A flooring specification — typically called a "spec" — is a technical document that defines the exact products, performance standards, installation methods, and quality requirements for a flooring installation. In commercial construction, specifications are authored by architects or interior designers and published as part of a project's Construction Documents set. The spec governs what flooring contractors must bid and install.
Flooring specifications generally fall into two categories. A proprietary specification names a specific manufacturer's product by brand name and product number — leaving little room for substitution. A performance specification defines technical requirements (wear layer thickness, static load rating, VOC emissions, fire classification) without naming a specific product, allowing contractors to propose compliant alternatives.
In practice, most commercial flooring specs are somewhere in between: they name a "basis of design" product and allow "approved equal" substitutions, requiring the contractor to submit substitution requests for architect review.
Commercial flooring specs are organized under CSI MasterFormat Division 09. The specification for a given product will describe: the product's physical characteristics, applicable ASTM or ANSI standards it must meet, required installation method, substrate preparation requirements, environmental conditions required during and after installation, and warranty requirements.
Misreading a specification is a common source of bid errors. Using a product with a thinner wear layer than specified, omitting a required moisture test, or proposing an installation method not allowed by the spec can result in bid disqualification or post-installation liability. Always read the full spec section before pricing a commercial project.
Novi Bid is built for commercial flooring stores — from takeoff to signed contract.
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