Environmental Community

The subjects of existing conditions and resulting requirements for demolition, decontamination, remediation, and removal of hazardous materials have grown significantly as we have become more environmentally conscious. In the past, these subjects of substantial size had been inserted into various locations in Divisions 1, 2, and 13. The proposed scheme now provides a newly titled Division 2 with more room to cover these subjects adequately but requires movement and renumbering of the subjects.

Civil Engineering

This group has long been frustrated with the constraints of a single Division 2 with a title related only to building sites. Many civil engineering project manuals have been issued in the past with many more than 16 divisions in reaction to the inadequate provisions in the MasterFormat™. This frustration had reached the point that the Specifications Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) had formulated a whole new competing format for civil engineering specifications. The new proposed scheme includes four divisions for civil engineering and other subjects with the possibility of more divisions in the 30's if necessary. The ASCE scheme, which is no longer being proposed, has been used as a checklist for the new MasterFormat™ divisions and the ASCE Specifications Committee is participating in the process. The proposed change should provide welcome relief to this group to provide adequate room for their subject matter in multiple divisions.

Landscape Architecture

This group will now have Division 32 for exterior improvements instead of a part of Division 2. This recognizes that landscaping projects do not always relate to building projects and provides considerable room for expansion. The current scheme has proposed the movement of the subjects with a minimum of number changes below the first two division digits to facilitate the change.

Structural Engineering

This group will face little or no change for their subject matter in Divisions 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

This group has also been constrained within two divisions and has been frustrated with the movement of some subjects into Division 13 in recent editions. The construction value of these disciplines is traditionally a minimum of 35 percent of a building construction project costs versus about 13 percent of the MasterFormat™ hardly a representative distribution of space. The current scheme expands from two divisions to five and has proposed the movement of the subjects with a minimum of number changes below the first two division digits to facilitate the change. This, however, is subject to change as more detailed input on the proposed scheme is integrated into the process. This area of the proposed scheme needs significant input and participation from the mechanical and electrical community to make it work well for them.

Tele-Communications Industry

The campaign of this group over the last few years to have a division dedicated to tele- communications added to the MasterFormat™ is well known. They have been frustrated by the constraints of one small piece of Division 16 for an industry that has expanded greatly. The proposed scheme, as it is fleshed out in more detail, should fulfill this need.

Process Engineering

Except for the insertion of water and waste treatment subjects in Divisions 11 and 13, this group has essentially been ignored in the MasterFormat™ and consequently they have rarely used it. The proposed scheme provides separate divisions for fluid treatment and power generation and space for one or more divisions for other process engineering as appropriate. The current scheme includes very little detail in this area, but a process engineer is joining the CSI MasterFormat™ Expansion Task Team to help accomplish this. The success of this area of the scheme will be dependent upon gaining the participation of the process engineering community in the effort. The task team sees this area of the MasterFormat™ as wide open to be organized as the process engineering community would like it.

Architecture and Interior Design

This group has generally been happy with the current MasterFormat™ and has not wanted any substantial changes. The proposed scheme minimizes the changes for this group in Divisions 3-14. The relocation of subject matter for other than building construction also frees up more room for this subject matter. The major change for this group is the relocation of related building site construction from Division 2 to Divisions 31 and 32.

Construction

MasterFormat™ still remains the vehicle to organize project manuals, detailed cost estimates, and schedules of values. The effect on this group depends largely on the type of construction. Those involved in building construction will face only minor changes. Those involved in other types of construction will face major changes that will hopefully be for the better in bringing the total design and construction industry closer together.

Facility Operation and Management

The MasterFormat™ has not given significant recognition to the life cycle activities of a facility after the original construction. The proposed scheme provides consistent space and locations for subjects concerning operation and maintenance of facilities for all types of construction. This will allow MasterFormat™ to be used effectively for many more activities throughout the life of a facility.

Your Judgment and Participation

The above is written from my limited perspective even though my career has included several of the above roles. You have to judge for yourself the effect of the new proposed scheme for MasterFormat™ on your work. The best way to do that is to actively participate in the more detailed review and fleshing out of the scheme. The MasterFormat™ Expansion Task Team is asking for your participation and providing multiple opportunities including: