the newsletter of tbd consultants - edition 4, 4th qtr 2006
						Printable PDF version Subscribe to our newsletter In this Edition Strategic Planning Uniformat II TBD Bid Index Work Breakdown Structure Microsoft Office 2007
		Construction Management Specialists 111 Pine Street, Suite 1315 San Francisco, CA 94111 (415) 981-9430 www.TBDconsultants.com
		Strategic Planning Tony Vallance Starting a project off with a sound strategy sounds like a good idea, but how do you do it? Click the link below to read Tony's views on what Strategic Planning is and how it should be implemented.
		Uniformat II In the previous edition of this newsletter we discussed the CSI Masterformat, and that classification system is ideal for a detailed construction cost estimate that is going to be compared with a contractor’s bid, since contractors also prepare their bids this way. But at early design stages, where alternative designs are being considered, and value engineering is being undertaken, the Masterformat divisions are not so helpful. For instance, if you are trying to compare the costs for different types of exterior closure you may end up having to extract costs for Division 3 (Concrete), 4 (Masonry), 5 (Metals), 6 (Wood), 7 (Insulation), 8 (Doors and Windows) and 9 (Finishes). A classification system that brings all costs related to a particular building element (also sometimes called a system or assembly) would make such cost comparison relatively simple, and Uniformat II is such a classification system. Elemental systems have been in existence for many decades in various parts of the world, and the most common system used in the US has been Uniformat, which derived from an elemental format called Mastercost, developed for the GSA in 1973. Although Uniformat was widely adopted, it never became a national standard. Uniformat II was developed as an elemental system that would be as compatible as possible with other international construction cost systems, to facilitate the collection and distribution of construction cost information. The NIST Special Publication 841 Uniformat II - a Recommended Classification for Building Elements and Related Sitework details the results of the working group. The report also details the uses and limitations of Uniformat II and other elemental systems. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) adopted Uniformat II as a National Standard from summer 1993 (ASTM E1557 Standard Classification for Building Elements and Related Sitework.) CSI (Construction Specification Institute) Practice Note FF/180: Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD) and Outline Specifications, states that PPDs should be structured according to Uniformat II, moving to MasterFormat during the Design Development stage. This is because estimating in Uniformat elements is so much more convenient for Value Engineering purposes during these early design stages. The use of Uniformat elements subdivided into MasterFormat trade sections can also form an effective basis for a Work Breakdown Structure for a project, for use in project scheduling and cost monitoring. Uniformat has also been adopted as a breakdown structure in BIM (Building Information Management) systems. But all things change: plans for the next version of Uniformat are already under way, to make the format more consistent with MasterFormat 2004 and other developments in the construction industry. Uniformat II Level 2 Divisions 01 Foundations 02 Basement Construction 03 Superstructure 04 Exterior Closure 05 Roofing 06 Interior Construction 07 Staircase 08 Interior Finishes 09 Conveying Systems 10 Plumbing 11 HVAC 12 Fire Protection 13 Electrical 14 Equipment 15 Furnishings 16 Special Construction 17 Selective Building Demolition 18 Site Preparation 19 Site Improvement 20 Site Civil/Mechanical Utilities
		The TBD Bid Index Last quarter we introduced the TBD Bid Index - what has happened in the bidding market since then? Click the link below to see the updated TDB Bid Index.
		WBS - Work Breakdown Structure What is a Work Breakdown Structure, and what would you use one for? Are they just for scheduling? How would you put together such a structure. Click the link below to read about Work Breakdown Structures.
		Geoff’s IT Gems Microsoft Office 2007 We've all grown comfortable with the Microsoft Office suite over the years, but a new version is coming out next year with a brand new look. What can you expect? What has changed? Geoff has been trying out the beta version of the new suite, and you can read his review of Microsoft Office 2007 by clicking the link below.
		Design consultant: Katie Levine of Vallance, Inc.