Specification
Systems
Rick Levin, FCSI, CCS, LEED AP
BD+C; Associate, Lead Specifier
Kahler Slater, Inc.
Wendel Chamberlin, AIA, CCS;
W/C Consulting Inc.
Mike Kundinger, CSI, CCS,
LEED AP BD+C;
Specifications Writer
Flad Architects
Curt Norton, CSI, CCS; Specifier
Curtis Norton Consulting
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Agenda
• Specification writing options
– Word Processor Based
– Database
– Linking to BIM
• Trends in specifications
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Word Processor Based
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MasterSpec
• Master guide specs word processing
system
• Pre-written spec Sections for all Project
types
• Contains editor’s notes, supporting
documents & automation software
• Updated regularly by volunteer peer
Review Committees
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Masterspec History
• 1969: Created by AIA/ARCOM; endorsed
by professional organizations (e.g.,
ACEC, ASID, ASLA, IIDA, & NSPE)
• 2011: AIA/ARCOM acquired SpecText
from CSRF; ARCOM markets, sells &
distributes CSRF products & services
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Available Libraries
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Architectural / Structural / Civil
Mechanical
Plumbing & Fire Protection
Electrical
Communications
Interiors
Landscape
Specialty: Historic Preservation & Small Project
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Documents & Format
• Bidding & Contract requirements and
General Requirements; coordinated with
AIA and EJCDC Documents
• Full Sections, Short Form Sections &
Outline specs
• Conforms to CSI’s MasterFormat (or
ISO’s OmniClass), Uniformat,
PageFormat, & SectionFormat
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Supporting Documents
• Evaluations: The “Green Sheets,” a
discussion of products and technologies,
material attributes, installation
requirements, etc.
• Drawings / Specs coordination notes
• Upgrades to e-Specs Linx, software for
CAD/BIM integration & Altarix™
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Automation Software
• e-Specs Linx Automated Editor
–Project editor that creates &
manipulates Project info
–Not a word processor
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e-Specs Linx
• Creating a Project:
– Select MasterSpec Sections
– Interactive Editing: Answer questions to
define the scope of the Section
• Delete portions of each Section
• Deleted text can be shown or hidden
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e-Specs Linx
• Creating a Project, cont’d:
– Manual Editing: Allows 1) review of
Interactive Editing; 2) additional fine edits; 3)
overriding actions of the Editor
– Check paragraph hierarchy
– Sections are exported to the word processor
• Make remaining edits, insert additional
requirements; Masterworks or in-house
macros work
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Masterworks
• Performs production tasks on single or multiple
Sections
• Select / edit / delete paragraphs and options
• Tasks accomplished with ‘one mouse click’:
– Spell check
– Custom headers/footers
– Generate tables of content
– Select English or metric units
– Generate reports (e.g., Submittals, extra stock,
warranties, etc.)
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SpecAgent
• Provides product & mfr information
• A SpecAgent browser assists with:
– Researching mfrs listed in MasterSpec
– Product comparisons
– Selecting Mfrs: Mfrs are imported into
section text, held for consideration, or
rejected
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SpecAgent
• Lists references in each section (e.g.,
standards, books, articles, etc.)
• Provides Internet hyperlink between section
text & SpecAgent; integrated with MasterSpec
• Mfrs may opt to be listed in MasterSpec for
managing product info; identifies spec Sections
that include the mfr's products
• Enhanced Listings facilitates evaluating
manufacturers
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LEED Specs Tool
• Coordinates Masterspec Libraries & LEED
2009 Rating Systems
• Includes:
– Summary of LEED requirements & identifies
relevant spec Sections
– Division 01 Sections needed to achieve LEED
certification
– Related technical specs text & editor’s notes
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Altarix™
• New product; creates & automatically
updates office masters
• Applies MasterSpec updates to User’s
office master
• Updates User’s master specs library
without changing existing Project specs
• Preserves a firm’s corporate history
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Altarix™
• Includes on-screen editor to revise specs text,
add comments & project notes, etc.
• Allows copying Sections from other Altarix™
Projects & importing text into a specs template
• Allows access to SpecAgent for current product
and mfr info, standards, references, product
comparison tables, etc.
