Masterformat 1995 Edition Pdf

[Miss Ruhnke]

In2004, the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormatMasterFormat is used throughout the construction industry to format specifications for construction contract documents. The purpose of this format is to assist the user to organize 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 revised the numbers and titles to adequately cover construction industry subject matter while providing additional space for more subjects at each level of classification. The older MasterFormat 1995 edition limited the room necessary the Divisions simply ran out of space to properly address topics. The lack of space often resulted in inconsistent classifications. CSI resolved these limitations making MasterFormat numbers six digits in length, arranging the digits into three sets of paired numbers, one pair per level. Paring the numbers allowed for more subdivisions at each level.

MasterFormat is 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.

In 2004, MasterFormat expanded from using 5-digit section numbers arranged into 16 Divisions to 6-digit section numbers in a 50 Division arrangement.

The current editions of MasterFormat are updated regularly based on user proposals and other demands for change.

Published copies of the full MasterFormat standard and the MasterFormat website include a transition matrix to help you convert any MasterFormat 1995 number to a current edition number.

The five-digit numbering system used in MasterFormat 1995 and previous versions of MasterFormat, and how it compares with the six-digit numbering system in MasterFormat 2004, is described in the following example:

MasterFormat 1995: 07500 - Membrane Roofing: The first two digits ("07") indicate the Division, Level 1 of the organizational scheme. Each of the next three digits is taken individually and represents Levels 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Typically in MasterFormat 1995, the last digit, the Level 4 number, is left unassigned, represented by a zero, to provide more flexibility for individual users.

MasterFormat 2004: 07 50 00 - Membrane Roofing: The first two digits ("07") still indicate the Division, or Level 1. The next pair of numbers, in this case "50", represents Level 2, and the third pair, "00", represents Level 3. Since in this case Level 3 is unassigned, represented in MasterFormat 2004 numbers by a double zero ("00"), it means that this is a Level 2 number. And since a pair of digits represents each Level of classification, there is room to address more than ten times as many subjects at Levels 2 and 3 than there was in the 1995 edition, providing more flexibility and room for future expansion than the five-digit system was capable of supplying. In some cases a Level 4 pair of numbers has been added to give further uniform definition of the subject matter. Unlike previous versions of MasterFormat, where any work result has been defined in MasterFormat 2004, a specific number has also been assigned to facilitate improved consistent communication about more detailed subjects. The following illustrates example Level 2-4 titles and numbers for Membrane Roofing:

In a joint venture with CSI, Building Systems Design, Inc. has developed a new version of BSD SpecLink that incorporates MasterFormat 2004. Released in September 2004, the relational data base system has a new global switch which allows users to change the MasterFormat arrangement of any project's specifications to either the 1995 or 2004 edition of MasterFormat at any time automatically.

The costs which the owner absorbs or passes on, Rauscher points out, can be considerably greater for technology-rich facilities such as hospitals and hospitality and entertainment facilities which have elaborate systems for intercom, paging, closed-circuit television, and public address/audio applications.

A number of major public and private construction organizations, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Navy Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), and the Sweets construction products catalog, are making the transition to the 2004 edition.

The Army's and Navy's decision to use MasterFormat's new edition is in conjunction with an update of their Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS), the specifications used by all the armed services' construction branches. Plans call for organizing them according to MasterFormat 2004 by early 2006. The decision will eventually impact U.S. military construction projects worldwide worth approximately $22 billion per year. That includes construction of U.S. Air Force buildings, nearly all of which are built, under federal law, by USACE or NAVFAC.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will also be using the MasterFormat 2004-based Unified Facilities Guide Specifications. The federal Department of Veterans Affairs, meanwhile, is studying whether to do so.

Construction product information firms already deciding to transition to MasterFormat 2004 include the 2006 editions of McGraw-Hill Construction's Sweets construction products catalog and Reed Construction Data's First Source, and the 4Specs.com directory of construction products manufacturers.

The new edition has earned accolades from one of the world's largest professional liability insurance underwriters, Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc., which found the revisions "are needed, are logical, and are beneficial to architects and engineers." "Any time there is a change there is a possibility of missed communications and missed communications can lead to professional liability claims," writes Frank Musica, Assoc. IAA, a risk management specialist at Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. "However, we see the change in the MasterFormat to be not really different from the AIA issuing a new edition of A201. A201 is the major communications tool between the owner, the architect as the owner's agent, and the contractor. When the 1997 edition was issued many architects and contractors ignored the changes and some claims resulted. In fact, we still find architects and contractors who do not understand their duties under A201. So it is likely to be with MasterFormat 2004. There will be a learning curve and problems are bound to surface. For the most part, however, we feel that the changes are needed, are logical, and are beneficial to architects and engineers."

At the local government level, chapters in CSI's Northwest Region that covers Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, have set January 2006 as their target date for implementing MasterFormat 2004. Members hope that setting a date will make it easier for the region's users to plan for the transition.

"Our decision as a region was that any project that goes out to bid after Jan. 1, 2006, will use the new MasterFormat," says Anne Whitacre, CSI, CSC, a member of the Institute's Certification Committee and chair of the Northwest Region's Planning Committee. "Large architectural firms in Seattle, Portland, and Anchorage use many of the same consultants. Our thought was that it would be easier on them if we had a standard turnover date."

With a date in mind, Northwest Region Director Tom R. Deines, CSI, CAA, is focusing on educating both CSI and non-CSI members. "The folks in CSI know it's coming, but there are folks who aren't members that will be facing a 50-division MasterFormat 2004 Edition they've never seen before. We need to reach them before January 2006."

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