by Shane Henson — April 20, 2012—The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) have released the 2012 updates to the MasterFormat construction specifications publication.
MasterFormat is a master list of numbers and titles classified by work results or construction practices, used to organize project manuals, detail cost information and relate drawing notations to specifications. By fostering fuller and more detailed construction specifications, MasterFormat is designed to reduce costly changes and delays in projects due to incomplete, misplaced or missing information.
According to CSI and CSC, this newest release includes 76 new numbers/titles, 18 changes to the existing numbers/titles, and three deletions that duplicated other existing numbers/titles.
One of the most significant updates to MasterFormat involves the addition of numerous titles in Division 33—Utilities. The additions expand coverage of sanitary sewerage and septic systems work:
- Utility Drainage Field (33 36 33) is now Utility Septic Tank Drainage Field (33 36 33), with Utility Septic Tank Tile Drainage Field (33 36 33.13) and Utility Septic Tank Shallow Pressurized Dispersal System (33 36 19.16) added as “children” under it.
- Sanitary Sewerage Lagoons (33 47 23) is now Treatment Lagoons (33 38 00), with the following “children” added: Municipal Wastewater Treatment Lagoons (33 38 13), Industrial Waste Lagoons (33 38 16), Agricultural Waste Lagoons (33 38 23) and Residential Sewerage Lagoons (33 38 26).
A number of new titles address septic tanks, filters and pumps.
Among the other refinements, CSI and CSC:
- Added three new titles to Division 09 — Finishes: Concrete Staining (09 61 19), Interior Wall Paneling (09 78 00) and Metal Interior Wall Paneling (09 78 13);
- Amended Theater and Stage Equipment (11 61 00) to Broadcast, Theater and Stage Equipment, and added titles to address Lighting Rigging Systems (11 61 33.11), Scenery Rigging Systems (11 61 33.16) and Curtain Systems (11 61 33.19); and
- Expanded Operation and Maintenance of Plumbing Piping and Pumps (22 01 10) to include Video Piping Instructions (22 01 10.16), Plumbing Piping Cleaning (22 01 10.51), Plumbing Piping Repairs (22 01 10.61) and Plumbing Piping Relining (22 01 10.62).
- Amended Theater and Stage Equipment (11 61 00) to Broadcast, Theater and Stage Equipment, and added titles to address Lighting Rigging Systems (11 61 33.11), Scenery Rigging Systems (11 61 33.16) and Curtain Systems (11 61 33.19); and
