QCS 2007 Section 1 Part 1 Introduction Page 1

1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................2

1.1 GENERAL ......................................................................................................2

1.1.1 Scope of this Section 2
1.1.2 Scope of the Qatar Construction Specification 2
1.1.3 References 2
1.1.4 Precedence of Specification and Documents 2
1.2 COMPLIANCE ...............................................................................................2
1.2.1 Compliance with the Qatar Construction Specification 2
1.2.2 Compliance with the General Conditions of Contract 2
1.3 STANDARDS .................................................................................................3
1.3.1 References to Standards 3
1.3.2 Government Published Specifications, Regulations, Notices and Circulars 3
1.3.3 Survey Marks 4
1.4 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS ..........................................................................4
1.4.1 General 4
1.4.2 The Contract 4
1.4.3 The Government 4
1.4.4 The Contractor 4
1.4.5 The Engineer 5
1.4.6 The Engineer’s Representative 5
1.4.7 The Owner 5
1.4.8 The Site 5
1.4.9 The Works 5
1.4.10 The Drawings 5
1.4.11 The Construction Plant 5
1.4.12 The Temporary Works 5
1.4.13 The Specifications 5
1.4.14 Specified 5
1.4.15 Approved 5
1.4.16 Project Documentation 5
1.4.17 Guarantee 6
1.4.18 Government Departments and Utility Services 6
1.4.19 Singular and Plural 6
1.5 ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS ...............................................................6
1.5.1 General 6
1.6 CLIMATE CONDITIONS ................................................................................8
1.6.1 General 8
1.7 LANGUAGE ...................................................................................................8
1.7.1 Contract Language 8

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL

1.1.1 Scope of this Section

1 This Section specifies the general clauses applicable to Works being carried out in
accordance with this Specification.

1.1.2 Scope of the Qatar Construction Specification

1 The clauses in this Specification are applicable in varying degrees to each and every part of
the Works. Their function is to bring together all those statements which are normally
common to most types of work.

2 The Qatar Construction Specification applies to the entire Works, whether on the Site or in
yards, workshops and factories employed elsewhere in connection with the Works.

3 Any clauses in this Specification which relate to work or materials not required by the Works
shall be deemed not to apply.

1.1.3 References

1 The following standards are referred to in this Part:

BS 5775 Quantities, units and symbols
BS 6100 Building and civil engineering terms

1.1.4 Precedence of Specification and Documents

1 The precedence of documents shall be:
(a) Particular Conditions of Contract
(b) General Conditions of Contract
(c) Project Specific Specification
(d) Project Specific and General Drawings
(e) Qatar Construction Specification

1.2 COMPLIANCE

1.2.1 Compliance with the Qatar Construction Specification

1 Unless otherwise stated in the Project Documentation, the Contractor shall comply with every
requirement of the Qatar Construction Specification that is relevant to the type of work
forming any part of the Contract and shall adopt whichever permissible option or alternative
that is best suited to the needs of the construction work being undertaken.

2 Any information in the Contract documents as to the whereabouts of existing services and
mains is approximate and for the guidance of the Contractor who shall not be relieved of his
obligations under Clause 11 of the General Conditions of Contract or Part 19 of Section 1 of
this Specification.

1.2.2 Compliance with the General Conditions of Contract

1 The Qatar Construction Specification is intended for use with the General Conditions of
Contract.

2 The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of the General Conditions of Contract in the
course of construction of the Works.

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1.3 STANDARDS

1.3.1 References to Standards

1 Any standard referred to in this Specification shall be deemed to be the version of the
standard that was current forty-two days prior to the date of return of Tenders.

2 Any standard referred to in this Specification shall be construed as reference to an equivalent

one.

3 The Contractor shall provide copies of all referenced standards applicable to the work being
undertaken. Translations of standards not written in English shall be provided where
necessary.

