By Sharon B. Epple, CSI, AIA Assoc.

SPECTEXT® Environmental Engineering Add-On Library has been expanded to include 38 additional sections that will better coordinate with the SPECTEXT® Architectural/Structural/Civil and Site/Civil Libraries. Now Subscribers to these libraries can add the full SPECTEXT® Environmental Engineering Library including water, wastewater, and sanitary specifications to their company's master specification.

New Extended Renewal Options - Special multiple year renewal options and pricing are now available exclusively for current SPECTEXT® Subscribers. For more information, contact your SPECTEXT® Representative at 1-877-773-2898 or at supportcenter@csrf.org.

In an ongoing initiative to develop SPECTEXT® to more universally integrate with other applications and address the AEC industry as a whole, CSRF has published SPECTEXT® PDF. Portable Document Format (PDF) has become the single, proven, widely adopted format for sharing AEC documents. PDF documents can be linked to source documents and plan sets, relating specifications to CADD and other design information. Project documents, specifications, drawings and other information with notes as desired, can be shared with all parties to the project for their use or comments efficiently.

Bentley is making a substantial effort to implement integration of project date in Adobe® PDF file format into their MicroStation® and ProjectWise® programs. The PDF version readily makes SPECTEXT® available for integration with Bentley applications. For additional information on PDF for AEC and how Bentley is integrating PDF file information with their applications, log onto Bentley's website at www.bentley.com. SPECTEXT® PDF is available now in all of the current SPECTEXT® Libraries. For information on ordering and special introductory pricing available to current SPECTEXT® Subscribers contact 1-877-773-2898.

A MasterFormat™ 04 version of SPECTEXT® will be provided to Subscribers with the Summer 05 Edition of the SPECTEXT® Libraries. By that time, it is anticipated that all of the major product and manufacturer information providers will have transitioned to the new section numbers and titles system. The SPECTEXT® MasterFormat™ 04 version will be provided to current Subscribers at no additional cost. The current MasterFormat™ 95 version of SPECTEXT® will be maintained and provided to current Subscribers for the next few years to assist them with their gradual transition to the new numbering system. SPECTEXT® Subscribers will be able to select the appropriate MF95 or MF04 SPECTEXT® Section to address current or new projects. Tools will be available to assist users in converting their in-house master specification system to MF04. The introduction of SPECTEXT® MasterFormat™ 04 Version will save SPECTEXT® Subscribers hours in labor costs to convert their spec systems from MF95 to MF04. For additional information, contact the CSRF Support Center, 1-877-773-2898.

Selecting and implementing a new spec system in your organization can be a detailed and time-consuming process. Let our SPECTEXT® specification experts provide your specification committee with a free, live one-hour SPECTEXT® Webinar that will introduce your group to the benefits of SPECTEXT® and EDITSPEC®, one of the oldest and most concisely written master guide specification systems available. Live SPECTEXT® Webinars can be customized to focus on your organization's specification issues and help you simplify and expedite the selection process, saving your committee hours spent on product research and discussion. To schedule a live SPECTEXT® Webinar, please contact the CSRF Support Center, 1-877-773-2898.

SPECTEXT® Web Training can expedite and streamline your specification implementation process, introduce your employees to the benefits of using a master guide specification system, and help your firm initiate a company-wide SPECTEXT® Training Program at minimal cost. Training includes customized training course, all materials and handouts, and a recording of the live training session on CD-ROM for unlimited reference. Train your entire specification staff and empower them to write better, more consistent and technically superior specifications that follow industry standard CSI formats and guidelines. An enhanced company image to your clients will be your reward. For more information or to schedule training, please contact the CSRF Support Center, 1-877-773-2898.

Thanks to the many organizations who support CSRF and its goals by subscribing to and using SPECTEXT®. Subscriber fees support the expansion of programs like EDITSPEC® and SPECTEXT®. We very much appreciate subscriber comments and recommendations for improvements to the SPECTEXT® database. CSRF reviews and uses these valuable subscriber comments to provide helpful changes and improvements that benefit all subscribers.

We welcome these new SPECTEXT® subscribers and past subscribers who have taken advantage of the recent SPECTEXT® "Welcome Back" promotion:

The CSRF newsletter is published for SPECTEXT® subscribers and others involved in design and construction. To obtain your copy of Creating a Common Language®, please contact the CSRF Support Center by telephone at 1-877- SPECTXT or 410-838-7561 or you may e-mail us at supportcenter@csrf.org