September 8, 2004—The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) have just announced the immediate availability of a new version of BSD SpecLink with an expanded PerSpective database and a global MasterFormat translation switch. As partners in a venture to provide better specification tools for the construction industry, CSI and BSD collaborated on the design and execution of the new software, which combines two previously separate products and adds unique automation features.
Previous versions of BSD SpecLink, a subscription product in use by thousands of design professionals, were used primarily for producing up-to-date construction specification documents. PerSpective, developed by CSI and the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), is a performance-based specification system intended initially for design-build projects. By combining the two separate products into a single application, BSD and CSI have produced the first specification product that can be used during all building project phases and for all project delivery methods.
The new BSD SpecLink database is organized on three tabs that correlate to project phases. The PerSpective tab comprises performance specifications that can be used at the very earliest project stages, before any design work has occurred. Any material selections made in PerSpective are linked to the Short Form tab, pre-editing abbreviated material specifications that are useful at the schematic design and design development phases. Selections made on this tab, in turn, are linked to the SpecLink data on the third tab, which is typically used to produce detailed construction documents and automatic administrative reports that are useful during construction administration. The linking feature causes decisions made at each phase to pre-select text for use during subsequent phases, improving coordination and minimizing editing time.
Another major feature of the new product is an automatic MasterFormat switch. A system for organizing construction information and specifications, MasterFormat is widely used within the construction industry and has recently undergone a fairly radical restructuring. Although some observers have predicted a period of confusion in the construction industry because not everyone will be willing or able to apply the changes in MasterFormat immediately, the new SpecLink product will allow all users to switch any project back and forth between the two formats at any time, with a single mouse click.
For further information on BSD SpecLink, visit BSD. For more information about CSI’s MasterFormat, visit CSI.