1.3.2 Government Published Specifications, Regulations, Notices and Circulars

1 The works shall be executed in accordance with the following Government specifications,
regulations, notices and circulars:
(a) The General Conditions of Contract prepared by the former Ministry of Public Works.
(b) The Qatar Construction Specification (QCS) issued by the Qatar General Organisation
for Standards and Metrology, 2007 and all revisions and addenda issued by QGOSM
prior to the date of the announcement inviting tenderers.
(c) The Code of Practice and Specification for Road Openings in the Highway prepared by
the Ministry of Industry & Public Works, January 1992.
(d) The Guide for Civil Users of Explosives in Qatar prepared by the former Ministry of
Public Works.
(e) The Qatar Survey Manual prepared by the Survey Section of the former Ministry of
Industry & Public Works.
(f) The Qatar Traffic Manual prepared by the former Ministry of Public Works and the
Qatar Highway Design Manual prepared by MMAA, 1997.
(g) The Traffic Control at Road Works Manual issued by the former Ministry of Industry &
Public Works.
(h) Rules, Regulations and Code of Practice for Design and Installation of Air
Conditioning, Heating, Ventilation & Refrigeration (ACHVR) Systems for Government
Buildings, 2nd Edition, 1989, prepared by Qatar General Electricity and Water
Corporation (QGEWC).
(i) Regulations for the Installation of Electrical Wiring by the former Qatar National
Telephone Services.
(j) The Regulations for the Installation of Electrical Wiring, Electrical Equipment and Air
Conditioning Equipment, Feb 2006 Edition prepared by the Qatar General Electricity
and Water Corporation (QGEWC).
(k) Rules and Regulations for Plumbing Works prepared by the Qatar General Electricity
and Water Corporation (QGEWC).
(l) Any current and relevant regulations, notices or circulars issued by the Public Works
Authority, Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Agriculture (including the previous Ministry of
Public Works and the previous Ministry of Industry and Public Works), Qatar General
Electricity and Water Corporation (QGEWC) (including the previous Ministry of
Electricity and Water), Qatar Telecom (Q-TEL), the Qatar General Organisation for
Standards and Metrology, the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural
Reserves or the appropriate local Municipality prior to the date of the announcement
inviting tenderers.
(m) State of Qatar Law No. 30 of 2002 and all subsequent amendments concerning “The
Environment and Natural Resources Protection” – Articles 6, 17, 19 & 35.
(n) State of Qatar Law No. (6) of 1987 and all subsequent amendments concerning
Materials and Equipment from Qatar or other CCASG countries.
(o) The Method of Measurement for Road and Bridgeworks published by the Ministry of
Industry and Public Works, Civil Engineering Department , 1987.
(p) Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works published by the Ministry of
Public Works, Engineering Services Department, 1973.

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(q) Safety Rules issued by the Electricity Networks Department of the former Ministry of
Electricity and Water.
(r) The Jointing Manual prepared by the Electricity Networks Department of the former
Ministry of Electricity and Water.
(s) The Labour Law, No. (14) of The Year 2004 Published by Labour Department of
Ministry of Civil Service Affairs & Housing, 2005.
(t) Developer’s Drainage Guide prepared by the Public Works Authority, 2007.

2 The Contractor shall be deemed to have his own copy of the Government specifications,
regulations, notices and circulars given at (a) to (t) above.

3 Where any standard publication, specification, regulation, notice, etc or any correspondence
refers to a Government Ministry, department, division, section, etc it will be deemed to be the
same as any successor Ministry, department, division, section, etc which has or may
subsequently be officially promulgated by the Government of the State of Qatar.

1.3.3 Survey Marks

1 The Contractor shall consult the Engineer prior to any earth or other works to determine if the
work is likely to disturb survey marks. If the Engineer requires a survey mark to be moved
the Contractor will be responsible for recreating the survey mark to an approved design and
specification, and for resurveying the point using survey companies approved by the
Engineer authority.
2 The Contractor shall be responsible for the protection of the survey marks within the
boundaries of the site for the duration of the contract period, and shall be liable for all costs of
any remedial work required by the Engineer.
3 On the practical completion of the Works the Engineer will issue a certificate stating that all
survey marks, whether disturbed or otherwise by the Contractor, have been reinstated or
protected to the satisfaction of the Engineer.
4 In the event of failure to comply with the requirements of this Clause the Engineer, without
prejudice to any other method of recovery, may deduct the costs of any remedial work after
the practical completion date carried out by the Engineer, from any monies in its hands or
which may become due to the Contractor.

1.4 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

1.4.1 General

1 Terms and definitions shall comply with the relevant provisions of BS 6100.

2 The following terms and conditions shall apply when used within, or in association with, the
Qatar Construction Specification. Terms, which are restricted in their application to certain
types of material or workmanship, are dealt with in the appropriate Section.

1.4.2 The Contract

1 The binding agreement between the Government and the Contractor for the construction of
the Works.

1.4.3 The Government

1 The Government of the State of Qatar.

1.4.4 The Contractor

1 The company or organisation responsible for the construction of the Works, and who have
entered into a contract with the Government.

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1.4.5 The Engineer

1 The person, firm or corporation appointed as such by the Owner for the purposes of the
Contract unless specified otherwise in the Project Documentation.

1.4.6 The Engineer’s Representative

1 The resident engineer or resident architect or assistant of the Engineer or any Clerk of Works
appointed from time to time by the Engineer to perform the duties set forth in Clause 2 of
General Conditions of Contract whose authority shall be notified in writing to the Contractor
by the Engineer.

1.4.7 The Owner

1 The Ministry, Municipality, Department, Affairs, Agency, Authority, or individual for whom the
Project is being undertaken and to whom the hand over of the final product will be made.

1.4.8 The Site

1 The land allocated for the Works.

1.4.9 The Works

1 The Works as defined in the Project Documentation.

1.4.10 The Drawings

1 The drawings included in the Project Documentation.

1.4.11 The Construction Plant

1 All appliances or things of whatsoever nature required in or about the execution, completion
or maintenance of the Works or Temporary Works but does not include materials or other
things intended to form or forming part of the permanent work.

1.4.12 The Temporary Works

1 All temporary works of every kind required in or about the execution, completion or
maintenance of the Works.

1.4.13 The Specifications

1 All specifications contained in the Contract including any modifications or additions thereto as
may from time to time be issued or approved in writing by the Engineer.

1.4.14 Specified

1 Specified in the Project Documentation.

1.4.15 Approved

1 Terms such as “approved’, “approved by”, “to the approval”, “as directed” and the like refer
always to approval or directions given by the Engineer in writing.

1.4.16 Project Documentation

1 All documents associated with and applicable to the Project Contract.

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1.4.17 Guarantee

1 A Guarantee is a written assurance that a material, product, component, item of equipment,

finishing or any other part of the Works meets certain defined standards or quality criteria
and/or lasts for a certain length of time.

2 A warranty is the same as a Guarantee as defined in Clause 1.4.17.1.

1.4.18 Government Departments and Utility Services

1 Any reference in the Specification to historic names of Government departments and utility
owners shall be read as the successor’s name.

2 TPA (Third Party Inspection Agency) - where stated in the documents is the approved
authority who is responsible on behalf of the Engineer for inspection/service/release.

1.4.19 Singular and Plural

1 Words importing the singular only also include the plural vice versa where the context
requires.

1.5 ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS

1.5.1 General

1 Units shall generally be in accordance with the Systèm International d’Unités and the relevant
provisions of BS 5775.

2 The following abbreviations are used in this Specification:

c centi
k kilo
m milli
M mega

A ampere
C Celsius
d day
g gram (me)
h hour
ha hectare
l litre
J joule
m metre
N Newton
Pa Pascal
sec second
t tonne
V volt
W Watt

AC Alternating Current
CI cast iron
CPVC chlorinated polyvinyl chloride
DC Direct Current
DI ductile iron
GRP glass reinforced plastic
GS galvanised steel
MSRPC moderately sulphate resisting Portland cement
OPC ordinary Portland cement
PFA pulverised fuel ash

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PVC polyvinyl chloride

PVC-U unplastisised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC)
SRPC sulphate resisting Portland cement
SS stainless steel
VC vitrified clay
XLPE cross linked poly ethylene
ACB air circuit breakdown
MCB miniature circuit breakdown
MMCB moulded case circuit breakdown
ELCB earth leakage circuit breakers
PWM pulse width modulation
LAN local area network
HP horse power
THD total harmonic distortion
UPS uninterrupted power supply

dia diameter
nr number
No. number
r radius

3 Reference to a technical society, institution, association or governmental authority is made in

the Specifications in accordance with the following abbreviations:
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
ACI American Concrete Institute
ANSI American National Standards Institute
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM American Society for Testing & Materials
AWS American Welding Institute
AWWA American Water Works Association
BS British Standard
BS EN British Euro Standards
BSI British Standard Institution
C & CA Cement and Concrete Association
CEE Commission of approval of Electrical Equipment
CIBSE Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
CIRIA Concrete Industry Research and information Association
CRSI Concrete reinforcing Steel Institute
CS Concrete Society
DIN Deutsches Institute fur Normung
EIA Electronic industries Association
EN European Standards (Euro-Norm)
FHWA Federal Highway Authority
FM Factory Mutual Engineering Division
GS Gulf Standards
ICE Institution of Civil Engineers
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IEE Institution of Electrical Engineers
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
ISO International Standard Organisation
LPC Loss Prevention Council
LPCB Loss Prevention Certification Board
MMAA Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association
NFPA National Fire Protection Agency
PCI Prestressed Concrete Institute
PWA Public Works Authority
QCS Qatar Construction Specification
QGEWC Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation

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QGOSM Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology

QGOSM-CLCD Central Laboratories and Calibration Department (Qatar General
Organization for Standards and Metrology)
QS Qatar Standards
Q-TEL Qatar Telecom
SIS Swedish Standards Commission
UK DOT United Kingdom Department of Transport
UL Underwriters Laboratories, Inc
UPDA Urban Planning and Development Authority
VDE German Electrical Commission

1.6 CLIMATE CONDITIONS

1.6.1 General

1 The Site conditions shall be assumed to be as follows for tendering purposes:

Maximum ambient temperature 50°C

Minimum ambient temperature 5°C

Design ambient temperature 50°C

Maximum metal temperature under the sun 85°C

Maximum ambient humidity 100%

Minimum ambient humidity 20%

Design ambient humidity 100%

Basic wind speed of not less than 162 km/hr

(as per CP3 : Chapter V : part 2 of the BSI)

Yearly rainfall 80 - 150 mm

2 The temperature is relatively mild from October to May and hot from June to September.

3 The relative ambient humidity is generally low from October to May and generally high from
June to September.

4 Under certain climatic conditions, considerable condensation may take place.

5 A considerable amount of salt is contained in the atmosphere which together with the
relatively high ambient humidity, can produce sever corrosion problems.

6 Distribution and occurrence of rainfall events are very erratic. Rainfall events are generally of
a high intensity with a short duration and usually occur between December and March.

7 The prevailing wind directions are from the north and west.

1.7 LANGUAGE

1.7.1 Contract Language

1 All communications, meetings and documentation shall be in English.

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END OF PART

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