July 8, 2009—The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has announced that the organization will cease to license and support MasterFormat 95 as of December 31, 2009. Now that the new edition has been widely accepted by the industry, CSI and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) are working with the MasterFormat sponsors to communicate the decision, promote the benefits of using the latest version through a communication campaign, and transition their products that use MasterFormat.
In 2004, CSI and CSC introduced the most significant updates to MasterFormat since the standard was introduced in the 1960s. To meet the industry’s changing needs, MasterFormat 2004 edition features an expanded structure, increasing the number of divisions from 16 to 50, and replaces the five-digit system from previous editions with a six-digit system.
The new edition was expanded to accommodate the many new technologies and building practices introduced since its inception and to provide more complete coverage for all types of construction projects, notes CSI.
CSI says that MasterFormat has long been recognized as a standard in the construction industry to organize project manuals and detailed cost information, and to relate drawing notes to specifications. It aids project delivery by facilitating communication among architects, engineers, specifiers, contractors, suppliers and other consultants, which helps them meet building owners’ requirements, timelines, and budgets.
By fostering fuller and more detailed construction specifications, MasterFormat is designed to reduce costly changes or delays in projects due to incomplete, misplaced, or missing information.
For more information on MasterFormat or to purchase the MasterFormat 2004 edition, visit the Web site. Access to real-time updates, a transition guide, and a tool to convert MasterFormat 95 numbers to the latest version are also available.
