SpecTalk ::: the ARCOM blog

Meet the MasterSpec Architectural Review Committee (MARC) 2013

2013-05-15T11:59:00.000-06:00

May MARC Meeting Sparks Review of Terrazzo Specifications

MasterSpec Architectural Review Committee members, alternates, and ARCOM staff at the May 2013 meeting

Each quarter, the MasterSpec Architectural Review Committee (MARC) assembles in Alexandria, VA, to review MasterSpec sections and discuss updates to content with ARCOM's architectural specification writing staff.

MARC members and alternates—those who attend meetings as participants but are not directly involved in decision making—include architects, engineers, and specifiers from across the country. ARCOM listens to the voices of independent specifications consultants as well as specifiers who work as staff members for A/E firms.

Established and funded by the AIA, MARC—and its engineering counterpart, the MasterSpec Engineering Review Committee (MERC)—help ARCOM maintain precise specifications and ensure that new technological advances and trends in practice are accurately reflected in MasterSpec products.

Greta Eckhardt, 2013 MARC Chair, said, “To design buildings that will perform as intended, architects are called upon to understand and work with an increasingly wide range of materials, assemblies, and requirements. Throughout my practice as an architect and specifier, MasterSpec has been an invaluable resource for developing this understanding."

"Serving as a MARC alternate and committee member over the past five years has been a welcome opportunity to return to the community some of what I have learned through research and practice. It is also a privilege to participate in discussions with extremely well-informed and thoughtful specifiers—both those who serve on the committee and those who work directly for ARCOM.”

During its most recent meeting—held Friday, May 3, through Saturday, May 4—MARC covered a typically ambitious range of topics.

Friday’s focus on six painting sections explored, among other themes, the pros and cons of using Master Painters Institute designations as a means of preparing paint specifications.

A highlight of Saturday’s sessions was a presentation by a former committee member, Peter Jordan, who has been working to update the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association's standards and reference materials. This presentation provided helpful background for discussing updates to the MasterSpec sections for terrazzo. The review of terrazzo specifications, as well as specifications for wood flooring and access flooring, accentuated the importance of moisture control of concrete slabs prior to application of any of these types of floor finish.

Filling out the agenda for the two days of meetings were discussions on finish carpentry; window shades; mobile, stationary storage shelving; and interior planters.

Meet the 2013 MARC members (shown on front row in photo below):
Greta Eckhardt, Payette, Inc., Boston, MA, MARC Chair 2013
Julia Hall, LS3P Associates Ltd, Charleston, SC, MARC Vice Chair 2013
Robert L. Caldwell, Gensler, Baltimore, MD
Christopher McClure, McClure & Lockhart Consulting Architect, PLLC, Raleigh, NC
John C. Williams, HOK, Leawood, KS

Top Row, L-R: Joe Berchenko (ARCOM); Paul Brosnahan (ARCOM); Peter Jordan (Houston, TX)
Middle, L-R: Bill Munyan (Charlotte, NC); John Bunzick (Boston, MA); Helga Brown (San Diego, CA); Cynie Linton (Boston, MA); Tim Werbstein (ARCOM)
Front Row, L-R: Robert Caldwell (Baltimore, MD); John Williams (Leawood, KS); Julia Hall (Charleston, SC); Chris McClure (Raleigh, NC); Greta Eckhardt (Boston, MA)

ARCOM thanks these members who give their time to MasterSpec. If you are interested in joining MARC as an alternate member, contact Paul Brosnahan, Vice President of Architectural Specifications at ARCOM, at pbrosnahan@arcomnet.com.

ARCOM Congratulates Our New CDT-Certified Employees

2013-05-06T14:37:00.000-06:00

Last month, senior editor/workflow coordinator Tanya Coachman, engineering specification writer Michael Heinsdorf, and editor Amy Steele joined ARCOM's team of Construction Documents Technologists (CDT).

The three employees, based in ARCOM's Alexandria, VA, office, studied the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)'s comprehensive approach to the construction process to earn their CDT certificates. Through the CDT Program, candidates learn about the development and management of construction documents, including the particulars of contractual relationships, project delivery methods, and facility life cycle stages.

"ARCOM believes that all our employees should be knowledgeable about construction documents in order to better serve our clients," said Christopher Bushnell, ARCOM’s President and CEO. "Our employees contribute a considerable amount of effort to understand construction project fundamentals and demonstrate their knowledge of specifications as they relate to other construction documents. We welcome Tanya, Michael, and Amy to ARCOM's team of CDT-certified employees."

The CDT is a prerequisite for the Certified Construction Specifier, Certified Construction Contract Administrator, and Certified Construction Product Representative certifications. CSI lists Construction Documents Technologists in its Certificants Directory, found here.

Nominal, Utilization, and Service Voltages in MasterSpec

2013-05-02T12:46:00.000-06:00

Michael A. Heinsdorf, P.E., LEED AP
MasterSpec Engineering Specification Writer

Electrical equipment specified in MasterSpec typically has the voltage specified in a manner that will match a manufacturer's nameplate data. This includes specifying the rated voltage using what is called the utilization voltage. The utilization voltage usually differs from the typical voltage rating used when discussing a power system, the nominal voltage, which may differ from the actual delivered, or service voltage.

ANSI Standard C84.1L Electric Power Systems and Equipment – Voltage Ranges defines standard electrical equipment voltage ratings and tolerance limits for steady-state ac electrical systems from 100 V to 1200 kV. The nominal system single-phase voltages under 600 V are 120, 208, 240, 277, and 480 V. For each nominal system voltage, there are two voltage ranges, Range A, or the ideal voltage tolerances, and Range B, which includes Range A but goes beyond the limits of Range A on both the high and low ends.

