# Specification Consistency Check > Cross-discipline consistency analysis for multi-chapter construction and infrastructure specifications — finds contradictions across HVAC, Electrical, Structural, Architectural, Fire Protection, and MEP, validates standard references, and generates RFIs. Tags: Construction, Specifications, Quality Assurance, Cross-Discipline, RFI, Infrastructure, Engineering ## Example Prompts - Check this project manual for contradictions between the HVAC and Electrical specifications - Validate cross-references across all divisions in this spec package - Find any outdated or withdrawn standard references in this specification - Analyze this spec for fire rating inconsistencies between Architectural and Fire Protection divisions - Generate RFIs for all critical contradictions found in the spec URL: https://rakenne.app/skills/spec-consistency-check/index.md Try this skill: https://rakenne.app/a/?skill=spec-consistency-check ## Overview Cross-discipline consistency analysis for multi-chapter construction and infrastructure specifications. Upload a project manual or individual division specs and the agent will systematically cross-reference requirements across disciplines — HVAC, Electrical, Structural, Architectural, Fire Protection, and MEP — to find contradictions, orphaned cross-references, and outdated standard citations. Every finding includes exact clause references and quoted text so practitioners can act on it without re-reading the full spec. Manual specification cross-referencing on a 500-page project manual can take a spec coordinator 3-5 days. The most costly contradictions — voltage mismatches between HVAC and Electrical, fire rating inconsistencies between Fire Protection and Architectural, material grade conflicts between Structural and Architectural — are often caught only during construction, when they become change orders averaging $10K-$500K each. This skill catches them at the spec review stage. ## Getting Started Upload your project specification (PDF or text) to the workspace, then activate the *Specification Consistency Check* skill. The agent will parse the document structure, identify CSI MasterFormat divisions, and ask which discipline pairs you want to cross-check. You can focus on specific pairs (e.g., HVAC vs. Electrical) or run a full cross-discipline analysis. ## Example Conversation Below is an example of a cross-discipline consistency check on a commercial building project specification. > **You:** I've uploaded the project manual for the Riverside Office Tower — about 320 pages covering Divisions 01 through 28. Check for contradictions between all MEP disciplines and Architectural. > > **Agent:** I've parsed the project manual and identified 14 CSI divisions. Let me map each to its discipline area and build a cross-reference index. > > **Parsed structure:** > > | Division | Title | Discipline | > |----------|-------|-----------| > | 01 | General Requirements | General | > | 03 | Concrete | Structural | > | 05 | Metals | Structural | > | 07 | Thermal and Moisture Protection | Architectural | > | 08 | Openings | Architectural | > | 09 | Finishes | Architectural | > | 21 | Fire Suppression | Fire Protection | > | 22 | Plumbing | MEP — Plumbing | > | 23 | HVAC | MEP — Mechanical | > | 26 | Electrical | MEP — Electrical | > | 27 | Communications | MEP — Low Voltage | > | 28 | Electronic Safety and Security | MEP — Low Voltage / Fire Protection | > > I found 47 internal cross-references. I'll now systematically analyze the following discipline pairs: HVAC↔Electrical, HVAC↔Architectural, Plumbing↔Architectural, Fire Protection↔Architectural, Fire Protection↔MEP, and Electrical↔Low Voltage. > > **You:** Go ahead, run the full analysis. > > **Agent:** Analysis complete. I found **11 findings** across 4 discipline pairs: **3 Critical**, **5 Warning**, **3 Info**. > > Here are the critical findings: > > ### [CRITICAL] — HVAC/Electrical voltage mismatch for AHU-1 > > **Section 23 73 00** (Air Handling Units), Paragraph 2.1.A: > > "Air Handling Unit AHU-1: 480V, 3-phase, 60 Hz. Motor: 25 HP." > > **Section 26 24 16** (Panelboards), Paragraph 2.2.C, Panel Schedule MDP-M: > > "Circuit 4 — AHU-1: 208V, 3-phase, 40A" > > **Conflict**: AHU-1 is specified as 480V in the HVAC spec but the electrical panel schedule allocates a 208V circuit. A 480V motor connected to a 208V circuit will not operate and could be damaged. > > **Suggested resolution**: Confirm with the MEP engineer whether AHU-1 is 480V (requiring a 480V panel) or 208V (requiring a different motor). This must be resolved before equipment procurement. > > ### [CRITICAL] — Fire rating inconsistency for corridor walls > > **Section 09 21 16** (Gypsum Board Assemblies), Paragraph 2.3.B: > > "Corridor partitions: UL Design No. V438, 1-hour fire-rated assembly" > > **Section 21 05 00** (Common Work Results for Fire Suppression), Paragraph 1.5.A: > > "All corridors serving as part of the means of egress shall have 2-hour fire-rated enclosures per IBC Section 1020.1" > > **Conflict**: Architectural specifies 1-hour corridor walls (UL V438) but Fire Protection requires 2-hour enclosures per IBC 1020.1. The code section cited applies to exit access corridors in buildings requiring 2-hour construction — if this building type requires 2-hour corridors, the architectural assembly must be upgraded. > > **Suggested resolution**: Verify the building's