July 12, 2010
CSC conference
MasterFormat changes get positive reception from industry
Recent updates to MasterFormat -- a tool used to organize construction documents for commercial, industrial and institutional building projects -- have been well received by the industry, says a member of the team who oversaw the changes.
“I think the people (who have purchased the new version) have been have been very positive about the changes to the book,” Keith Robinson of the MasterFormat Maintenance Task Team told Reed Construction Data during the Construction Specifications Canada conference in Saskatoon May 26 to 30.
This is the first update under MasterFormat’s new annual revision cycle, and it incorporates changes suggested by users.
■ Construction Specifications Canada president: ‘We have to be open to change’
■ Construction Specifications Canada salutes members at Saskatoon conference
■ Construction Specifications Canada issues MasterFormat updates
■ Communication was key, says outgoing Construction Specifications Canada president
It includes the creation of a new division for water and wastewater equipment, which expands the document’s coverage of environmental engineering specifications
Nearly 500 proposals for changes to MasterFormat were received, and just under 300 were accepted, Robinson said.
“Largely the components that were actually accepted were (decided on) by the quality of the presentation,” he said. “A lot of people just said, ‘Well, we don’t like it here, why don’t you move it there?’ but there was no backup information to say why would you move it?
“So anybody who had a decent case was considered.”
The new version comes in a book that includes a CD-ROM with a PDF-accessible document, “so you can bookmark it, put notes in it – do all sorts of stuff with it that makes it very close to a paper document,” Robinson said.
“We’re actually hoping that’s the way the document is going to go forward from here.”
The next MasterFormat revision review workshop is this summer. Results from that meeting will be announced in spring 2011
Carpenters’ union official Ucal Powell named to Order of Ontario
The Province of Ontario appointed Ucal Powell, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Carpenters’ District Council to the Order of Ontario. Powell was recognized for building a world-class apprenticeship program and earning a reputation as a giving and compassionate organization, with the Order of Ontario.
VIDEO: Buildex Vancouver 2012 at the Vancouver Convention Centre
Buildex Vancouver brings together the construction, design and real estate industries on an annual basis into a giant, two day show at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
VIDEO: Pre-Construction begins on the Evergreen Line
Pre-construction work has begun on the Evergreen Line, an extension of the Skytrain rapid transit system that currently spans Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby and some of Coquitlam. The new line will extend from Coquitlam all the way to Port Moody, alleviating traffic and offering a green alternative to motorized vehicles.
VIDEO: The Vancouver Regional Construction Association's U35 initiative
Construction industry experts have long warned of an "experience gap" between senior management and young workers just entering the sector. Due to the bottoming out of the industry in the 1990s, the industry has lacked a core group of younger managers and executives to take over once the baby boomer generation retires.
Toronto IIDEX trade show to have renewed focus
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) will be a co-presenter of this year’s IIDEX/NeoCon Canada conference and expo, which has traditionally been a contract furniture show but will start placing a greater emphasis on construction products, architecture and technology, the event organizer has announced.
Brook Restoration safety training includes swing stage, hazardous materials
Brook Restoration recently opened its own safety centre. In addition to regular safety training like WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System), Brook offers training in aspects such as swing stage, boom and elevated work platform, asbestos, lead, Bobcats and confined spaces.
VIDEO: Remembering the Bentall Four
On January 7, 1981, Gunther Couvreux, Brian Stevenson, Donald W. Davis and Yrjo Mitrunen fell thirty-six floors to their deaths when a fly form attached to the Bentall building in downtown Vancouver came loose.
Efficiency is Ontario trades college goal
Ontario’s current apprenticeship system has failed the province’s youth, says the Ontario College of Trades new chair, Ron Johnson.
Ontario College of Trades chair hopes ratios will be reviewed in first two years
Ron Johnson, the new Chair of the Board of Governors of the Ontario College of Trades and Deputy Director of Interior Systems Contractors Association of Ontario and the Interior Finishing Systems Training Centre, said every individual who has an issue with a compulsory certification and ratio review application will have an opportunity to represent their arguments to a review panel.
