The descriptive memorial is an essential item in any type of project, being even mandatory by law, which only increases the attention given to its development.

But if you have no idea how to make a descriptive memorial, rest assured, because this publication was made to solve all your doubts and help you to make your own memorial, check it out!

WHAT IS A DESCRIPTIVE MEMORIAL?

The descriptive memorial is a document that details all the construction techniques and materials necessary for the execution of the project, specifying in detail all the required items and how it should be carried out.

This document is part of the executive project and must be developed in a stage prior to the execution of the work, including a legal requirement, according to Law 4.591/64; Art. 48 states:

“The project and the descriptive memorial for the buildings will be an integral and complementary part of the contract”.

Understanding the importance of the descriptive memorial, we will analyze its application in architecture.

DESCRIPTIVE MEMORIAL: WHAT IS IT FOR ARCHITECTURE?

In architecture, a descriptive memorial is a tool that will help put into practice everything proposed for a project.

The successful execution of the project is directly associated with the correct elaboration of the descriptive memorial, that the more detailed the information is, the easier it will be to manage the work, avoiding waste, overflow of budget and eventual delays.

The descriptive memorial also allows defining the costs of the work, where we can consult the information necessary to make an accurate budget and be an indispensable item for the approval of the project at the city hall.

The NBR 15.575 Standard for the Performance of Residential Buildings stipulates the levels of comfort, safety, and resistance of each of the systems that constitute a property, establishing parameters for the preparation of the descriptive memorial.

Bearing in mind that the real estate and housing production industry represents one of the largest contractors for architectural projects, the CAU (Council of Urban Architects) developed the Guide for Architects in the application of the Performance Standard, explaining the architect's responsibilities in detail.

This directly impacts how the descriptive memorial is prepared, where each project requires an analysis tailored to that work, so let's get to know the different types of descriptive memorial.

WHAT TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE MEMORIAL?

Each type of project meets different needs, whether for the client, space or functionality, directly impacting the content of the descriptive memorial.

Even with individual characteristics, we have some types of most common descriptive memorials:

• Residential - details the materials, construction techniques and other information relevant to the execution of the work;
• Commercial - similar to residential, but with information complementary to the commercial point, existing infrastructure, restrictions and other precautions to be taken;
• Renovation - details the materials, construction techniques, items to be demolished, built and which will not undergo changes;
• Demolition - details the procedures that will be adopted to demolish the property, security processes and disposal of rubble;
• Structural - details the materials, construction techniques for the development of the structural part, and may also include the foundations;
• Facilities - details the materials and procedures for the electrical, hydraulic, gas, telephone, and other installations of the property.

Depending on the type of work, the above descriptive memorial examples can be combined, so be careful not to get too attached to a pattern, the most important thing is that the information is clear and correctly detailed.

Although it seems complicated to create a descriptive memorial, even more with this range of possibilities, don't worry, there is a basic structure and common information in every descriptive memorial.

So, how about learning to create your descriptive memorial professionally? Check out the step-by-step below.

HOW TO MAKE A DESCRIPTIVE MEMORIAL

A descriptive memorial needs to follow the rules in force in the civil construction sector, which we can highlight the guidelines established by NBR 15.575 and other important points such as:

• Work data - data must be inserted on the first page that identifies the work as the name of the project, owners, built area, location and not least those responsible for the work;
• Project definition - what is the project about? Residence, commerce, shopping center, for each type there is a demand for different quality and safety standards;
• Construction stages - a project has a series of disciplines that must be carried out. Electrical, hydraulic, masonry, finishes and other phases must be described in detail and follow a logical sequence of execution;
• Materials used - the materials must be correctly identified, as well as their respective quantities and places of application;
• Constructive techniques - some materials require specific processes for their correct installation, including specialized labor, so be sure to include this information;
• Projects - All information in the descriptive memorial is extracted from the project, so there is nothing more fair than indicating which projects should be consulted for the correct execution of all related items.

Each of these items must be developed with a wealth of details, remembering that each project has its own characteristics, which consequently will generate new topics.

Also, don't forget to guarantee the best parametric families to assist in the quality of your project in Revit!

3 TIPS FOR DEVELOPING YOUR DESCRIPTIVE MEMORIAL

The elaboration of the descriptive memorial requires a very organized structure so that all the information contained therein makes sense and it's easy to understand. 

Now that you know the basic structure that a descriptive memorial should have, I have three more incredible tips to give your memorial a boost.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

A descriptive memorial must use technical language and be written by a professional in the field, who knows all the technical and constructive characteristics of the work very well.

Remember that the information that will be portrayed must be objective, without adjectives like "beautiful", "elegant", "chic" or things like that. This type of description adds nothing to the descriptive memorial.

And not least, proofread the text!

Do not forget that we are writing a document where all the information used should be consulted by all professionals involved with the execution of the work.

SEARCH DESCRIPTIVE MEMORIALS ON THE INTERNET

It sounds silly but consulting other descriptive memorials can clear up a number of doubts, ranging from the basic structure to the best way to describe certain project information.

Be careful with ready-made templates, with empty fields to be filled, as an entire formatted structure is usually very locked and challenging to make changes in a coherent way.

According to Law 4.594/64, it is mandatory for any real estate development the descriptive memorial that is usually made available on the construction company's website, being an excellent option for consultation.

MAKE A CHECKLIST

The descriptive memorial is a transcript of the project information, with technical specifications, details of the construction processes involved and steps for its execution.

Organizing all this information is not a simple task, so don't start with a fully formatted document; make a simple list, in a way that you understand it and also contains all the data you need.

From this list, you can create an appropriate structure, using the technical description necessary to leave your descriptive memorial at a professional level!

CONCLUSION

A descriptive memorial offers security for the client and guarantees the correct execution of the work, showing itself as an indispensable item for any type of project.

Knowing the different types and how a descriptive memorial should be structured streamlines the work process and facilitates the consultation of the information contained therein, preventing serious problems from occurring in your work.

In addition to an excellent descriptive memorial, we need a well-designed project and nothing better than using quality families, so take the time to sign Blocks and ensure the best library of  parametric Revit families for your project!

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