The SPECTEXT®
Review Program
By David Stutzman, RA, CSI, CCS
In 1998, The Construction Sciences Research Foundation (CSRF) issued a major update to the SPECTEXT®’ libraries. The update incorporated major technical improvements to the specifications and arranged the SPECTEXT®’ and SPECTEXT®’II libraries to conform to the Construction Specifications Institute's (CSI) MasterFormat™ 1995.
Since that time, ten new macro editing tools and more than 30 new specification sections were introduced. The new specifications included sections in every design discipline, with an emphasis on civil and mechanical engineering. The editing tools included powerful macros that allow subscribers to use one macro with multiple sections, dramatically reducing editing time for tedious tasks. CSRF plans to continue introducing new editing features, new sections, and other developments that simplify installing and using SPECTEXT®.
CSRF maintains a Review Committee to ensure the high quality of the SPECTEXT®’ libraries is maintained and all subscribers' needs are satisfied. The Committee is composed of SPECTEXT®’ subscribers representing architectural and engineering disciplines. CSRF selects the Committee members matching their experience with the planned improvements. Subscribers interested in participating in the Review Committee should contact the CSRF Support Center toll free at 877-SPECTXT (773-25898).
The Review Committee will verify the technical content of new SPECTEXT®’ specification sections as each is developed. The Committee will provide a quality control review to ensure the specifications are of high quality and are suitable as master guide specifications. The committee will make sure each section includes what users expect in a master specification section:
a. Normal options or choices from which to select,
b. Materials, components, assemblies, and accessories required by the section title, and
c. Terminology and content consistent with current industry practice.
Also, the Review Committee will beta-test new editing macros and automation features to be sure each new feature works with a variety of computer systems and all the word processor versions SPECTEXT®’ supports. CSRF will encourage the Review Committee members to contribute ideas for new specifications and features to help subscribers write construction specifications more efficiently.
Focus Collaborative, Inc., the technical developer for SPECTEXT,®’ will organize the Review Committee, make review assignments, and monitor the review progress. Each review cycle will conclude with Focus compiling all the committee comments and presenting a report to CSRF of the committee findings. After CSRF accepts the report, Focus will incorporate the Review Committee comments into the specification sections, editing tools, and other improvements.
About the author: David Stutzman is a Principal of FOCUS Collaborative, Inc. a specifications and construction documents quality assurance consulting firm with offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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
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