ORGANIZATION OF SPECIFICATIONS

ARE 459
CONTRACTS & SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications Handout # 2
By
By
Zulfikar Zulfikar A. A. A. A.
Presentation Outline
Presentation Outline
Organization of Specifications
Background - CSI (Construction Specification Institute)
Need for Organizing Specifications
Types of FORMATS
UNIFORMAT
MASTERFORMAT
SECTIONFORMAT
PAGEFORMAT
Summary
Objectives of Class :
Objectives of Class :
To provide an understanding of the
different types of organizational formats
that bring standardization and ease of
communication to the construction
industry.
Introduction
Graphic and written information for a project needs to be
organized in a consistent, standard manner in order for the
owner, A/E, contractor and others be able to store and retrieve
this information quickly and correctly.
The graphic and written information need to be complementary
of each other to avoid unnecessary duplication.
Organizational standards that have been referred to as formats,
have been developed to organize information.
The formats create a standardized way of organizing, storing,
retrieving and communicating all information associated with a
project.
Example :Master Format
What is MasterFormat?
PRAGMATICALLY DEFINED
PRAGMATICALLY DEFINED
Without
Without
MasterFormat
MasterFormat
, construction would
, construction would
collapse
collapse
under information overload.
under information overload.
CSI

Construction Specifications Institute
Construction Specifications Institute

Founded in 1948. Nonprofit organization
Founded in 1948. Nonprofit organization

Developed for the purpose of
Developed for the purpose of

improving specification practices

improving specification practices

Only organization that attempts to bring together all of the
Only organization that attempts to bring together all of the
players of the construction industry.
players of the construction industry.

Attempts to meet the industry
Attempts to meet the industry

s
s
need for a common system
need for a common system
of organizing and presenting construction information.
of organizing and presenting construction information.

CSI developed a standard method for organizing project
CSI developed a standard method for organizing project
specifications that became the foundation for what is now a
specifications that became the foundation for what is now a
comprehensive construction communications system called:
comprehensive construction communications system called:
MASTERFORMAT
MASTERFORMAT
What is MasterFormat?
FORMALLY DEFINED
FORMALLY DEFINED

MasterFormat
MasterFormat
is a master list of numbers and
is a master list of numbers and
subject titles classified by work results
subject titles classified by work results
or
or
construction practices for
construction practices for
organizing
organizing
information
information
about their requirements,
about their requirements,
products, and activities into a standard
products, and activities into a standard
sequence.
sequence.

What is MasterFormat?
PHILOSOPHICALLY DEFINED
PHILOSOPHICALLY DEFINED
Say it once.
Say it once.
Say it correctly. And
Say it correctly. And
Say it in
Say it in
right
right
place
place
.
.

MasterFormat
MasterFormat
is fundamental
is fundamental
to realizing this
to realizing this
aspiration
aspiration
.
.
Need for Organizing Specification
Approximately 50-60 suppliers and subcontractors are involved with
providing and installing materials for a typical new residential building.
According to Home Builders Institute, the National Association of Home
Builders estimated that there are approximately 29,000 items that must be
accounted for during the construction of a new home.
The organizational concept helps to locate particular information for easy
retrieval.
Organized in a standard sequence, each document in the set of
construction contract documents fulfills a particular and unique function.
Each document must precisely perform its function without encroaching on
the function of the other documents.
This principle avoids creating conflicting requirements within the overall set
of documents and reduces the chances for duplications and omissions.
FORMATS

The four most commonly used are:

The four most commonly used are:

UniFormat
UniFormat

MasterFormat
MasterFormat

SectionFormat
SectionFormat

PageFormat
PageFormat
UNIFORMAT
UNIFORMAT

A Uniform classification system for organizing preliminary
A Uniform classification system for organizing preliminary
construction information
construction information
into a standard order or sequence on
into a standard order or sequence on
the basis on assemblies or systems.
the basis on assemblies or systems.

Elements: Roof Slab, Slab on Grade, etc
Elements: Roof Slab, Slab on Grade, etc

Promotes standardization and facilitates the retrieval of
Promotes standardization and facilitates the retrieval of
information.
information.

First published in the 1970s to provide a format for
First published in the 1970s to provide a format for
organization of specifications during the early stages of a
organization of specifications during the early stages of a
construction project before material have been chosen.
construction project before material have been chosen.

Systems and assemblies present a view of a proposed facility
Systems and assemblies present a view of a proposed facility
separate from the view presented by a breakdown of building
separate from the view presented by a breakdown of building
materials, products and activities.
materials, products and activities.
UNIFORMAT ORGANIZATION
UNIFORMAT ORGANIZATION

8 broad categories
8 broad categories

A Substructure
A Substructure

B Shell
B Shell

C Interiors
C Interiors

D Services
D Services

E Equipment & Furnishings
E Equipment & Furnishings

F Other Building Construction
F Other Building Construction

G Building Site work
G Building Site work

H General
H General
UniFormat Numbering System
The UniFormat numbering system is shown in the table to the
right.
It consists of 5 levels that each deal with a specific
construction issue.
Titles in Levels 1 through 3 can be applied
to most preliminary project descriptions
and cost estimates.
Levels 4 and 5 are available for use on
detailed, complex projects. Their titles and
detailed listings provide a checklist to
ensure proper application.
Level 1-3 : UNIFORMAT II
UNIFORMAT Applications:
UNIFORMAT Applications:

Preliminary Project Descriptions
Preliminary Project Descriptions
:
:

Describes a project by its basic elements or
Describes a project by its basic elements or
systems before particular materials and methods
systems before particular materials and methods
have been chosen.
have been chosen.

