The 2003 AWCC SPECIFICATION STANDARDS MANUAL supersedes the original Standards Manual issued in 1978 under the title Wall and Ceiling Standards Manual and the second and third revised editions issued in 1983 and 1993 respectively.

The AWCC Specification Standards Manual has been updated to include current code requirements and latest standards and practices of the wall and ceiling industry. The Standards Manual has been prepared by the Association of Wall and Ceiling Contractors of B.C. (AWCC) to produce a high level of quality performance systems and set acceptable standards in the construction industry.

The AWCC Specification Standards Manual is a uniquely volunteer production funded totally by the AWCC as a service to the construction industry. The total cost of assembling, producing and distributing the Standards Manual has been made possible by contributions from the members of the Association of Wall and Ceiling Contractors of B.C. The members of the AWCC have spent much of their personal time and efforts volunteering to guide, assist and review the preparation of this Standards Manual. The purpose being to set a high standard of workmanship and quality of construction for products and systems used in the Wall and Ceiling industry. AWCC trusts that Design Authorities will find the Standards Manual a valued asset in preparing project specifications.

The AWCC Specification Standards Manual has a long history within the wall and ceiling industry. Changes in the industry and new building code standards make it necessary to continue updating the manual. The first edition of the present manual appeared in 1978, the second in 1983 and the third in 1993.

The 2003 manual, the fourth edition, is a major revision and expansion of a number of new specification sections that are totally new for the Wall and Ceiling industry. The 2003 AWCC Specifications Standards Manual is designed in a digital format in a CD ROM. This digital format will permit updating whenever necessary to incorporate changes that affect the wall and ceiling industry.

The AWCC Specification Standards Manual is currently endorsed by the following Associations and Groups:

	Association of Wall & Ceiling Contractors of B.C.
	B.C. Wall & Ceiling Association
	Northwest Wall & Ceiling Bureau
	Carpenter Lather Joint Board
	Plasterers Joint Management Labour Board
	Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 38
	Alberta Wall & Ceiling Bureau
	Saskatchewan Drywall & Acoustical Association
	Gypsum Association

The Manual is offered as a public service to those in the construction industry requiring, or specifying lathing and metal furring, interior plastering, stucco, sprayed texture finish, gypsum board, interior steel studs and furring, wind bearing steel studs, lightweight steel framing systems, gypsum shaft systems, sprayed cementitious fireproofing, exterior insulation and finish systems, acrylic stucco finish, acoustical ceilings, acoustical wall and ceiling panels, glass fiber reinforced gypsum, glass fiber reinforced cement and access floor systems. The manual also includes fire and sound ratings, quality assurance standards and the glossary of terms and definitions relative to the wall and ceiling industry.

The endorsing Associations gratefully acknowledge the work of the AWCC Specification Standards Manual Committee in the preparation and drafting of this edition of the Manual. The members of the AWCC Specification Standards Manual Committee are:

	J. Reeves, Executive Director, AWCC
	G. Lowes - B.C. Wall and Ceiling Association
	B. Shields - W.R. Shields Contracting Ltd.
	P. Gallagher - Gallagher Bros. Construction Ltd.
	C. Johnson - Optima Building Systems
	B. Reeve - Norwite Contracting Ltd.

The endorsing Associations gratefully acknowledge the guidance, research and work of J. Findlay & Associates Ltd., Specifications Consultant, in the planning, preparation and drafting of this edition of the AWCC Specification Standards Manual.

The AWCC wishes also to acknowledge the generous contribution of the latest edition of the FIRE RESISTANCE DESIGN MANUAL that is included with the Standards Manual. The Fire Resistance Design Manual is published by the Gypsum Association and is the most authoritive document for the design and control of fire rated gypsum systems. The Canadian Manufacturers of Gypsum Board Products have generously provided the Fire Resistance Design Manual as their contribution to the AWCC Specification Standards Manual. The AWCC Specification Standards Manual will be under constant review and as the need arises, periodic revisions will be issued. Suggestions toward the improvement of the manual are welcomed by the A.W.C.C. Such suggestions and any inquiries concerning the contents of the manual should be directed to the Executive Director, Association of Wall and Ceiling Contractors of British Columbia, c/o #112 - 8484 162nd Street, Surrey, B.C. V4N 1B4 Phone (604) 597-8744, Fax (604) 597-7208, e-mail awcc@telus.net.

The need for specification standards for lathing, metal furring, interior plastering, stucco, gypsum board, gypsum shaft walls, steel studs, exterior insulation and finish systems, acoustic ceilings and other associated wall and ceiling systems related to the construction industry, that would produce quality performance and workmanship, consistent with economy and efficiency and that would also promote the use of standard specifications has long been recognized by the Associations endorsing this manual. The AWCC Specification Standards Manual has been prepared to fill this need and at the same time provide the Design Authority with a basic knowledge of the applicable products and application techniques. Each section of the manual has been divided into four parts as follows:

	Part 1 - Introduction
	Part 2 - Products
	Part 3 - Application
	Part 4 - Guide Specification

Part 1 - Introduction describes in general terms the history and background of the various materials and systems associated with each particular section.
Part 2 - Products describes in generic terms products which the AWCC has accepted and established as industry standards. The terminology used to identify each particular product is consistent throughout the manual.
Part 3 - Application describes application procedures based on industry experience and accepted trade practice which will assure quality workmanship and application.
Part 4 - Guide Specification In order to provide accurate, concise and consistent project specifications and to ensure the proper use of these standards, a recommended guide specification has been developed for incorporation into project specifications and is included as Part 4 in each section of the manual. The guide specification format will allow the use of abbreviated specifications while still assuring that all the requirements pertaining to each section, as contained within the AWCC Specification Standards Manual are incorporated into the project specification.

The exception to the four part division for each section are the following sections:

	Section 9.14 - Acoustical Ceilings
	Section 9.15 - Metal Ceiling Systems
	Section 9.16 - Acoustical Wall and Ceiling Panels
	Section 9.19 - Access Floor Systems

Because of the many variations in types of materials, the design options, variety of performance characteristics and price range Part 2 - Products and Part 3 - Application have not been produced for Sections 9.14, 9.15, 9.16 and 9.19 as was done for the other sections of the Standards Manual. In other sections, Part 2 - Products included specific products in generic terms with Part 3 - Application covering the installation of such products. This allowed for the preparation of an abbreviated, short from guide specification format which referenced directly back to Parts 2 and 3 of that particular section by the use of reference numbers only. The many variations available under Sections 9.14, 9.15, 9.16 and 9.19 does not lend itself to the use of such an abbreviated short-form guide specification format. In lieu of such an abbreviated guide specification referencing directly to AWCC Specification Standards Manual, a guide specification is included to provide the Design Authority with a comprehensive format which will allow for editing and addition of the particular products and systems selected by the Design Authority and at the same time comply with the required standards for each section.

A complete description of the contents of the AWCC Specification Standards Manual has been included under the "Scope of Manual" section.

The manual has been prepared and printed using metric and imperial dimensions and measurement units. A guide to the conversation to metric measurements used in the standards has been included under the "Metric Guide" section.

For the purpose of this manual the term "Contractor" where used in this standards manual refers to the "General Contractor" or "Prime Contractor".

The term "Consultant" or "Design Authority" where used in the standards manual refers to the architect, engineer, or other specifying or design authority. The term "Consultant" is that used to describe the design authority in the Canadian Construction Document for Stipulated Price Contract - CCDC2 and other CCDC documents.