At the local government level, chapters in CSI's Northwest Region that covers Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, have set January 2006 as their target date for implementing MasterFormat 2004. Members hope that setting a date will make it easier for the region's users to plan for the transition.

"Our decision as a region was that any project that goes out to bid after Jan. 1, 2006, will use the new MasterFormat," says Anne Whitacre, CSI, CSC, a member of the Institute's Certification Committee and chair of the Northwest Region's Planning Committee. "Large architectural firms in Seattle, Portland, and Anchorage use many of the same consultants. Our thought was that it would be easier on them if we had a standard turnover date."

With a date in mind, Northwest Region Director Tom R. Deines, CSI, CAA, is focusing on educating both CSI and non-CSI members. "The folks in CSI know it's coming, but there are folks who aren't members that will be facing a 50-division MasterFormat 2004 Edition they've never seen before. We need to reach them before January 2006."

Will it be a difficult transition?

For many specifiers, switching to MasterFormat 2004 Edition will take less time than previous editions required, states Karl F. Borgstrom, Ph.D., executive director of CSI. Depending upon their perspective, users will have different experiences adapting to the new edition. For manufacturer representatives, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, the transition should simply be a matter of learning the new numbers applicable to their product or work, while architects will find the divisions covering the products they specify comfortably familiar. In contrast, systems and building engineers will need to check the much expanded divisions of mechanical and electrical work for easy-to-find locations for the work they must specify.

The greatest beneficiaries will be building owners, who, for the first time, will have the comprehensive means to maintain project information, record documents, and other related data critical to facility maintenance and operation. Once in place, the expanded system will require less work on the part of those who prepare and disseminate construction information, and allow quick retrieval of information by users.

Any costs incurred for word processing, printed materials, or modifying electronic databases, will be more than offset by the long-term usability and expandability of MasterFormat 2004 Edition. The cooperation of those who provide construction information resources ranging from master specifications systems, manufacturer data and estimating tools is critical to the implementation of MasterFormat 2004 Edition.