New CSI Webinar Series Provides Overview of Construction Specifications

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Jan. 13, 2009 - The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) announces a new Webinar education series in February that will provide an overview of construction specifications for construction professionals who must understand, but not write, specifications. Participants in Fundamentals of Construction Specifications will learn what specifications are, who uses them and how they contribute to successful projects.

"As a national association dedicated to improving construction documents and project delivery through standards and formats, we are pleased to offer the Fundamentals of Construction Specifications Webinar series, which will provide an introduction to the concept of specifications," said CSI Executive Director and CEO Walter Marlowe, P.E., CSI, CAE.

Fundamentals of Construction Specifications will take place on Thursdays, between February 5 and February 26, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EST. Each Web-based, interactive session will focus on a different topic:

• February 12 - Relevance, Awareness and Relationships will address the relevance and relationships of specifications, and how they contribute to project success.
• February 19 - Contribution and Importance will discuss how specifications are used to clearly communicate project information and how they convert the design concept to construction language.
• February 26 - Use and Value will cover who uses specifications, when they use them and the value specifications provide to the owner and project team.

Participants can earn 0.6 CSI CEUs, 6 AIA LUs, HSW for completing the entire series. Discounts are available to students (proof of student status is required). Fundamentals of Construction Specifications is an overview of specifications - ideal for professionals who must understand specifications, but not write them. The series focuses on the concepts and purposes of specifications. The educational series is relevant to a wide-range of construction professionals - from emerging professionals and interns to experienced product representatives, facility managers, architects and owners - who need to understand the role of specifications in their own duties. The series will address the role of construction specifications and how they contribute to successful project delivery.

Ralph W. Liebing, RA, CSI, CPCA, CBO, will lead the four-part educational series. Mr. Liebing, senior architect -specifications with Hixson Architects/Engineers/Interiors, has more than 45 years of industry experience in both the public and private sectors. He is a published author, a certified professional code administrator and building official in Ohio, and has taught courses on topics ranging from architectural technology to construction regulations/documentation.

Participants can view the session materials and ask questions of the instructor in real-time during each of the 90-minute, Web-based sessions. CSI Webinars are designed to be convenient and affordable. One fee covers the registration for all participants at a single site. Participants can register for an individual session, or save money and guarantee a seat by registering for the entire four-part program for one fee.

To sign up for the Webinar series, please visit the Education page of http://www.csinet.org/, or call Erica Smedley Cox at (800) 689-2900 x4732.