Within each range are service and utilization voltages. The service voltage specifies tolerances for delivered voltage to the service entrance; the utilization voltage limits specify voltage tolerances for electrical equipment. Range A limits are significantly tighter than Range B. For Range A, the service voltage limits are plus or minus 5 percent of the nominal voltage; for Range B, the service voltage limits are approximately 8 percent below and 6 percent above nominal voltage. Range A utilization limits are 10 percent below and 4 percent above nominal voltage; Range B utilization limits are 13 percent below and 6 percent above nominal voltage. Utilization equipment should be designed to properly operate within Range A. Range B includes limits that allow for operating conditions and design limitations, but if conditions are sustained outside of Range A, yet inside Range B, corrective measures should be taken to bring the system into Range A limits, as equipment is only designed to operate within Range B limits for a brief duration.

Transient voltages, or sags and surges, are not accounted for within these limits and are covered by other standards that will be discussed in a future SpecTalk article.

ANSI C84.1 sets these voltage limits to ensure that the nominal electrical service delivered to a facility is within a certain range and that once the service voltage is delivered, the electrical equipment within the facility is able to properly operate after losses from the facility's electrical distribution system are accounted for. NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, allows for up to a total of a 5% voltage drop for a feeder and a branch circuit (see NFPA 70, Article 215.A.4), which is why the lower limit tolerances are a significantly higher percentage than the upper limit tolerances.

This means that a 480-V nominal voltage may have a Range A service voltage anywhere between 456 to 504 V and a utilization voltage between 440 to 500 V. To ensure that electrical equipment properly works within these voltage ranges, manufacturers will design for proper equipment operation within the lower and upper limits of the chosen range. Note that this applies to motors, tripping devices, light fixtures, etc.

As a rule, MasterSpec uses Range A utilization limits as a baseline. For instance, motors are specified as operating at 440 V ac. The Engineer needs to verify that the available service is within the Range A tolerances and, if not, specify corrective measures or Range B, if that option is available.

To learn more about MasterSpec, click here.

To speak with one of our product experts, call us at 800.424.5080.

ARCOM Announces Continuing Education Program through ACEC

2013-04-23T09:05:00.000-06:00

Last week, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) welcomed ARCOM as a registered provider for the Registered Continuing Education Providers Program (RCEP), a continuing education system for professional engineers.

ARCOM is a long-time provider of continuing education programs for The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). In 2012, ARCOM joined the ranks of registered providers for the Society for Design Administration (SDA).

ARCOM's continuing education programs include hands-on workshops, webinars, and independent study activities offered to MasterSpec and SpecText licensees. ARCOM hopes to expand its offerings with more technically oriented programs for both ARCOM licensees and non-licensees.

ARCOM architectural specification writer Joe Berchenko, AIA, CSI, CCS, coordinates independent study programs geared towards architects and landscape architects, and ARCOM’s Salt Lake City-based technical and support staff manage the company's software training programs. Through ACEC's RCEP, ARCOM engineering specification writer Michael Heinsdorf, P.E., LEED AP, CDT, will manage continuing education programs for engineers.

Stay tuned on SpecTalk and LinkedIn for more information on ARCOM's continuing education opportunities. Or call us at 800.424.5080.

MasterSpec Used by Majority of Top Firms in U.S.

2013-04-18T06:41:00.001-06:00

Each year, Architectural Record, Building Design & Construction (BD&C), Consulting Specifying Engineer (CSE), and Engineering News Record (ENR) publish their top firms lists.

We recently compiled the stats, based on figures from 2011, and we're excited to announce that, once again, the majority of the top firms rely on MasterSpec for their specification needs.

Who uses MasterSpec?

All of BD&C's top 10 architectural, engineering, and A/E firms
All of Architectural Record's top 10 firms and 70% of its top 250 firms
9 of CSE's top 10 engineering firms and 9 of ENR's top 10 design firms and A/E firms
Over 90% of BD&C's top 57 A/E firms
85% of BD&C's top 81 architectural firms

To become a licensed MasterSpec user, call us today at 800.424.5080.

Learn more about MasterSpec here.

Arc Flash Update Coming Soon to MasterSpec

2013-04-12T13:58:00.000-06:00

Replacing Descriptions of Short-Circuit & Coordination Studies with References to Other Sections Will Simplify Editing & Limit Potential for Conflicting Requirements

Michael A. Heinsdorf, P.E., LEED AP

MasterSpec Engineering Specification Writer

Overcurrent protective device; image courtesy of eaton.com

A recent comment from a MasterSpec Engineering Review Committee (MERC) member resulted in quite a bit of discussion at ARCOM's offices in Alexandria, VA. After extensive discussion with the committee member and several practicing engineers, ARCOM has come to a consensus to change the structure of the MasterSpec sections covering Short-circuit, Coordination, and Arc Flash Studies within the next year.

Sections 260572 "Overcurrent Protective Device Short-Circuit Study," 260573 "Overcurrent Protective Device Coordination Study," and 260574 "Overcurrent Protective Device Arc Flash Study" will remain numbered as-is and the content described by the title will not change.

However, ARCOM's engineering writers will update the way the sections interact with each other. As the sections are currently structured, if a specifier is specifying an Arc Flash Study, Section 260574 contains the requirements for the Short-circuit and Coordination Studies that need to be performed prior to the Arc Flash Study. Feedback from February's MERC meeting indicated that the short-circuit requirements outlined in Section 260574 are not as comprehensive compared to those described in Section 260572 “Overcurrent Protective Device Short-Circuit Study” and that Section 260574 does not adequately address the Coordination Study, which is only required for equipment with adjustable ratings.