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SpecText
• A system of pre-written, master
specs Sections for preparing Project
specs & office masters
• Suited to environmental & utility
engineering Projects *
• Written & updated by professional
specifiers
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SpecText History
• 1967: CSI forms the Construction
Sciences Research Foundation (CSRF)
• 1971: CSRF publishes Creating a
Common Language; SpecText is created
as a subset of COMSPEC, a computerassisted specs program
• 1978: SpecText is developed and
marketed
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SpecText History
• 1996: National Institute of Building
Sciences (NIBS) becomes developer &
marketer of SpecText’s electronic version
• 2011: AIA/ARCOM acquires SpecText
from CSRF; ARCOM markets, sells, and
distributes CSRF products & services
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Available Libraries *
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Environmental Engineering
Site/Civil
Structural
Mechanical/Electrical
Architectural
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Documents & Format
• Bidding & Contract requirements and General
Requirements; coordinated with AIA and
EJCDC Documents
• Conforms to CSI’s MasterFormat (or ISO’s
OmniClass), Uniformat, PageFormat, and
SectionFormat
• Incorporates sustainable design language
• Uses an edit-and-delete & fill-in-the-blank
process
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Documents & Format
• Full Sections (SpecText): For moderate- to
large-scale, or complex Projects, publically or
privately bid
• Short Form Specs (SpecText II): Abridged
Parts 1 & 3 and detailed Part 2; for light
commercial, multi-family residential, and lowrise bldgs
Outline Specs: For documenting design
decisions during SDs & DDs; for cost
estimating
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Supporting Documents
• Masterworks (or EditSpec) &
SpecAgent
• No specs automation software? (i.e.,
no e-Specs Linx?)
• ‘SpecWave AEC’ software for BIM
integration
• Drawings / Specs coordination notes
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Miscellaneous
Subscription includes:
• Training on-site & via webinars
• Technical support for content,
implementation & use.
• SpecText can be installed on a local- or
wide-area network server.
Employees at each licensed site can use
SpecText simultaneously
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Pros & Cons
• Pros
– Masterspec:
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Comprehensive
Rides AIA coattails, including legal
Educated decisions made from presented material
Good technical & computer support
– SpecText
• Complements Masterspec
• Rides CSI & AIA coattails
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Pros & Cons
• Cons
– MasterSpec
• Comprehensive - wordy, lengthy
• Pricey
– SpecText
• Fill-in-the-blank process
• No e-Specs Linx-type software - ??
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SpecsIntact
SpecsIntact is an automated system for
processing standard Masters used in DoD
facility construction projects worldwide.
(NASA) http://specsintact.ksc.nasa.gov/.
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Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS)
Consists of more than 820 Guide
Specifications in CSI MasterFormat. Available
through the Construction Criteria Base (CCB)
administered by the National Institute of
Building Sciences (NIBS).
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Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS)
A joint effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), the Naval Facilities Engineering Command
(NAVFAC), the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency
(HQ AFCESA), the Air Force Center for Engineering
and the Environment (HQ AFCEE) and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
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Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS)
Extensible Markup language (XML). This
tagging scheme provides the intelligence that
SpecsIntact uses in automatically processing
the Sections.
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SpecsIntact (Specifications-Kept-Intact)
SpecsIntact is a Specification
Management System that consists of two
main components, the SI Explorer and SI
Editor.
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SpecsIntact/UFGS
“Pros & Cons”
• (+) Required by DoD agency projects
• (+) production and presentation of quality control submittals
during design and construction.
• (-) Requires maintenance of separate master.
• (-) Dedicated personnel to make production routine predictable.
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ARCAT
Third party provider of manufacturer
product information available from an
internet browser, Iphone and Ipad apps and
Android apps. (http://www.arcat.com)
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ARCAT
900 specs all in the CSI 3 part format, 300
SpecWizards for automated spec writing.
Free to use and no registration required.
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ARCAT
“Pros & Cons”
(+) (-) Buyer/User beware.
