Good Practice in the Selection of Construction Materials

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, it became common for construction contracts to incorporate prohibitions on the specification or use of various materials, generally in the form of excluded materials lists. Such lists have proven ineffective in practice, and a different approach was required.

The first edition of this document was designed to encourage a change in emphasis, from the exclusion of materials to ensuring good practice in their selection. This objective was achieved, as consequently contract specifications referred to that document rather than the materials exclusion list.

The updated information in this latest edition reflects the changing standards involved in materials specification and the growing importance of environmental concern regarding materials.