Rather than adding several pages of requirements for each study to the existing 10-page arc flash section, ARCOM decided to remove the existing descriptions for the Short-circuit and Coordination Studies from Section 260574 and simply include references to Sections 260572 and 260573. This will shorten each section and limit the potential for conflicting requirements or references.

Additionally, it will ultimately simplify the editing of three unique sections in MasterSpec. All three sections describe work that is typically performed by the Engineer and not the Contractor. As a result, these sections are often used to establish criteria or a required level of performance.

As a criteria document for a solicitation, each section can be used in any of the three formats (Outline, Premium, or Professional) to define the scope of services. For example, the Section 260574 may be used to describe the requirements of an engineering firm to perform Arc Flash Hazard Analysis. The two preceding sections may be included or described within Section 260574, or information from previous surveys, studies, or design work may be incorporated into the solicitation. Further direction to the specifier will be included in an update to the Evaluations.

Similarly, for a design-build solicitation, the specifier can either modify Section 260574 to reference the preceding two sections or insert the requirements into the section. Additionally, this section update provides a logical separation for the Design Engineer of Record and the Arc Flash Study Specialist, should they not be one and the same.

Please remember that an Arc Flash Study is defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as an "art, requiring engineering expertise that is acquired by education and experience." While MasterSpec provides a description of the methods, qualifications, and quality of the end product, please consult National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E for arc flash requirements.

ARCOM Introduces Masterworks for the Mac

2013-04-10T11:45:00.001-06:00

ARCOM's upcoming MasterSpec update, scheduled for release this April, will introduce Masterworks 7.0 for the Mac for use with Microsoft Word 2011.

An addition to ARCOM's SpecWare suite of software, Masterworks for the Mac is the latest development in the industry's most extensive productivity software for use with word processors.

Masterworks 7.0 for the Mac features quick and easy spec-editing tools.

Edit across multiple files with Masterworks 7.0 for the Mac.

With Masterworks 7.0, licensed MasterSpec users can seamlessly produce, edit, and update construction specifications through either master guide specification system.

Masterworks for the Mac features:

single-file tools to create and edit paragraphs, optional text, and notes

Masterworks for the Mac features:

multi-file tools:

- create tables of contents
- edit headers and footers
- format documents
- convert sections to MasterFormat 1995

- generate reports, including submittal and LEED reports

Masterworks 7.0 for the Mac generates submittal and LEED reports.

Masterworks for the Mac features:

Format Wizard to save format settings and apply to other projects
SpecAgent resources to find the most up-to-date product and manufacturer information

Availability

Masterworks 7.0 for the Mac will be available for download with the upcoming MasterSpec update for licensed users of MasterSpec and will be available with the next SpecText update for SpecText licensees.

ARCOM will release Masterworks 7.0 for the Mac with MasterSpec Small Project 2013, anticipated for release this summer.

Contact us at 800.424.5080 to speak with one of our product experts today.

Sourcing MasterSpec Solid-State Lighting Sections

2013-04-03T07:37:00.000-06:00

Michael A. Heinsdorf, P.E., LEED AP

MasterSpec Engineering Specification Writer

LED Streetlighting

While the MasterSpec solid-state lighting sections won't be released for several months, ARCOM's engineering writing staff has completed the initial research and is well into the first drafts. In order to offer you a preview of our research, we've compiled a list of primary source background material with links to additional information.

Note that the primary sources list below is not yet comprehensive, but the final sources used in the solid-state lighting sections will be listed in the Evaluations that accompany each MasterSpec specification section. Each document will only be listed in the Evaluations that are applicable to that section.

If you've wondered why it's getting hard to find an incandescent lamp in your local big-box hardware store, it's because of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This bill focuses on more than lighting; it addresses increased fuel economy, biofuel development, and energy efficiency in buildings. Reading the entire bill will take a while, as it is 310 pages, but it is a fascinating look at how the government works. For the information on lighting, head straight to Sections 321-325, located here.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has too many resources to fully list in this blog post, but start at the Solid-State Lighting page of its website, here. Of note are the links to Standards, CALiPER Testing, and the Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium. Particularly interesting for this engineer and Philadelphia native is the report on testing streetlights in Philadelphia, here.

Engineers don’t always take coursework on economics in college–or its likely one may have forgotten the subject matter. When it comes to simple payback, the calculation is pretty simple: initial cost over annual savings equals the number of years until payback. But it's highly likely that the designer is going to need to account for taxes, stepped utility rates, emissions, overhead, design costs, etc., when justifying the cost to a decision maker. The DOE has you covered with a sophisticated financial analysis tool, found here. Note that whoever performs the calculations should have graduate-level understanding of economics and finance.

California has led the way when it comes to transitioning from traditional to LED streetlighting. The Bay Area Climate Collaborative has published the Next Generation Streetlights Guide, which summarizes some of their lessons and provides some good background information on streetlighting.

In the Northwest, the Lighting Design Lab has lighting layouts, articles, and member presentations that are geared toward the lighting designer and specifier.

The Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has excellent research on solid-state lighting.

The Lighting Research Group at Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory gives a glimpse of where LED lighting and control is going.

The California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at UC Davis actively investigates daylighting and controls. The CLTC also developed the National Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program that has trained 1,800 electricians in advanced lighting control and is being adopted in Washington, Michigan, and Illinois.

And finally, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America has literally written the standards for testing LED lighting.

MasterSpec News: Manufacturer Lists Moved to Online Database

2013-04-02T09:24:00.001-06:00

Static Manufacturer Lists Will Be Removed from Specification Sections and Replaced by Dynamic Online Lists

Masterworks Paragraph Builder shows a complete list of product types and available manufacturers for users to select.

The next MasterSpec update for the PC version of Microsoft Word will feature a link to an online database of manufacturers to replace the typical static lists of manufacturers.

