The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada's largest federal research and development organization, publishes a series of updates for the National Master Specifications (NMS) on a quarterly basis. The most recently released updates, for the first quarter of 2021, were written by Conspectus, Inc. Conspectus began working with the NRC in early, 2018 and was contracted to update their master performance and design specifications organizing the content in UniFormat™.
This release of the master performance and design specifications organizes one hundred and two (102) specifications by major building functional elements using the UniFormat classification system. The decision to organize the content in this format aids in the implementation of Canadian policy for sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions, resiliency, and others. References for energy efficient and net zero operational carbon build design and operation were introduced into 37 Sections within the specifications.
UniFormat, a publication of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) and the Construction Specifications Canada (CSC), is a method of arranging construction information based on functional elements, or parts of a facility characterized by their functions, without regard to the materials and methods used to accomplish them. These elements are referred to as systems or assemblies. Performance specifications and preliminary project descriptions (PPD) often utilize UniFormat.
David Stutzman, president of Conspectus, Inc., established a relationship with Jason Urquart, manager of the Canadian National Master Specifications for the National Research Council Canada/ Government of Canada in 2018. Together they presented 'Closing the Gap - Performance to Work Results through New Tools & Master Specifications'.
Conspectus, Inc. is revolutionizing construction specifications by thinking beyond the specifier's traditional role and focusing on the right priorities. To every project, we bring a broader, more comprehensive approach that creates value and lowers risk for every stakeholder before, during, and after construction. Conspectus is the largest independent specifications consultancy in the United States servicing clients and projects both domestically and world-wide. Conspectus has offices in Chicago, IL, Nashville, TN, Cleveland, OH, St. Louis, MO, and Allentown, PA www.conspectusinc.com