, these specifications are constructed by "cutting and pasting" sections from numerous specifications thus often being unrealistically restrictive or falling short of addressing critical issues specific to HDD. This paper discusses some of the key elements for developing a successful horizontal directional drilling specification as well as identifying some of the pitfalls to avoid. Examples of both effective and ineffective HDD contract specifications are discussed, demonstrating the consequences of poorly written specifications. Additionally, the paper discusses the new Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Specifications Section 608 "Horizontal Directional Drilling", which was released in January 2016.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030127471&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85030127471&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/9780784480878.050
DO - 10.1061/9780784480878.050
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85030127471
T3 - Pipelines 2017: Planning and Design - Proceedings of Sessions of the Pipelines 2017 Conference
SP - 553
EP - 563
BT - Pipelines 2017
A2 - Pridmore, Anna
A2 - Geisbush, Jim
PB - American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
T2 - Pipelines 2017 Conference: Planning and Design
Y2 - 6 August 2017 through 9 August 2017
ER -