Why was MasterFormat revised?

MasterFormat has been updated several times since it was first produced in 1963 in response to the constant evolution of construction methods and materials. But the 2004 edition is the most significant because it addresses the remarkable changes in information technology that have occurred in the last decade.

While the 1995 edition served some facets of construction well, it did not fully meet the needs of the industry as products and technologies have proliferated and become more specialized and complicated. One instance of dramatic growth is the scope and complexity of computer and telecommunications networks and the integrated building automation systems used to operate and secure buildings. Reorganizing and expanding MasterFormat provides a powerful tool to harmonize the information from all types of construction projects, and facilitate and efficiently organize construction communication well into the foreseeable future.

Telecommunications is but one example of the need for change. When the original 16 divisions were created there was one telephone company. It maintained connections needing a single telephone closet for the wiring. Phone lines were used mostly for talking. Today, building owners often provide space for much more complicated equipment, and tenants choose from a myriad of providers for the array of services ‘fat pipes' bring into the building. These fast-advancing telecommunications networks, part of nearly every construction project today, carry voice as well as huge amounts of electronic data and video.

While building technologies have grown in number and complexity, new construction priorities also have developed. Security and life safety, especially post-September 11th, impact project design as never before. Green building and sustainability, rarely mentioned 40 years ago, are growing concerns.

The massive amount of information generated for modern building projects has overwhelmed the 16-division format's capacity. For some time, specifiers have made do using logic and creativity to find a place for information not accommodated by the 16 divisions in project manuals. This task may not be difficult for experienced specifiers, but is daunting for the uninformed. Moreover, an arbitrary system of information does not meet the goal for MasterFormat which is to serve the many facets of the construction industry as a multipurpose categorization system. MasterFormat 2004 Edition, therefore, addresses these issues by simplifying the process of determining where specific subject matter is located.