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Database Systems
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e-SPECS OVERVIEW
• e-SPECS is a family of products that automates
the preparation of specifications
• Database software system vs. manual word
processing
• Extracts the product and material requirements
from the Building Information Model (BIM)
and/or CAD drawings to develop project
specifications
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e-Specs OVERVIEW
• Instantly updates the project specifications as
updates and changes occur in the building
model
• e-SPECS integrates with CAD and BIM
applications including Autodesk’s AutoCAD and
Revit-based products
• Supports all libraries of MasterSpec or
integration with custom office masters
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e-Specs HISTORY
• InterSpec, Inc. developed e-SPECS in 1998
• One of the first companies to integrate
specifications with Revit
• Partnered with ARCOM MasterSpec
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e-Specs SYSTEMS
• e-SPECS e-SPECS Linx
– edit specifications without CAD/BIM integration
• e-SPECS Desktop Markup Tool
– provides access for reviewing, redlining markups,
posting and responding to project notes, and
accessing the internet for product information
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e-Specs SYSTEMS
• e-SPECS for AutoCAD
– integrates with Autodesk AutoCAD-based
applications to automate specs
• e-SPECS for ArchiCAD
– integrates with GRAPHISOFT’s ArchiCAD Building
Information Modeling applications to automate specs
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e-Specs SYSTEMS
• e-SPECS for Revit
– integrates with Autodesk Revit-based applications to
link Revit families to specs
– automatically includes and filters sections based on
the families and parameters in the BIM model
• e-SPECS Designer
– application for managing custom office masters
– ability to extend the integrated MasterSpec sections
– automatic checklist tag creation and paragraph and
text mappings
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e-Specs SYSTEMS
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e-Specs PROS
• Ability to automate project specifications based on
building model
• Update automated project specifications when changes
occur to building model
• Improve accuracy of project specifications
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e-Specs PROS
• Potentially less time needed to develop project
specifications
• Improve coordination with drawings
• Create multiple custom office master specifications
• Paragraphs and text are not deleted when editing just
hidden
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e-Specs CONS
• Automated project specifications are only as complete
as the building model
• Project specifications required at early phases of
project are not automated
• Automation dependent on data entry in Revit families
and connecting to e-SPECS
• Specifications are not 100% automated, manual input
still required
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e-SPECS INFORMATION
• Website: http://www.e-specs.com/
• Email: info@e-Specs.com
• Various training programs available
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Speclink-E
Building Systems Design develops and
sells innovative software tools for the
architecture, engineering, and construction
markets of North America. Founded in
1983, the company creates, maintains, and
supports advanced specification writing,
cost estimating and BIM interoperability
products used by thousands of architects,
engineers and design professionals
nationwide.
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Products include
•Speclink-E
•Linkman-E
•Costlink-AE (not covered here)
•Custom systems
In addition, BSD developed PerSpective for
the CSI-DBIA joint venture.
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Speclink-E is their second generation
database system of specification writing.
Speclink+ was the first version.
One database of over 600 sections can be
expanded or collapsed to provide outline,
short form, and full construction specs —
without the need to start over at each phase
of a project.
Aligns with AIA or EJCDC documents.
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PageFormat or custom
Import sections from MS Word
Use tags for Reports
Create custom tags
Create Project notes for Sections
or paragraphs
• Template for creating new Sections
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7 different catalogs to address needs:
Design Criteria
Architectural
Structural Engineering
Civil Engineering
Landscape Architecture
Mechanical/Electrical
Outline & Short Form
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BSD SpecLink for Building
Product Manufacturers
• Options for product manufacturers
• Customized options in Speclink to specify
products correctly
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Pros
• Database system so the master
language is never deleted.
• Abbreviated language
• Carries information from PPD’s to other
Outline Specs or CD.
• Easy to create different office masters.
• Can edit “similar jobs” instead of going
back to master.
• Updates don’t change user edits
• Moderate price. Various $ options.
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Cons
• Only 600 sections
• Limited supporting documents (ie
green sheets)
• Like any software, you have to learn to
use and use it “right”
• Abbreviated language; may not be
acceptable for some projects
– Relies on referenced standards
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Linkman-E
• Linkman-E Ties Speclink-E to Revit
• Dashboard view used for creating links
• Can find missing products/assemblies in
model
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Trends in Specifications
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Trends
• Tools are changing
• Project delivery methods are changing
• Many players and shifting roles
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Questions
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Thank You
Rick Levin rlevin@kahlerslater.com
Wendel Chamberlin wendel@wcconsultinginc.com
Mike Kundinger mkundinger@flad.com
Curt Norton cnortoncsi@aol.com
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