NECA Proposes New "Integrated Building Systems" Spec Division to CSI

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is proposing that the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) revise its standard specification format to include a new division on Integrated Building Systems. Brooke Stauffer, NECA´s director of codes and standards, made the announcement during a panel discussion on specification issues at the recent Electric East 2001 show in Orlando. "CSI´s MasterFormat system has proved its value to our industry over nearly 40 years of use," Stauffer told the audience. "Now it needs to be updated to reflect the rapid evolution in electrical power, communications, and computerized control systems. NECA´s proposed revision is intended to help bring the industry´s leading spec system into the twenty-first century. In particular, we think MasterFormat should reflect the reality of today´s fully integrated, fully networked buildings." Benefits for Specifiers, Builders, Owners, Occupants NECA is proposing to consolidate all the electrical power, communications, and control systems, currently scattered throughout various parts of the MasterFormat system, into a brand-new division entitled "Integrated Building Systems." This approach provides major benefits to those who specify, construct, own and occupy new buildings: o Improved construction efficiency and scheduling. o Better integration of all building electrical and electronic systems including telecommunications, life safety, security access control, and local area networks (LANs). o Gives building owners one-point responsibility for the installation and proper functioning of interrelated power, communications, and control subsystems. o Improved compliance with National Electrical Code (NEC) safety requirements for grounding and firestopping, which are critical to safety of building occupants. Enlisting the Experts CSI is a professional organization that promotes better communication among all parties in the construction process. MasterFormat is a list of numbers and titles for organizing construction requirements, products, and activities into a sixteen-division format. In effect, it is an outline that allows consulting engineers to develop construction project specifications by ´filling in the blanks.´ The MasterFormat system is revised at intervals to reflect new construction materials, methods, and technologies. The current version dates from 1995. Earlier this year, CSI established an Expansion Task Team to develop the next edition of MasterFormat, scheduled for release during 2002. Revision proposals are due by August 1. NECA´s comprehensive and wide-ranging proposal is being put together by Thomas E. Glavinich, D.E., P.E., chair of the architectural engineering department at the University of Kansas. A nationally-recognized expert in all aspects of building design and construction, he writes and lectures widely and has conducted research projects on new technologies for The Electrical Contracting Foundation. "For all these reasons, we figured he was the ideal person to spearhead our involvement in the MasterFormat update process," Stauffer told the conference audience. "Of course, we´ve also got a lot of in-house expertise and resources to draw on. A substantial majority of NECA-member companies are now installing all kinds of high-tech communications and control systems." Pulling It All Together "Building systems are converging, and the trend is toward the integration and interoperability of all components and technologies," explains Dr. Glavinich. "Increasingly, the building is viewed as a whole and this creates the need to integrate not only power, communications, and control but also the foundation and structural systems; the building envelop; heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and others. This trend is what led us to the new organizational scheme that NECA is proposing for approval by CSI." The new Integrated Building Systems division developed by Glavinich is a framework that coordinates and integrates all building electrical and electronic systems into a smoothly functioning whole. In addition to traditional electric power, lighting, and communications, the new Integrated Building Systems division pulls together a number of related technologies that were previously located in other parts of CSI´s MasterFormat system. These include: o Building Automation and Control o Security Access and Surveillance o Detection and Alarm o Photovoltaic Collectors o Site Grounding o Lightning Protection Improving Safety, Improving Performance "It´s unfortunate that some interests are approaching the revision of MasterFormat in terms of turf issues," NECA´s Brooke Stauffer told the audience last month in Orlando. "CSI´s specification system is not the appropriate place to try and fight business or competitive issues that should be settled in the marketplace. "MasterFormat is, or should be, nothing but an impartial, technical tool that building professionals use to help them do the best possible job for their clients - the people who own and occupy buildings. We feel that the Integrated Building Systems division that NECA is proposing to CSI represents a major improvement that will help update the MasterFormat system and keep it current with the most recent advances in building technology."