When starting a new design project, what is actually known? Very little. The relevant design decisions must be made as the project progresses. So how can projects be effectively documented before all decisions are made? UniFormat™!
UniFormat is a Design Decision Tool
by David Stutzman | Dec 4, 2018 | MasterFormat, PPDFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Specifications, UniFormat
Evolving Specifications
by David Stutzman | Jun 18, 2018 | MasterFormat, outline spec, PPD, PPDFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, Specifications, UniFormat
First published at Young Architects Forum Connection 16.01.
Single Source Responsibility
by David Stutzman | Aug 17, 2015 | Construction Administration, Design Considerations, Division 07, Division 08, Division 11, Envelope, MasterFormat, Quality Assurance, Specifications
Construction specifications define work results. The results are divided among Divisions and Sections according to CSI's MasterFormat, the industry's organizational standard. Complying with MasterFormat allows specification readers to find information..
Format? OR Content?
by David Stutzman | Nov 3, 2014 | CSI, MasterFormat, PageFormat, Professional Practice, SectionFormat, Specifications
When writing construction specifications what is really important the format or content? Listening to some design teams, it seems lack of consistent format generate the greatest anxiety. Why is this? Well architects are generally visual creatures...
Specifying Design-Assist - How?
by David Stutzman | Sep 15, 2014 | B2010, bidding, contract documents, Design Considerations, Division 08, Drawings, MasterFormat, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, Specifications, UniFormat
It's a process, not just technical requirements. During design-assist, the architect of record, asks the contractor (usually a specialty subcontractor) to help develop system details and confirm system performance to meet project requirements. Typically..
Evolving Specifications
by David Stutzman | Aug 4, 2014 | BIM, contract documents, CSI, MasterFormat, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Specifications, UniFormat
Construction specifications are arranged by MasterFormat's 50 divisions and thousands of section numbers and titles - everyone knows that. There is a recent trend, at least with our architect clients, toward specifying complete systems and assigning..
Contract Documents are Related
by David Stutzman | May 26, 2014 | AIA, Construction Administration, contract documents, CSI, Division 00, Division 01, MasterFormat, Professional Practice, AIA A201, SectionFormat, Specifications, Specifier, UniFormat
It's a debate. The debate is evidenced in all the commercial guide specifications and even CSI's SectionFormat™. Related Requirements is an article heading near the beginning of specification sections. This article gives specifiers an opportunity to list..
Reinventing? Let's Standardize!
by David Stutzman | Dec 16, 2013 | contract documents, CSI, MasterFormat, Outline Specs, PageFormat, PPDFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), SectionFormat, Specifications, standards, UniFormat
The construction industry in general and the architectural profession specifically, seem to enjoy the same challenge on every project. You would think the challenge is about the design - trying to optimize the response to the owner's program and the..
PPD - Basic Organization
by David Stutzman | Oct 21, 2013 | basis of design, CSI, Design Development, MasterFormat, Outline Specs, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Schematic Design, UniFormat
Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD) are a formal method of presenting construction project data in a consistent, organized fashion. PPDs are arranged by element name, functional requirements, and system components - using the same organization as..
The Times They Are A-Changin'
by David Stutzman | Sep 30, 2013 | BIM, Commissioning, CSI, Design Team, MasterFormat, OPR, Owner, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, Specifications, Specifier, specifying, UniFormat