construction type and required corridor rating per IBC Table 1020.1. Issue an RFI to the architect. > > I also flagged 3 outdated standard references — ASTM C150 cited without the combined /C150M designation, ACI 530 referenced instead of TMS 402, and ASHRAE 90.1-2016 cited when the project contract requires 2022 edition compliance. > > Full report written to `output/spec-consistency-report.md`. Want me to generate RFIs for the critical findings? > > **You:** Yes, generate RFIs for all three critical findings. > > **Agent:** I've generated three RFIs with spec references, quoted text, and specific clarification requests: > > - `output/rfis/rfi-001.md` — HVAC/Electrical voltage mismatch for AHU-1 > - `output/rfis/rfi-002.md` — Fire rating inconsistency for corridor walls > - `output/rfis/rfi-003.md` — Structural steel grade conflict (A992 vs A36) > > Each RFI cites both spec sections, quotes the contradicting text, and requests the specific decision needed from the design team. ## Sample Output Excerpt Below is an excerpt from a typical consistency check report, showing one critical finding and the standards validation section. --- # Specification Consistency Report **Project**: Riverside Office Tower **Spec document**: Project Manual Rev 3 (320 pages, 14 divisions) **Analysis date**: 2026-04-01 ## Summary | Severity | Count | |----------|-------| | Critical | 3 | | Warning | 5 | | Info | 3 | | **Total** | **11** | ## Findings by Discipline Pair ### HVAC (Division 23) ↔ Electrical (Division 26) — 4 findings #### [CRITICAL] Voltage mismatch for AHU-1 **Section 23 73 00**, Paragraph 2.1.A: > "Air Handling Unit AHU-1: 480V, 3-phase, 60 Hz. Motor: 25 HP." **Section 26 24 16**, Paragraph 2.2.C, Panel Schedule MDP-M: > "Circuit 4 — AHU-1: 208V, 3-phase, 40A" **Conflict**: AHU-1 requires 480V per HVAC spec; Electrical panel allocates 208V. Equipment will not operate on incorrect voltage. **Suggested resolution**: Confirm equipment voltage with MEP engineer. Update either HVAC equipment schedule or electrical panel schedule. --- ## Standards Reference Validation | # | Standard Cited | Issue | Current Status | |---|---------------|-------|---------------| | 1 | ASTM C150 (no combined designation) | Should be ASTM C150/C150M | Combined inch-pound/SI designation required since 2019 | | 2 | ACI 530 | Superseded by TMS 402 | ACI transferred masonry standards to The Masonry Society | | 3 | ASHRAE 90.1-2016 | Outdated for this project | Project contract requires ASHRAE 90.1-2022 compliance | ## Built-in Validation The skill uses the agent's document reading capabilities combined with four domain reference files to perform systematic validation. No custom extension tools are required — the validation is driven by the skill workflow and reference data. ### Reference Files Used | Reference | What It Provides | How It's Used | |-----------|-----------------|---------------| | **CSI Discipline Mapping** | Maps all 49 CSI MasterFormat divisions to discipline areas | Determines which sections belong to which discipline for cross-checking | | **Cross-Discipline Conflict Patterns** | 8 categories of common contradictions with specific section numbers to check | Guides the agent on where to look and what conflict types to expect | | **Standards Watchlist** | Known issues with commonly cited construction standards (ASTM, ANSI, ASHRAE, NFPA, IBC, ACI, AISC, AWS) | Flags withdrawn, superseded, or incorrectly cited standard versions | | **RFI Template** | Standard construction RFI format | Generates properly formatted RFIs from validated findings | ### Conflict Categories Checked | Category | What It Validates | Typical Severity | |----------|------------------|-----------------| | Voltage/power mismatches | HVAC equipment power requirements vs. Electrical panel/circuit allocations | Critical | | Material conflicts | Different ASTM/material specs for the same structural members | Critical | | Fire rating inconsistencies | Fire protection ratings vs. architectural assembly specs | Critical | | Dimensional/clearance conflicts | Equipment clearance requirements vs. architectural space allocations | Warning | | Performance requirement contradictions | Load ratings, capacities, flow rates across divisions | Warning | | Submittal requirement conflicts | Division 01 general requirements vs. individual section specs | Warning | | Scope boundary conflicts | Work items claimed by multiple divisions or not claimed at all | Warning | | Environmental/operating condition conflicts | Temperature, humidity, seismic ratings across systems | Warning | ## Getting Started 1. **Create a project** using the *Infrastructure Specifications* workspace template 2. **Upload your specification** — a full project manual PDF or individual division PDFs 3. **Activate the skill** by asking the agent to check for cross-discipline contradictions 4. **Select discipline pairs** to cross-check, or let the agent check all pairs 5. **Review findings** and generate RFIs for any critical or warning-level contradictions ### Prerequisites - A multi-discipline construction specification in PDF or text format - Specs should follow CSI MasterFormat division numbering (Division 01-49) - For best results, upload the complete project manual rather than isolated sections — cross-discipline checking requires seeing both sides of a potential conflict --- Back to [Skill Library](https://rakenne.app/skills/index.md)