Preliminary Cost Estimates
Preliminary Cost Estimates
:
:

Can be used as the basis for the organization pf
Can be used as the basis for the organization pf
preliminary cost estimates and parallels the
preliminary cost estimates and parallels the
organization of preliminary project descriptions.
organization of preliminary project descriptions.

Drawing Detail Filing
Drawing Detail Filing
:
:

Serves as a system for filing and retrieving
Serves as a system for filing and retrieving
drawing details, it is not used to identify details
drawing details, it is not used to identify details
on a set of drawings.
on a set of drawings.
MASTERFORMAT
MASTERFORMAT

MasterFormat
MasterFormat
is a master list of numbers and titles for
is a master list of numbers and titles for
organizing information about construction requirements,
organizing information about construction requirements,
products, and activities into a standard sequence.
products, and activities into a standard sequence.
MasterFormat is a uniform system for organizing
information in project manuals, for organizing cost data,
for filing product information and other technical data, for
identifying drawing objects, and for
presentingconstruction market data.

A group of related sections each section covering one
A group of related sections each section covering one
portion of the total work.
portion of the total work.

Provides a 5 digit numbering system for bidding
Provides a 5 digit numbering system for bidding
documents, contract forms, and specifications sections
documents, contract forms, and specifications sections
(Section 03300)
(Section 03300)
MASTERFORMAT DIVISIONS
MASTERFORMAT DIVISIONS
16 Divisions fixed in number and in title. 16 Divisions fixed in number and in title.
Division 01 Division 01 - - General Requirements General Requirements
Division 02 Division 02 - - Site Construction Site Construction
Division 03 Division 03 - - Concrete Concrete
Division 04 Division 04 - - Masonry Masonry
Division 05 Division 05 - - Metals Metals
Division 06 Division 06 - - Wood and Plastics Wood and Plastics
Division 07 Division 07 - - Thermal and Moisture Protection Thermal and Moisture Protection
Division 08 Division 08 - - Doors and Windows Doors and Windows
Division 09 Division 09 - - Finishes Finishes
Division 10 Division 10 - - Specialties Specialties
Division 11 Division 11 - - Equipment Equipment
Division 12 Division 12 - - Furnishings Furnishings
Division 13 Division 13 - - Special Construction Special Construction
Division 14 Division 14 - - Conveying Systems Conveying Systems
Division 15 Division 15 - - Mechanical Mechanical
Division 16 Division 16 - - Electrical Electrical
1995 MasterFormat

1 Genl Requirements
1 Genl Requirements

2 Site Construction
2 Site Construction

3 Concrete
3 Concrete

4 Masonry
4 Masonry

5 Metals
5 Metals

6 Wood & Plastics
6 Wood & Plastics

7 Thermal &
7 Thermal &
Moisture Protection
Moisture Protection

8 Doors & Windows
8 Doors & Windows

9 Finishes
9 Finishes

10 Specialties
10 Specialties

11 Equipment
11 Equipment

12 Furnishings
12 Furnishings

13 Special
13 Special
Construction
Construction

14 Conveying Systems
14 Conveying Systems

15 Mechanical
15 Mechanical

16 Electrical
16 Electrical
MASTERFORMAT NUMBERING SYSTEM
Numbering
0 3 2 0 0
(Level 1: Division)
Level 4 (User Defined)
Level 2 (Broad Scope)
Level 3 (Medium Scope)
MasterFormat Example
MasterFormat
MasterFormat
1995:
1995:
Section 03300
Section 03300

Cast
Cast
-
-
in
in
-
-
Place Concrete
Place Concrete
MasterFormat Example
MasterFormat
MasterFormat
1995:
1995:
Section 02310
Section 02310
-
-
Grading
Grading
SECTION NUMBERS
MASTERFORMAT Applications
MASTERFORMAT Applications
Used to organize specifications, file construction data, and arr
Used to organize specifications, file construction data, and arr
ange cost
ange cost
information
information

Specifications:
Specifications:

The consensus standard for organizing specifications with number
The consensus standard for organizing specifications with number
s
s
and titles provided in a logical sequence for almost all conceiv
and titles provided in a logical sequence for almost all conceiv
able
able
sections that may be required for a construction project.
sections that may be required for a construction project.

Data Filing
Data Filing
:
:

A system of numbers and titles that serve as a system for filing
A system of numbers and titles that serve as a system for filing
and
and
retrieving technical data and product literature. Used by
retrieving technical data and product literature. Used by
Manufacturers as a numbering system
Manufacturers as a numbering system

Cost Classification
Cost Classification
:
:

Serves as the basis for organization of construction costs and
Serves as the basis for organization of construction costs and
parallels organization of specifications.
parallels organization of specifications.
MASTERFORMAT 1995 CRITIQUE
MASTERFORMAT 1995 CRITIQUE

MasterFormat
MasterFormat

: Originally intended for building

: Originally intended for building
construction
construction

1978
1978
-
-
83
83
: Expanded to cover all types of construction,
: Expanded to cover all types of construction,
but within original 16 Divisions
but within original 16 Divisions

Heavy ,Industrial ,Civil & Process Engineering
Heavy ,Industrial ,Civil & Process Engineering
:
:

Need more space
Need more space

Need more identity
Need more identity
2004 MasterFormat
Next Class
Master Format 2004
SUMMARY
SUMMARY

Standardized formats provide a structure for

Standardized formats provide a structure for
organizing written construction documents as
organizing written construction documents as
well as relating those documents to product
well as relating those documents to product
information and cost estimates.
information and cost estimates.
Source: Modified from Mr. Jeff Plant