by Rebecca Walker — December 29, 2008—The National Frame Building Association (NFBA), a non-profit organization representing the post-frame building industry, has developed a model guide specification in CSI three-part format for post-frame building systems. It can be downloaded from the association’s Web site.
The document, titled “Guide Specifications for Post-Frame Building Systems,” is listed as part of Construction Specifiers Institute (CSI) Division 13Special Construction.
The Guide Specification is intended to be used for the development of an office master specification or in the preparation of specifications for a particular project. In either case, the Guide Specification must be edited to fit the conditions of use. A construction specifier may use the document by deleting provisions inapplicable to the project they are working on, choosing appropriate options where indicated, and including necessary requirements where blank spaces are provided. The specifier includes the necessary items appropriate to a particular project.
The Guide Specification was developed due to the expansion of post-frame building systems into the commercial construction market. Although post-frame buildings have long been used for industrial, agricultural and residential applications, commercial applications have claimed a significant share of the post-frame construction market in recent decades. Recognizing that post-frame has become increasingly accepted for commercial construction, NFBA developed the Guide Specification as a generic template that was not builder- or manufacturer-specific, and is adaptable to any commercial or other building project.
NFBA is now developing a more user friendly version of the guide specification. The current Word format, while technically correct and technically complete, still requires the specifier to write the spec document.
NFBA was established in 1970 to address building code changes that may affect the post-frame industry. The organization represents post-frame contractors, design professionals, manufacturers and distributors. NFBA is the only trade association representing the interests of the post-frame construction industry throughout the United States. For more information, see the Web site.
