MasterFormat™ 2004 Edition

Expansion Update

The MasterFormat™ 2004 edition, Numbers & Titles, was last updated June 8, 2004 (revised August 2004). A complete edition is scheduled for release in the fall/winter of 2004 as it is currently being finalized by the MasterFormat Expansion Task Team.  The major master guide specification in Canada, the National Master Specification (NMS) and the Canadian Master Specification (CMS) will be publishing their specifications systems using MasterFormat™ 2004 Numbers & Titles starting January 2005.  The changes are focused on three themes:

• Expand the topics that are addressed.
• Widen the coverage to include civil and industrial construction.
• Make MasterFormat flexible enough to accommodate future revisions without changing its overall structure.

The Numbers & Titles are structured for anticipated growth and expansion in the future. The new edition will expand the traditional 16 division structure to 50 divisions and replace the five-digit format with a six-digit numbering system.  The first 14 divisions are for the traditional architectural disciplines and are similar to the 1995 edition. 

Additional new divisions are organized in three series:  Facility Service Subgroup, Site and Infrastructure Subgroup and Process Equipment Subgroup.  Separate divisions are created for: Fire Suppression, Plumbing, HVAC, Integrated Automation, Electrical, Communications, and Electronic Safety and Security.  New divisions are created for heavy civil construction (Site and Infrastructure; roads, bridges, etc) and industrial construction (Process Equipment; power plants and factories).

Click here for the most recent update of MasterFormat™ 2004 Edition: Numbers & Titles. 

Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) will be presenting MasterFormat™ 2004 seminars in major centres across Canada.  This half-day seminar will be presented in Winnipeg late November 2004.  More information will be posted on the CSC website as it becomes available.  Also watch for upcoming details on the WCA website.

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National PreCast Day

October 4th to 8th, 2004

The Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI) and its members across Canada are opening their precast plans for a tour and demonstration of how precast components are manufactured and the benefits of building with precast concrete.

In Manitoba, Con-Force Structures of Winnipeg will open their doors on October 6th, 2004 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.  To register, go to National PreCast Day.

For more information call CPCI at 1-877-937-2724 or by email at info@ccpi.ca.  Visit the CPCI home page at: www.cpci.ca.

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NRC Fall Seminar in Winnipeg

Presented by the Institute for Research in Construction

The Institute for Research in Construction (IRC) is hosting a one-day seminar entitled Building a Better Cubicle – Cost Effective Office Design which takes an in-depth look at the design of open-plan office spaces. The seminar will address how office design affects acoustics, privacy, lighting, ventilation and occupant satisfaction.

The IRC seminar will be in Winnipeg at the Convention Centre on Friday, November 5, 2004.

For more information or to register, go to their website at

Building Sciences Insight.

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StatCan Building Permits

 July 2004   

The value of building permits in July fell 11.4% to $4.8 billion from the record $5.4 billion set in June of this year, as both residential and non-residential sectors declined.  Nevertheless, July was still the second highest month on record for building permits.

The decline from June is attributed to the large decline in building permits in the commercial construction sector.  Commercial permits fell 29% from June to $764 million.  The largest drop was felt in Ontario where commercial permits plunged 26.6% to $329 million.  Despite these statistics, retailers have enjoyed five monthly sales gains since the beginning of 2004. 

Institutional permits climbed in July by 11.6% to $592 million, the highest level since July 2003.  Again, Ontario can be held responsible for the gain (+21.1% to $307 million), as construction intention for educational buildings in the Toronto region increased.

The city of Winnipeg had a decrease in the value of building permits by 37.1% from June to July 2004.  From January to July 2003 to the same months in 2004, Winnipeg had a 2.4% increase in building permit value.  Provincially, Manitoba's non-residential building permit value was down by 56.4% from June to July 2004.  Last year from January to July, Manitoba had $385.4 million dollars worth of building permits issued which is down this year by 30.1%, sitting at a dollar value of $269.5 million.

View the full report at The Daily, Building Permits, July 2004 on the Statistics Canada website.

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CCA Summer Board Meeting Highlights

September 18th to 20th, 2004, Ottawa ON

The Canadian Construction Association Board met to discuss certain issues affecting the construction industry. 

CCA Seeks Further Changes to New Version of CCDC2:

The CCA Board has asked CCA representatives on the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) to seek reduced limits of liability for contractors for uninsurable third party claims in the new version of

CCDC2-Stipulated Price Contract currently being developed by the CCDC. While the introduction of this issue will undoubtedly delay the issuance of the new version of CCDC2, the CCA Board is of the view that the issue is of major significance to CCA members given the inability of contractors to obtain insurance coverage for such uninsurable risks as mould and the high costs associated with the legal defense of related claims.

CCA to Seek Changes to Treatment of Employer-Provided Vehicles

Employee travel with an employer-provided vehicle between their home and regular place of work is considered to be personal use and an employee taxable benefit.  CCA will be lobbying the Canada Revenue Agency and Finance Canada to have such use of employer-provided vehicles designated as non-personal use when used by construction superintendents and other supervisory personnel to visit client projects and when required by their employer to take the vehicles home for security or practical reasons.  Employees are prohibited from using the vehicles for any reason other than work/employment purposes.  In such instances, the vehicle is used essentially as the employee's mobile office.

CCA to Issue New Guide

The complete version of the new Association Guide to Onerous Bidding and Contract Conditions will be released shortly by CCA.  The guide is filled with suggested tactics for use by Member Associations to arrest unacceptable bidding practices and contract conditions.

Standard Practices Bulletins to be Issued

The CCA Standard Practices Committee plans to issue bulletins on the following topics:

•  the standard indemnification provisions in CCDC/CCA standard documents;

•  material shortages and price escalation, including an update on the current situation with respect to steel and wood products, contractor best practices for dealing with a volatile construction materials market, and recommended industry practices for owners;

•  copyright issues and the need for the copyright authorization seals to accompany CCDC/CCA standard documents

CCA to Propose “Deemed” Meal Portion Guidelines

The CCA Finance Committee has developed proposed guidelines for determining the deemed meal portion of subsistence allowances paid to workers at urban special sites. The Committee had prepared a proposed set of guidelines and circulated them to the CCA membership for input. The draft guidelines were endorsed by the Committee and now will be submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency for consideration.

This information has been provided by the Canadian Construction Association.  For more information on CCA, visit their website at www.cca-acc.com.

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Edited by Jackie Petrus, WCA Construction News Reporter. 

Comments or questions?  Email wca@wpgca.com.

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