This new, dynamic online database will store the most current manufacturer information for easy access each time you edit your MasterSpec specifications.

The database is available through Masterworks Paragraph Builder, a new tool released with the most recent MasterSpec update to streamline the product and manufacturer selection process. In addition to eliminating the need to edit manufacturer lists by hand, Paragraph Builder ensures that your specifications consistently include correct language and formatting.

Paragraph Builder can be used to build a product, manufacturer, or basis-of-design opening paragraph by following hyperlinks within the specification text. As you make selections, the text is immediately updated in a preview window.

To learn more about Paragraph Builder, click here, or to speak with one of our experts, call 800.424.5080.

Revolutionary New Software Altarix Now Available

2013-03-29T15:30:00.000-06:00

ARCOM is pleased to announce the release of Altarix, the revolutionary new software in the SpecWare® suite of specification productivity tools.

Altarix gives specifiers complete control over their documents to produce consistent, accurate, and complete office masters.

Altarix highlights:

create and automatically update your MasterSpec-based office master
automatically update your MasterSpec master specification library when MasterSpec updates are issued
copy sections from other Altarix projects
create new custom sections
edit MasterSpec with a Q&A Wizard and a new on-screen editor
produce complete project manuals with Altarix's built-in tools
generate on-demand tables of contents and reports, including a submittal logs
globally format all sections in your project
integrate manufacturer and product information from SpecAgent
export your documents to Microsoft Word

Click here to read more about Altarix.

Availability

Altarix for the A/S/C Premium libraries is available immediately to MasterSpec users for an additional fee. To license Altarix, please contact us at 800.424.5080 or arcom@arcomnet.com.

Altarix for the Mechanical/Electrical libraries and for the Historic Preservation Library will be available in the future.

Linx licensees

You will receive Altarix at no additional cost through the end of your Linx license. We encourage you to use Altarix for new projects, as the Linx format of MasterSpec will no longer be updated and the Linx software will be phased out soon.

Intro to Altarix Webinar

ARCOM offers Introduction to Altarix webinars every Thursday at 11 a.m. MT at no cost.

And of course, our support staff is available to answer any questions you may have. Contact ARCOM at 800.424.5080 for questions and to register for the webinar.

Click here to download Altarix today.

MasterSpec in MasterFormat 1995 to be Discontinued

2013-03-19T14:17:00.000-06:00

As announced last year, ARCOM will no longer issue MasterSpec in MasterFormat™ 1995 in word-processing, Linx, and e-SPECS formats after June of this year. All specifications will be delivered to MasterSpec clients in the latest edition, MasterFormat 2012.

For your clients who require submission of specifications in the MasterFormat 1995 edition, Masterworks users can easily convert sections from 2012 to 1995 with Masterworks multi-file tools.

Masterworks 7 Multi-File Tool

Click here to access the MasterFormat release schedule for MasterSpec, Linx, and e-SPECS.

For more information, call 800.424.5080 or email support@arcomnet.com.

February 2013 MERC Meeting Highlights

2013-03-13T11:51:00.000-06:00

Altitude Derating, Power Factor Correction Equipment, Enclosed Switches and Circuit Breakers, LED Lighting, and More

Michael A. Heinsdorf, P.E., LEED AP

MasterSpec Engineering Specification Writer

During the February 2013 MasterSpec Engineering Review Committee (MERC) meeting, the Electrical Subcommittee reviewed 10 specification sections; debated the best strategy to break out the two existing lighting sections, Section 265100 "Interior Lighting" and Section 265600 "Exterior Lighting," into multiple specification sections; and discussed industry developments that drive the products they specify. The following are several highlights from the meeting.

Revisions to Sections that Address Derating of Motors, Circuit Breakers, and Fuses

ARCOM will explore revisions to the "Unusual Service Conditions" Article in the Evaluations of several Division 26 sections, regarding derating motors, circuit breakers, and fuses located above 3330 feet in altitude. In brief, as altitude increases, ambient air’s dielectric and thermal properties change, sometimes requiring derating of equipment. This applies broadly to most electric equipment installed at or above this altitude. Look to your manufacturer for more information on this topic. Powell Industries offers a quick primer on derating fuses, surge arresters, and potential transformers, and Cooper Bussman provides additional information here.

Additional Guidance on "Unusual Service Conditions" in Evaluations

The Evaluations of the affected MasterSpec Division 26 sections will include more guidance for engineers on "Unusual Service Conditions," addressing enclosures, temperature, altitude, UV exposure, and more. In addition, the Evaluations and Drawing Coordination Checklists will allow the specifier to properly describe equipment and coordinate that information with the drawings.

Recommendation to Review Local Utility Power Factors before Specifying

As MERC reviewed Section 263533 "Power Factor Correction Equipment" and evaluated the products described in Part 2, a discussion regarding the power factor requirements of utilities across the United States turned into a relevant conversation about how to address the requirements of each utility. For instance, Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL), Florida Power and Light, and Cleveland Public Power require power factors of 0.90, 0.85, and between 0.97 lagging to 0.99 leading, respectively. Additionally, IPL has a standard book of details to be used by the design engineer, while other utilities may not provide that guidance. MERC concluded that the requirements vary so much that a note to the engineer to confirm requirements with the local utility is sufficient.

Addition of Elevator Shunt-Trip Switches in Section 262816 "Enclosed Switches and Circuit Breakers"

One of the strengths of the MERC review process is its members' contribution of expertise and current best practices. In the case of Section 262816 "Enclosed Switches and Circuit Breakers," a MERC member noted that elevator shunt-trip switches are a different product type than “typical” shunt-trip switches and are therefore not included. ARCOM will add elevator shunt-trip switches in the next update of this section. Click here for more information from Fire Engineering on elevator shunt-trip switches and how they work.

Advancements in LED Lighting and Lighting Design

February's MERC meeting focused on new technologies in the lighting design industry, such as LED lighting and interior and exterior lighting design and products. Look for a future article in SpecPress on ARCOM's approach to upcoming lighting section updates and how we'll maintain relevant information for specifiers.

This is just a brief look at some of the topics and sections discussed during the two-day MERC meeting. Meetings are held quarterly, alternating between the Electrical and Mechanical Subcommittees. For more information about MERC, including a list of current members and contact information, or to become part of the process, click here.

Getting Started with Masterworks Paragraph Builder

2013-03-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Every MasterSpec section provides options (indicated in bold text bound by brackets) offering variants on paragraphs, manufacturers, products, and materials for specifiers to easily customize each specification document to meet the needs of an individual project.

In the 4th Quarter 2012 update of MasterSpec, ARCOM introduced the Masterworks 7.2 Paragraph Builder as a tool to help MasterSpec licensees efficiently edit specifications.

Paragraph Builder eliminates the need to edit options and delete extraneous content by hand and ensures specifications consistently include the correct language and formatting.

A double-click on any product link in MasterSpec will bring up Paragraph Builder, allowing you to select the options, manufacturers, and products in one streamlined interface. As you make your choices, Paragraph Builder shows the Section Text taking shape in a preview window. Click "Update Specification" and your choices will be transferred to the document.

Paragraph Builder shows a complete list of product types and available manufacturers for users to select.

Last month's SpecPress newsletter detailed step-by-step instructions for getting started with Paragraph Builder, or you can watch this quick-start tutorial.

Additional Tips:

1. Paragraph Builder will not force you to go through every option before you can update the document. If you get part of the way through and click "Update Specification," the correct language in the options will be updated in the document.

2. If you add your own manufacturers and products, Paragraph Builder will help keep them organized. Previously entered manufacturers are available through the drop-down list in the product-type level view and are given a spot on the grid in the section level view. Hitting "Reset" will clear all previous choices and allow you to start from scratch.

3. Many sections contain a lengthy list of product types. If you remove the unneeded product types from the document and then return to the section level view, Paragraph Builder will only show your remaining product types.

Introducing the MasterSpec Historic Preservation Library

2013-02-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS

ARCOM Senior Architectural Specification Writer

The new MasterSpec Historic Preservation Library is here. The first release, made available last fall, addresses the most requested historic tasks, or "work results," as the concept is defined by the Construction Specifications Institute's (CSI's) MasterFormat. These work results include physical objects and labor, such as repairing, replacing, and cleaning historic building materials.

Based on work results, the Historic Preservation Library can specify required work for any of the four historic treatments or purposes of The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Canada's Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.

CSI's work results are more objective and instructional to a contractor than the relatively subjective historic treatments. For example, the work required for repairing and cleaning a material is very similar, or even identical, for any of the historic treatments, except reconstruction. The project designer determines the appropriate historic treatment or treatments appropriate for a project and then decides what tasks, work items, or work results the contractor must execute to fulfill the project goals.

The work Sections in the Historic Preservation Library are structured to accommodate the historic treatment tasks of cleaning, repairing, refinishing, and replacing various materials. The Sections address the following subjects:

● General historic treatment procedures
● Removal and dismantling
● Bird excrement removal
● Masonry cleaning
● Brick masonry repair
● Brick masonry repointing
● Terra cotta masonry repair
● Terra cotta masonry repointing
● Stone masonry repair
● Stone masonry repointing
● Stone consolidation treatment
● Decorative metal cleaning
● Decorative metal repair
● Decorative metal refinishing
● Decorative metal replication
● Wood repair
● Wood doors
● Steel windows
● Wood windows
● Plaster (both lime- and gypsum-based types)
● Plain painting
● Decorative painting
● Artistic painting
● Gilding

We plan to issue additional sections regularly, and we are hopeful that this resource for specifiers will simplify the complexities and reduce the pitfalls of specifying work for historic projects.

AE Firm Quality Management: A Guide to Best Practices

2013-02-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Phil Kabza, FCSI, CCS, AIA

Design firm quality management problems have plagued AE firms for decades. Since most could benefit from a review in quality management, this guide to best practices will help firms spend less time putting out fires and more time focusing on doing the design work that made all of us want to be designers to begin with.

The suggestions below are guaranteed compatible with IPD, BIM, 3D CAD, and ink-on-vellum.

Perform a quality deficit examination. Few AE firms conduct the kind of in-depth client and contractor surveys that other industries routinely perform. Your clients' perceptions of what constitutes your firm's quality deficits may be far different from what your perceptions are, and your clients' perceptions count. This can become a powerful relationship-building activity. Think to ask the questions, and want to know the answers.
Determine a standard of practice. If the deficit examination shows that your firm's design process and document quality need upgrading, invest your time in creating a standard of practice. This has become a national practice, represented by, among other sources, the United States National CAD Standard, the CSI Practice Guides, the body of knowledge accumulated in MasterSpec section masters and Supporting Documents, and AIA's The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice. If your studio staff is adequately schooled in the contents of these resources, then your quality management job will be much easier.
Checklists are a useful tool in the context of an overall quality management program. Ultimately, the people performing the work should be the ones to create and refine the checklists. I once saw a design firm spend their $50,000 insurance claim deductible to fix a structural detail after no one would listen to the advice of the reinforcing steel installer who caught the error as the rebar was placed. For more on checklists, read Atul Gawande's The Checklist Manifesto.
Study your errors each week. Study addenda, RFIs, and change orders to identify process and communication shortcomings. Engage your staff in this process, and recognize individuals who make the effort to come clean with issues that may have quietly tortured them in the studio for years. Fix the most common and expensive issues first. In this manner, the growth of your quality management program can be funded by the projects benefiting from the results, and your staff will own the results.
Invest in ongoing professional training, and insist that your staff embraces a quality management program. Quality management requires a top-down commitment and often includes an in-house leader with outside consultants. If your firm partners are consistently involved and supportive for the long haul, they will likely find that their end-of-year profit distributions and staff bonuses will begin to increase.

Phil Kabza, FCSI, CCS, AIA, is guest blogger for ARCOM and a partner with SpecGuy, providing specifications consulting to design professionals and building product manufacturers. SpecGuy is an ARCOM Strategic Partner and an Authorized MasterSpec Trainer; the firm also publishes a CSI-award-winning certification study program at www.SpecGuy.com. Phil is a member and former Chair of the AIA MasterSpec Architectural Review Committee and a Fellow of the Construction Specifications Institute. He can be contacted at Phil@SpecGuy.com.

ARCOM at CONSTRUCT 2011, Chicago IL

2011-09-16T15:34:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who came by our booth at this year's CSI CONSTRUCT show!

Joseph Berchenko Named Assistant Director of Architectural Specifications

2011-07-19T08:39:00.000-06:00

ARCOM is pleased to announce the promotion of Joseph Berchenko, AIA, CSI, CCS, to the position of Assistant Director, Architectural Specifications.

“Joe’s wealth of diversified specifying experience and agile mind will strengthen ARCOM’s wide-ranging efforts focusing on the future of master guide specifications. He will bring a fresh, welcome perspective to future developments of AIA’s MasterSpec and ARCOM’s Specware,” said Paul Brosnahan, ARCOM’s Vice President of Architectural Specifications.

Joe has been a Senior Architectural Specification Writer at ARCOM since 2003. Originally from Nebraska, he worked for a number of firms in Lincoln and also served as a commercial plans examiner for 10 years.

“The way specs are written is changing,” Joe said. “Not only are the written construction documents becoming BIM interoperable, but they're getting smarter and more automated every day. In the next few years, I expect to see product selection become increasingly integrated with a simplified writing process. It's a very exciting time to join the management team at ARCOM. I greatly look forward to my participation in what will surely prove a transformative period for specifications.”

Joe’s promotion is effective immediately, and he will continue to work from ARCOM’s Alexandria, Virginia, office.

Firm Profile: Anderson Design, Inc.

2011-07-11T14:33:00.001-06:00

"The supporting documents allow me to better understand specific construction materials and methods that I may have limited knowledge of. This allows me to write a tighter specification, minimizing potential construction phase conflicts." (John C. Anderson, Principal and Owner, Anderson Design, Inc.)

Anderson Design, Inc., a one-person landscape architecture firm, has provided site design and landscape design services in Georgia and the Carolinas since 2001. Located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Anderson Design works on a broad spectrum of projects including higher education, K-12 schools, office buildings, streetscapes, recreation facilities, and church campuses.

John C. Anderson, the principal and owner of Anderson Design, has used MasterSpec since founding his company. He values MasterSpec because it facilitates coordination of specifications with other design disciplines on complex projects. He finds that the editor's notes and supplemental documents allow him to close holes in his document package by helping him answer questions about materials and construction methods.

As a one-man consulting firm, he depends on MasterSpec's construction industry knowledge to help shorten the learning curve when he is working with a particular design program element for the first time. By doing things quicker, he says he can move on to other billable tasks.

Here's a list notable projects from Anderson Design:

Earn Continuing Education Credits through the MasterSpec Independent Study Program

2011-07-01T07:31:00.002-06:00

Did you know you can get free continuing education credits just by reading MasterSpec?

MasterSpec users who license the A/S/C or Landscape libraries in Full Length or Short Form can earn continuing education credits from the AIA and ASLA for reading specific specification sections and their corresponding supporting documents.

AIA/CES Learning Units (LU) and ASLA Professional Development Hours (PDH) can be earned by reading a selected section and then taking a short, 10-question test on the ARCOM Web site. By scoring 80 percent or higher on each test, you can earn one AIA LU (HSW eligible) or ASLA PDH for every section reviewed. In addition, some MasterSpec sections qualify for sustainable design credit; tests and sections which meet the criteria for sustainable design credit are marked with a green globe icon.

Take full advantage of your MasterSpec license today by checking out the free MasterSpec Independent Study Program. Visit http://www.arcomnet.com/users/independent_study.php, or view the FAQs at http://www.arcomnet.com/users/support_faq_study.php. For questions or comments, please contact ARCOM at 800.424.5080 or by email at continuinged@arcomnet.com.

Upcoming Trade Shows

2011-06-23T14:03:00.000-06:00

Want to meet ARCOM's writers and other staff members? Interested in demonstrations of our software and new products? Simply want more of our famous chocolate truffles? You're in luck, because ARCOM will be exhibiting at the following upcoming trade shows:

Construct 2011
Chicago, IL
September 14-16, 2011
Booth #812

USGBC 2011 GreenBuild Conference & Expo
Toronto, ON
October 4-6, 2011
Booth #1925

ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo
San Diego, CA
October 31-November 1, 2011
Booth #2039

We're also offering in-depth training at Construct 2011 (Sept. 13) and ASLA (Nov. 2). If you'd like more information, visit the training page on our website or send a note to training@arcomnet.com.

We'd love to see you in Chicago, Toronto, or San Diego!

Until the Paint Is Dry

2011-06-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

Some construction work is important only until the paint is dry, painting typically being the last job before an owner takes possession of a project. This work is usually classified as "temporary facilities and controls" and is normally the Contractor's responsibility with minimal guidance or limitations imposed by the Project's Architect or Engineer.

However, what and how much temporary work to do and what limitations are suitable to perform it as required for a successful project can be points of disagreement with the Contractor. This situation is where specifications for temporary work are important and must set only those requirements that are necessary to ensure successful Project completion.

Construction dewatering is an aspect of temporary construction addressed in MasterSpec Section 312319 "Dewatering." Construction dewatering lowers and controls ground-water levels before and during excavation to allow construction to be performed in near-dry conditions on stable subgrades and to reduce hydrostatic pressure against excavation support and protection systems. Temporary diversion of surface water from entering excavations or ponding is handled by separate means included in MasterSpec Section 312000 "Earth Moving."

A permanent dewatering system may be required in some instances if continuing control and removal of ground water from buildings is required. Permanent dewatering systems must be designed to meet long-term engineering requirements, are typically the responsibility of the design professional, and are generally specified with greater detail in another section, such as MasterSpec Section 334600 (Section 02620) "Subdrainage."

Authorities having jurisdiction sometimes do not permit the Contractor to assume responsibility for design of dewatering and ground-water control systems during construction.

The quality of water discharged from dewatering may also be subject to strict control by authorities having jurisdiction. Federal and state restrictions on water quality may be relevant, and the Contractor must obtain necessary discharge permits. Water pumped from excavations may have to pass through sedimentation tanks before it is allowed to flow into city sewer systems or be ejected outside the excavation. Stormwater erosion and sediment controls imposed by authorities having jurisdiction usually must be considered in the dewatering plan.

Construction below the water table without controlling ground water should not be attempted. Unrelieved hydrostatic pressure can cause piping or heaving of foundation soils, making them unsuitable to support construction. Dewatering intercepts seepage that would otherwise emerge from the slopes or bottom of an excavation, and it improves the stability of excavated slopes.

Tests of a dewatering system may be warranted to evaluate performance before excavating. Testing provides an opportunity to fine-tune the installed system before placing it in operation. The outcome of dewatering cannot always be accurately predicted; dewatering is a combination of science and art, and designs may require modification in the field and trial-and-error tests. Difficult soils and soils with low permeability may require time to yield their ground-water content.

Damage produced by dewatering may include cracking in structures and finishes caused by differential settlement. Existing structures built on weak, compressible soils or on saturated, loose sand could settle. The condition of structures, types of foundations, and water-table elevations immediately adjacent to the Project should be determined before dewatering. If dewatering and excavation will lower the water table significantly at such structures, precaution in the form of underpinning those structures may be necessary. Buildings with deep foundations are usually less affected by adjacent dewatering than those with shallow foundations; older buildings are usually more affected than newer ones. Excessive pumping of ground water may also adversely affect nearby wells, reduce available water necessary for plant and tree health, contribute to the development of sink holes, or increase the flow of nearby pollutants or sea water into the aquifer.

Three basic methods are common for ground-water control at excavations below the water table. The appropriate method or combination of methods depends on a project's location and the amount of water flow determined by comprehensive test borings and soil surveys.

Open Drainage: Water may flow into the excavation; be collected in ditches, drains, and sumps; and be pumped out.
Predrainage: The water table is lowered before excavation by using well points in granular soils, ejector systems, vacuum systems, deep wells, and other well systems, often placed outside the excavation perimeter.
Cutoff: Ground-water seepage is arrested or severely curtailed by sheet piling, cylinder walls, slurry or diaphragm walls, or soil freezing. Such cutoff methods that create a barrier to ground water may be used alone or with other dewatering methods, but cutoffs often minimize or eliminate the need for other dewatering efforts.

Electro-osmosis may be required for more effective operation of well points, as well as ejector systems and wells in some impermeable soils. It is a phenomenon whereby some fine-grained sediments with low permeability expel pore water when an electric current is passed through them. Electro-osmosis uses well points as negative electrodes to attract water. Rods are driven into the soil to act as anodes. A direct electric current is passed through the soil from the anode rods, causing the ground water contained in the soil to flow to the well point that serves as the negative electrode (cathode). The water is then removed by pumping.

Employee Profile: Ken Chappell, Assistant Director, Engineering Specifications

2011-05-20T07:45:00.001-06:00

With over 30 years of experience in mechanical engineering and the construction industry, Ken joined ARCOM in January of 2010. He has been directly involved in writing specifications and engineering construction documents for much of that time.

Ken graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1986 with a degree in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering. His early career was spent as a design engineer doing research and development in the fields of aerospace, automotive, automated equipment, robotics, and facilities. Ken not only designed equipment and facilities but often oversaw the construction, installation, and commissioning of the equipment and facilities all over the world.

He has also developed many relational database software applications to support his design work and for a variety of companies and service groups. His career later evolved into material handling and automated warehousing. He also spent time building up a successful book of business as a real estate agent in Cincinnati, Ohio, before deciding to write construction specifications full time. "Admittedly," Ken says, "writing architectural and engineering specifications as a career path was not on the radar, but it has been a very rewarding journey. My career at ARCOM has allowed me to 'laser focus' my knowledge and experience from past career paths into a single effort."

Ken has written specifications for projects in academia, government, and the private sector, including many types of commercial buildings, manufacturing facilities, biocontainment facilities, medical centers, senior-living facilities, high-end residential and university campuses, and community colleges. Ken is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) where he is becoming increasingly involved in various technical committees establishing standards in the construction industry.

When his face isn't staring at a computer screen, Ken spends his spare time at the gym; exploring Washington, DC; traveling occasionally; designing "stuff"; and painting portraits of friends and the occasional commissioned work. He works out of ARCOM's Alexandria, Virginia, office.

* * * * *

ARCOM’s staff of 40 professionals represents some of the most innovative and personable specification professionals, writers, editors, computer scientists, and service people in the industry. This occasional series provides brief biographical sketches of just a few of the people serving you at ARCOM.

GreenWizard and ARCOM Form Collaborative Alliance

2011-05-10T15:27:00.000-06:00

Charleston, SC, and Salt Lake City, UT – May 10, 2011 – GreenWizard® Inc., creator of web-based software to simplify building material selection, optimization, and documentation for projects seeking LEED® certification, and ARCOM, publisher of MasterSpec®, SpecWare®, and SpecAgent®, today announced they have entered into a collaborative alliance.

As part of this alliance, the two companies will develop cross-platform integration between their systems for sharing product performance data and green attributes of building materials. In addition, the companies will work toward the common goal of getting participating manufacturers’ product data in front of design and construction professionals at the critical time when they are making product decisions.

GreenWizard is the only data-driven workflow solution that puts product search, evaluation, selection, LEED credit modeling and assessment, and LEED documentation at the fingertips of the design and construction community. With the unique power of GreenWizard’s database and the specification and productivity software capabilities of ARCOM, users will have access to product-research, specification, procurement, and documentation systems that are second to none.

“ARCOM is the leader in specification systems with MasterSpec. Moreover, ARCOM’s new SpecAgent and Altarix platforms are attaining dominance in the product data and specification software arenas,” said Adam Bernholz, GreenWizard’s CEO. “The ARCOM-GreenWizard integration holds great promise for both companies’ users, as we can deliver search power, performance, and product specification choices unavailable elsewhere in the construction industry.”

“GreenWizard has sprinted to the head of the class in the green software sector for LEED construction information,” said ARCOM’s Matt Johnson, Director of Manufacturer Support Services. “We are excited to be implementing cross-platform functionality that leverages ARCOM’s specification and software expertise with the latest in LEED-related product data, LEED-point optimization, and documentation.”

About ARCOM

ARCOM publishes MasterSpec for The American Institute of Architects (AIA) for use by architects, engineers, landscape architects, and design professionals. MasterSpec, the most comprehensive master guide specification system available, can be used to create construction specifications for all project sizes, complexity, and delivery.

ARCOM is also the developer of SpecWare, a suite of specification productivity software tools that dramatically simplifies specification creation and use, and SpecAgent, a web-based resource that streamlines the process of construction product research and comparison, manufacturer selection, and specifying.

ARCOM is a Salt Lake City-based firm with an additional office in Alexandria, Virginia. The company employs more than 40 full-time specification development professionals: researchers, specification writers and editors, software developers, product/manufacturer experts, technical support staff, and customer service professionals. More info: www.arcomnet.com.

About GreenWizard

GreenWizard, Inc. is a technology company that has created a cloud software solution to help the design and construction communities simplify the process of green product selection and management. Architects, engineers, project owners, consultants, contractors, and others use GreenWizard’s WORKflow platform to compare and evaluate products from a centralized search engine and directly communicate with manufacturers. For those seeking LEED certification, it also offers an end-to-end solution by utilizing its proprietary credit assessment tools as a factor in the product selection process to optimize credits, manage product-related documentation, and ultimately automate the online submission component to LEED Online. Manufacturers and suppliers provide product data and documents through GreenWizard’s MARKET Pro platform, which populate its search engine. GreenWizard also has a LEED AP Consulting Division to staff projects and assist WORKflow Enterprise project teams in finding, specifying, and buying products on an as-requested basis. The Charleston, SC-based company was founded in 2008. More info: www.GreenWizard.com.

ARCOM Contact:
Matt Johnson
mjohnson@arcomnet.com
801.521.9162 x 244

GreenWizard Contact:
John D. Wagner
Wagner Public Relations
Jdwagner@WagnerPR.com
919-796-9984

# # #

LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

64-Bit Version of Masterworks Is Now Available

2011-04-28T08:07:00.000-06:00

If you've been anxiously waiting for the 64-bit version of Masterworks to arrive, then wait no more: go to our website, log in, download, and let us know what you think. The tool is still in beta, so we would appreciate feedback about how the installation and spec editing process works for you.

We'll post an update when we release a fully stable version. Until then, we appreciate your help in making Masterworks the best spec editing tool available.

We're Expanding Our Team

2011-04-19T14:40:00.002-06:00

ARCOM has an expanding team and is looking for an Assistant Director of Architectural Specifications to work from our Alexandria, Virginia, office. Here's the official description--email VPArchitecturalSpecifications@arcomnet.com if you'd like to apply.

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Assistant Director of Architectural Specifications

ARCOM seeks an architect with 15 year’s varied project experience, an extensive knowledge of contract documents, and demonstrated ability producing architectural specifications.

You will work in ARCOM’s Alexandria, Virginia, office and assist the Vice President of Architectural Specifications in developing and maintaining the MasterSpec guide specification system.

Responsibilities

Assist in managing the production of architectural specifications

Provide guidance on technical content to architectural writers
Manage production schedule for architectural specification writers and consultants
Prepare and supervise the writing of new and updated specification sections
Provide quality control of architectural specifications

Evaluate products including environmental and sustainability attributes
Assist in managing the architectural budget
Coordinate peer review committee meetings

Knowledge and Experience

Well-organized, collaborative team member with strong verbal, writing, and computer skills
In-depth knowledge of architectural building systems, products, and materials including building codes, regulations, and industry standards
Skilled user of MasterSpec and associated specifications-automation software; database experience a plus
Proficient writing project specifications, including Division 01, for a wide range of building types; office master development a plus

Qualifications

Licensed or registered professional; AIA a plus
CDT; must obtain CCS within one year of start of employment
Strong leadership ability with experience in managing project teams

Send Resume to: VPArchitecturalSpecifications@arcomnet.com