Masterformat 2020 Edition Pdf

[Ariane Delbrune]

MasterFormatis used throughout the construction industry to format specifications for construction contract documents. The purpose of this format is to assist the user in organizing information into distinct groups when creating contract documents, and to assist the user searching for specific information in consistent locations. The information contained in MasterFormat is organized in a standardized outline format within 50 Divisions (16 Divisions pre-2004). Each Division is subdivided into a number of Sections.[3]

After World War II, building construction specifications began to expand, as more advanced materials and choices were made available.[4] The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) was founded in 1948 and began to address the organization of specifications into a numbering system. In 1963, they published a format for construction specifications, with 16 major divisions of work. A 1975 CSI publication used the term MasterFormat. The last CSI MasterFormat publication to use the 16 divisions was in 1995, and this is no longer supported by CSI. In November 2004, MasterFormat expanded from 16 Divisions to 50 Divisions, reflecting innovations in the construction industry and expanding the coverage to a larger part of the construction industry.[5] Revised editions were published in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.[5]

Standardizing the presentation of such information improves communication among all parties involved in construction projects, which helps the project team deliver structures to owners according to their requirements, timelines, and budgets. The ASTM standard for sustainability assessment of building products relies on MasterFormat to organize the data.[6] MasterFormat is an organizational component of Building Systems Design - SpecLink, MasterSpec, SpecText, National Master Specification (NMS), and SpecsIntact systems. Manufacturers will often publish specifications for their products based on MasterFormat. Design teams may maintain office master section based on MasterFormat and pull specifications from multiple sources. MasterFormat provides the overall organizational structure that makes pulling sections from different sources possible.

MasterSpec and SpecText are specifications targeted to construction projects in the United States. NMS is targeted to construction projects in Canada. SpecsIntact is a specification processing system for preparing Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS).[7] UFGS is required for design teams to use on United States Department of Defense and NASA construction projects. Using MasterFormat provides the design and construction teams a familiar organizational structure.

Subject: Adoption of the Most Recent Edition of the International Building Code (IBC) as the Minimum Bureau Building Code Standard and Adoption of the 2004 CSI MasterFormat Edition of MASTERSPEC as the BLM Building and Construction Master Guide Specifications

Program Area: Facilities Management, Engineering, Real Property, Recreation, Cultural Resources, National Landscape Conservation System, Wild Horse and Burro, Fire and Aviation, and Communications.

Purpose: The purpose of this Instruction Memorandum is to notify the State/Field Offices and Centers that the Bureau is adopting the most recent edition of the International Building Code (IBC) as the minimum building standard for all BLM assets and is adopting the 2004 CSI MasterFormat edition of MASTERSPEC as the BLM building and construction Master Guide Specifications.

Internationally, code officials recognized the need for a modern, up-to-date building code addressing the design and installation of buildings and applicable building systems through requirements emphasizing performance. The International Building Code (IBC) is designed to meet these needs through model code regulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities, large and small; a goal shared by the BLM.

This comprehensive building code establishes minimum regulations for building systems using prescriptive and performance related provisions. It is founded on broad based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new building designs. Additionally, the IBC is designed to be compatible with the entire family of international codes published by the International Code Council. The IBC is evolving into the international standard for all agencies and consistency among all bureau offices and industry will help in the development of new projects across the board.

Policy: The BLM will use IBC as a minimum standard when planning, designing or constructing new projects. Adopting universal standards bureauwide helps to establish business practices that will ultimately achieve cost savings through reduced research, planning, and project development time. The BLM should still use other codes and regulations followed locally, as appropriate; however the IBC will be used as the minimum standard for all new work. The BLM will use MASTERSPEC as the BLM building and construction Master Guide Specifications.

Budget Impact: This will have a beneficial impact to the budget. The adoption of a standard code book and Master Guide Specifications will save research, planning, and project development time on projects bureauwide. The Office of Management and Budget and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are increasingly interested in ensuring that Bureau investments are well planned, managed and meet the Bureau mission.

Background: The BLM has previously been directed to follow the Department of the Interior (DOI) guidance on the Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) process. The CPIC process is designed to ensure construction projects are compatible with the Bureau mission and are cost effective. The CPIC process was developed by the Department as a blueprint to be followed by each Bureau. The Washington Office, Engineering Advisory Team (EAT) and the National Operations Center (NOC) are working together in supporting the CPIC process by ensuring that projects are planned and executed to maximum efficiency. The adoption of the International Building Code and MASTERSPEC as BLM standards will have a positive impact when planning new projects.

Tim,

My desire to use CSI codes is personal preference. Perhaps a bit of overkill to some, I think it will generate business. The commercial industry is all about documentation. The ability to communicate with developers and owners in terms they use daily will be an asset. CSI & AIA documents are simply the industry standard and very relevant. The commercial market will be my focus, I simply want it done right. Once I launch, I will let you know if me efforts were in vain. I honestly appreciate the input!

Are you saying that your software is built around the 16 Division CSI codes? If it is, you have a winner! Doe your software have the 16 Divisions as a drop down? Tell me more, you have my undivided attention.

A primary goal of my inspection software is to be adaptable to any type of structure and any set of standards. Every non-residential project I have ever participated on has used Master Format so I wanted to be able to incorporate it easily into report templates.

It is possible to build templates using any edition of Master Format (or any other industry standard for that matter). I have attached a few screen shots to show how Master Format is incorporated into my inspection software.

In the previous message, I attached a screenshot of the part of the report body. There are checkboxes in that screen shot that can be turned of. As you can see in this screen shot, when the checkboxes are turned off, the narrative section is automatically widened to fill the width of the page.

Every architect and every major corporation I have ever worked with uses MasterFormat. Support for MasterFormat is one of the reasons I sell a lot of software to commercial building inspectors. It is a relatively small market though; too small to justify a wide variety of reports that are solely based on MasterFormat.

The primary resource document for the Construction DocumentsTechnology (CDT) certification, The Project Delivery PracticeGuide 3rd Edition (PDPG) conveys information on theknowledge domains that form the foundation of the skills andknowledge tested by the CDT examination.

As an aid to exam preparation, the PDPG provides a conceptualunderstanding of the entire construction process. It also addressesskills that can be applied immediately in construction documentdevelopment and administration, specification writing and use,product research and selection, and an understanding of the rolesof the entire project team, aiding communication and increasingyour confidence.

In this new edition, content has been updated to improvereadability, understanding, and retention, and reorganized toreflect knowledge arranged by domain and reflecting the facilityand project life cycle. This content reflects current professionalpractice and the most recent body of knowledge analysis performedfor the CDT.

This CSI publication is delivered immediately in an electronicformat to your CSI bookshelf in ebooks.csiresources.org. If youwould like a hard copy print publication in addition, please visit this page.

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