4specs.com    4specs.com Home Page

specifying software using MF04 and Se... Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

4specs Discussion Forum » Archive - Specifications Discussions #3 » specifying software using MF04 and SectionFormat « Previous Next »

Author Message
Sheldon Wolfe
Senior Member
Username: sheldon_wolfe

Post Number: 283
Registered: 01-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 04:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Just got a call from someone at Siemens, who wants to use MF04 to specify software. There are a couple of places for software in MF04, but I have not seen any software specifications that use MF04 and SectionFormat. Are there any out there?
Phil Kabza
Senior Member
Username: phil_kabza

Post Number: 286
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 09:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Sheldon,

Can you elaborate?
Sheldon Wolfe
Senior Member
Username: sheldon_wolfe

Post Number: 284
Registered: 01-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 11:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

He wants to specify software as a product, using CSI formats. It should be possible, but I don't know if anyone has done it. Twenty years ago, I wrote specifications for a word processing system, including hardware, operating system, and application software. I'm sure those specs are gone, and I'm sure I would do it differently today, but I don't see why software could not be specified in SectionFormat, in an MF04 section.
David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: davidcombs

Post Number: 251
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 08:34 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

What is the software being used for?

Would their product fit into one of the following?:

25 15 00 - Building Automation Software

27 25 00 - Data Communications Software
Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED™ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 658
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 09:13 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In sections written for fire alarm integration, the functionality of the software is described in great detail. See MasterFormat Division 28 for examples. Hardware is included, too, but while software is not named (that I could see in the 2 sections I skimmed), the operations are resulting in a performance specification. It seems, though, that the software would have to be doing a specific task, not just being available for anything; although Division 27, 272500 Data Communications Software, has breakdowns for 272519 Email Software, 272523 Graphics/Multimedia Software, 272529 Operating System Software, 272533 Database Software - just to name a few.
Christopher E. Grimm, CSI, CCS, LEED®-AP, MAI, RLA
Senior Member
Username: tsugaguy

Post Number: 103
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 01:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Are you talking about writing specifications to address a team of software developers? That could take on a very different range of subjects than for constructing a building project, but there are some similarities.

PART 1 - GENERAL could address administrative requirements and goals for the system's performance.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS could address the user interface and output of the program

PART 3 - EXECUTION could address issues regarding how the team will develop, test, debug, refine, and deliver the needed results.


Somewhere there must already be a standardized format that IT world "system architects" and analysts use to convey all this and a host of other kinds of information.
Sheldon Wolfe
Senior Member
Username: sheldon_wolfe

Post Number: 285
Registered: 01-2003
Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 02:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Finding an MF04 section number is not a problem, and I don't see a big problem using SectionFormat. I just wondered if anyone had seen it done before, to use as a starting point. It's easier to criticize than to create! ;-)
George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: geverding

Post Number: 363
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 03:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In 1998, at the request of a C/M, I wrote a short few paragraphs for Division 01 requiring all software used in the project to be fixed for the Y2K problems that everyone expected. The only Y2K software bug I ever saw personally was at our January 2000 progress meeting at the jobsite, run by the same C/M, when he handed out logs showing us being 36,500 days late on all our submittal reviews.
Ken Moore (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 08:08 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Currently have a LEED project. Specified hardware (A wall mounted touch screen) and software to not only show location of room and their function but to track enviromental use of building by day, week and month.

Required coordinated with controls sections to make sure software being use by all parties was compatable and able to talk to each other.

Was give a spec by Software manufacturer in 3 part CSI format; needed some revising.
John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: john_regener

Post Number: 345
Registered: 04-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 08:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

This is a significant topic if you think about software required for the BIM or even the software for typical project activities during design and construction:

- construction progress schedule
- management of submittals reviews
- management of RFIs and contract modifications

It's not that there will be Sections written just for the required software, with Masterformat section numbers and titles assigned, but there will be articles in the applicable Sections that will specify the software.

As for data filing, well Masterformat is not supposed to be used for data filing. That's another table under Omniclass.
Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 661
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 12:25 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

we have a section that governs 3-D modeling software and translations -- its a separate section in Division 1 that concerns itself with "Data Extraction, translation, transmission, exchanges" and how to make revisions and changes; we have another section that is called "Data Base Administration" that concerns itself with how the software is transmitted and stored.

even in my former office, the RFI software was regularly "negotiated" between the Architect and Contractor, because that submittal program tended to start running the administration of the project.

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration