MasterFormat
MasterFormat is a standard for organizing specifications and other written information for commercial and institutional building projects in the U.S. and Canada [1]. Sometimes referred to as the "Dewey Decimal System" of building construction, MasterFormat is a product of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada. In November 2004 MasterFormat expanded from 16 Divisions to 50 Divisions, reflecting innovations in the construction industry. It provides a master list of divisions, and section numbers and titles within each division, to follow in organizing information about a facility’s construction requirements and associated activities [2].
CSI standard formatting is used throughout the construction industry to format construction specifications in building contracts. The purpose of this format is to assist the user in locating specific types of information. Information contained in CSI’s MasterFormat is organized in a standardized outline form within 16 (pre-2004) or 50 (post 2004) divisions. Each division contains a number of sections. Each section is divided into three parts—"general," "products," and "execution." Each part is organized by a standardized system of articles and paragraphs.[3].
Contents
Advantages
Standardizing the presentation of such information improves communication among all parties involved in construction projects. That helps the project team deliver structures to owners according to their requirements, timelines, and budgets. An indication of the widespread acceptance of MasterFormat is that the ASTM standard for sustainability assessment of building products relies on MasterFormat to organize the data[4]. The CSI Masterformat is an integral component of the SpecsIntact system. SpecsIntact (Specifications Kept Intact), is an automated specifications processing system for preparing certain government facility construction projects using standard master specifications, called Master Text or Masters, supplied by each of three government agencies. SpecsIntact was developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and designed for use by engineers, architects, specification writers, project managers and construction managers. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has also adopted SpecsIntact as their standard specifications system, greatly facilitating the effort to standardize construction specifications throughout these agencies.[5] These services utilize MasterFormat from UFGS (United Facilities Guide Specification) sections found on the Whole Building Design Guide website.
Current MasterFormat divisions
The current MasterFormat Divisions are:
PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS GROUP:
- Division 00 — Procurement and Contracting Requirements
SPECIFICATIONS GROUP
General Requirements Subgroup
- Division 01 — General Requirements
Facility Construction Subgroup
- Division 02 — Existing Conditions
- Division 03 — Concrete
- Division 04 — Masonry
- Division 05 — Metals
- Division 06 — Wood, Plastics, and Composites
- Division 07 — Thermal and Moisture Protection
- Division 08 — Openings
- Division 09 — Finishes
- Division 10 — Specialties
- Division 11 — Equipment
- Division 12 — Furnishings
- Division 13 — Special Construction
- Division 14 — Conveying Equipment
- Division 15 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 16 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 17 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 18 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 19 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
Facility Services Subgroup:
- Division 20 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 21 — Fire Suppression
- Division 22 — Plumbing
- Division 23 — Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning
- Division 24 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 25 — Integrated Automation
- Division 26 — Electrical
- Division 27 — Communications
- Division 28 — Electronic Safety and Security
- Division 29 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
Site and Infrastructure Subgroup:
- Division 30 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 31 — Earthwork
- Division 32 — Exterior Improvements
- Division 33 — Utilities
- Division 34 — Transportation
- Division 35 — Waterway and Marine
- Division 36 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 37 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 38 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 39 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
Process Equipment Subgroup:
- Division 40 — Process Integration
- Division 41 — Material Processing and Handling Equipment
- Division 42 — Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying Equipment
- Division 43 — Process Gas and Liquid Handling, Purification and Storage Equipment
- Division 44 — Pollution Control Equipment
- Division 45 — Industry-Specific Manufacturing Equipment
- Division 46 — Water and Wastewater Equipment
- Division 47 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
- Division 48 — Electrical Power Generation
- Division 49 — RESERVED FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
Pre-2004 MasterFormat divisions
MASTERFORMAT 1995 EDITION
Before November 2004, MasterFormat was composed of 16 primary divisions:
- Division 01 — General Requirements
- Division 02 — Site Construction
- Division 03 — Concrete
- Division 04 — Masonry
- Division 05 — Metals
- Division 06 — Wood and Plastics
- Division 07 — Thermal and Moisture Protection
- Division 08 — Doors and Windows
- Division 09 — Finishes
- Division 10 — Specialties
- Division 11 — Equipment
- Division 12 — Furnishings
- Division 13 — Special Construction
- Division 14 — Conveying Systems
- Division 15 — Mechanical
- Division 16 — Electrical
Incorporation of "Green Building" specifications
The following sections are copied form the California Integrated Waste Management Board Green Project Specifications website[6]:
Green building specifications can be easily incorporated into CSI MasterFormat in three general ways, as follows:
Environmental Protection Procedures
- Division 1 is the area to dictate general administrative and procedural requirements as they apply to the entire project. Adding a section on Environmental Protection Procedures to Division 1 offers a forum to state the project’s environmental goals. This is the main section, often referred as Section 01350, where special environmental requirements can be identified. Environmental procedures can address resource efficiency, energy efficiency, "healthy indoor air quality, environmental construction techniques, building component reuse, and construction recycling" [7].
