October 22, 2004—The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) recently released The Project Resource Manual-CSI Manual of Practice (PRM). Published by McGraw-Hill Construction, it is a significantly expanded new edition of the US commercial construction industry’s guide for developing building specifications and using construction documents to aid on-time and within-budget project delivery and efficient facilities management.
Using CSI’s standardized methods, formats, and guidelines, the PRM documentation facilitates design, construction, and facilities management by fostering communication among all project participants. Specific documents facilitating the clear communication vital to smooth project delivery include specifications (the detailed written instructions to the contractor), drawings (formerly called blueprints), reference notes on drawings, data on building materials to be installed, cost data, project scheduling, etc.
This fifth edition of CSI’s manual of practice was renamed to show that it encompasses the entire facility life cycle. It demonstrates that planning, design, procurement, construction, facility use, operation, and maintenance are mutually dependent activities. For example, FMs are heavily involved in construction project closeout, and they reference the original construction documents to carry out building operations and maintenance.
The PRM covers: Project Conception; Project Delivery; Design; Construction Documents; Bidding/Negotiating/Purchasing (Procurement); Construction; and Facility Management.
The PRM’s additional components include: MasterFormat 2004 Edition: Numbers & Titles; UniFormat; SectionFormat; PageFormat; a Glossary of Terms; and Sample CSI Forms, such as Notice to Proceed, Periodic Field Observation Report, and Change Order Request.
The new PRM will be a key reference for CSI’s certificate and certification testing starting with the April 2, 2005, exams. CSI offers the Construction Documents Technologist certificate (CDT) and three certifications: Certified Construction Specifier (CCS), Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA), and Certified Construction Product Representative (CCPR). For complete information on certificate/certification exams and their source materials, visit CSI/Certification.
List price for The Project Resource Manual-CSI Manual of Practice is $236 for CSI members and $295 for nonmembers. For more information on the PRM or to place an order, visit CSI/PRM or call 800/689-2900.
