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Randall T. Bailey, PE, CSI, CCS, LEED
Junior Member
Username: baileyr

Post Number: 2
Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 02:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In the MF04 promotional info there is a reference to "Facilitate increased database use" as one of the reasons MF04 was created. Would someone please explain the 'database' part of this reference?
Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: presbspec

Post Number: 76
Registered: 01-2003
Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 02:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

As an identification/cataloging system MasterFormat in general has been used for ID numbers in cost estimates, schedule of values, drawing details, and construction information that is provided in product data and communication in addition to specs in the Project Manual where we typically think of MF as being used.
With computer technology, there are a number of programs that can link this data using the MF numbers. MF04 facilitates this by providing a more exact identification of the system being described with the expanded method of number and titles within the expanded MasterFormat.
Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 260
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 05:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

an easy example is if you look at the existing 09640 (Wood Flooring) and you'll see listed under that number in MF95 more than 6 different types of wood flooring products as acceptable under that number. In the new numbering system, they all have separate numbers.
Currently if you have pricing information based on section numbers, you would have to find out if the wood floor was a strip floor, a prefinished floating floor, a parquet floor or wood block floor before you could tell if the pricing for "section 09640" was comparable on one project to that for another project. If someone uses the full listing of the new numbers, each 09 64 29 will always be the same thing as any other section of the same number.
Chris Grimm, RLA, CDT, MAI, CSI
Senior Member
Username: tsugaguy

Post Number: 9
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 05:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

yet another database use is integration of standard drawing keynotes and specifications. under mf95, various specifiers and manufacturers have had to invent their own section #'s for a multitude of purposes where the guidelines were not specific enough, making it impossible to have the kind of consistency required for an intelligent link between drawings and specs.

the huge expansion of mf04 offers everyone in the construction community the new opportunity to use standardized numbers. this allows designers to use programs such as e-specs to pull and pre-edit spec sections based on keynotes in their drawings with a CAD program like ADT or Revit. We are beginning to capitalize on the new back-end keynote/component databases in ADT and the database driven e-specs program to make this happen.

for more info go to www.e-specs.com. I'm not getting paid to say any of this (they are sending me a free oxford shirt though just as a new customer), I am a specifications coordinator excited about the progress the InterSpec and Arcom parternship is beginning to make.

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