- There are several other sections within Division 1 where environmental specifications should be included. For example, general requirements for recycled content levels can be included under Section 01610, Basic Product Requirements. In addition, a requirement for a Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management Plan can be submitted under Section 01570, Environmental Controls. This section can also include a statement that requires contractors to talk about the C&D Waste Management Plan at the pre-construction conference [8].
Aside from the environmental procedures section and other sections within Division 1, it is important to incorporate environmental specifications within all 16 CSI Divisions. Implementing Green Building Materials
- Divisions 2 through 16 contain technical specifications for building materials, including material types and installation methods. Specifications that describe the unique product qualities of green building materials and products are often contained in these divisions. Environmental specifications are the attributes that support the project-specific environmental goals, such as low toxicity, minimal chemical emissions, recycled content, recyclability, durability, moisture resistance, and environmental and ecological installation procedures ref>Lynn M. Froeschle, Environmental Assessment and Specification of Green Building Materials,The Construction Specifier, October 1999, p. 53.</ref>.
- For example, if the project goals include the achievement of exceptional indoor air quality, certain product specifications may require minimum emission standards for toxic chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOC) and formaldehyde. These material specifications may be specifically tailored to each specific building product or building material classification. The specifications must be grounded in real world conditions for building materials and products. For example, there is no point in writing a product specification that cannot be achieved by any building product manufacturer.
Practical Application of Environmental Specifications
- Another application of environmental specifications includes addressing the installation, protection, handling and cleanup of specific building materials (even conventional products). They ensure that work is performed in a manner consistent with the environmental goals of the project. The incorporation of a green material alone may not contribute to "greening" the project if it does not function as intended due to improper installation or if it becomes contaminated as the result of careless handling.
- Project specifications should be reviewed in detail to evaluate the need for environmental procedures where applicable, and to determine if certain procedures are in conflict with project goals and the general environmental requirements listed in Division 1."
References
- ↑ Mowrer, F. "Development of the fire Data Management System" Department of Fire Protection and Engineering, NIST-GCR-94-693, August 1993. [1]
- ↑ Charette, R. and Marshall, A."Uniformat II Elemental classification for Building Specifications, Cost Estimating, and Cost Analysis," NIST BFRL Office of applied Economics, NISTIR6389, October 1999. [2]
- ↑ Ross Spiegel and Dru Meadows, Green Building Materials: A Guide to Product Selection and Specification, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1999.
- ↑ ASTM Standard E2129-05, 2005, "Standard Practice for Data Collection for Sustainability Assessment of Building Products", ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2005, DOI: 10.1520/E2129-05, [www.astm.org]. [3]
- ↑ Morales, M. "SpecsIntact" National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899, website last accessed May 4, 2009. [4]
- ↑ Dick, G. "Green Project Specifications," California Integrated Waste Management Board, Last updated: January 15, 2008, accessed May 4, 2009. [5]
- ↑ Lynn M. Froeschle, Environmental Assessment and Specification of Green Building Materials,The Construction Specifier, October 1999, p. 53.
- ↑ Henry Berg, Environmentally Responsive Specifying, It's Not Easy Building Green Workshop, PG&E Center, San Francisco, May 3, 2000.
