FAQs - MASTERSPEC and Manufacturers
- How is MASTERSPEC produced?
- How can a manufacturer or product be listed in MASTERSPEC?
- Do manufacturers pay to be in MASTERSPEC?
- Can I license MASTERSPEC as a manufacturer?
- What is PRODUCT MASTERSPEC?
How is MASTERSPEC produced?
For the annually licensed libraries of MASTERSPEC, a technical staff of experienced architects, engineers, specifiers, consultants, and editors develop new sections and maintain master specification text in response to emerging and changing standards, products, manufacturers, and technology. Current Licensed Users receive updates quarterly.
The staff maintains each MASTERSPEC section on a four-year cycle (on the average). Sections affected by rapidly changing technology are updated more frequently.
MASTERSPEC Review Committees for each professional design discipline meet quarterly to review MASTERSPEC sections and to suggest changes. The Committees are made up of practicing architects, engineers, interior designers, and landscape architects from a variety of company sizes and geographical areas and who specify a range of project types.
How can a manufacturer or product be listed in MASTERSPEC?
Most MASTERSPEC sections include names of product manufacturers. Neither ARCOM nor The American Institute of Architects (AIA) endorse, recommend, or approve any products. Companies listed in MASTERSPEC as available manufacturers are known to be in business providing products that may comply with the requirements of that section. It is always the specifier's decision whether or not a product meets the requirements of the project and whether or not to retain, edit, or delete the manufacturers listed in MASTERSPEC.
The following three criteria must be met before a manufacturer will be considered for listing in MASTERSPEC sections:
- The manufacturer markets products nationally or multiregionally and has distribution centers and representation across the U.S. or multiregionally.
- The manufacturer's product is covered by a MASTERSPEC section, the manufacturer's lists are included in the MASTERSPEC section for that product, and the product complies with applicable national standards, where standards are referenced. (For assistance in determining the appropriate sections, refer to the Consolidated Table of Contents.)
- The manufacturer provides complete up-to-date product information that includes evidence of product compliance with applicable standards and allows comparison with similar products of other manufacturers.
The decision to include a manufacturer or a product in MASTERSPEC is at the sole discretion of ARCOM. Manufacturers are added to a section only during a regularly scheduled update of the section. There is no charge for the listing in MASTERSPEC.
Manufacturers who want to be considered for inclusion into MASTERSPEC should contact the ARCOM office in Alexandria, VA and offer to provide product literature and contact information for possible future use by ARCOM when the applicable section is next revised. Submittal of information does not obligate ARCOM to list the firm or its products in MASTERSPEC. Information should be sent to:
ARCOM Attn: Information Specialist 120 South Payne Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703.684.9153 (ET) 703.685.9182 fax mfrlist@arcomnet.com |
ARCOM also offers the PRODUCT MASTERSPEC program that enables manufacturers to license, edit, and distribute actual MASTERSPEC sections.
Do manufacturers pay to be in MASTERSPEC?
There is no fee to be listed as an available manufacturer in MASTERSPEC sections during the course of normal updates. There are fees to participate in the PRODUCT MASTERSPEC program.
Can I license MASTERSPEC as a manufacturer?
MASTERSPEC content is copyrighted and protected by the AIA. It is intended primarily for use by design professionals in their practice of preparing construction documents for their clients. For a fee, manufacturers can obtain a limited license and download a copy of individual sections from the Order Online area of this Web site. This limited license allows manufacturers to use the sections for information and internal reference only. These documents MAY NOT be copied, edited, redistributed, or used for any other purpose including, but not limited to, preparing their product literature or product or guide specifications.
The ARCOM Consulting Services Group offers the PRODUCT MASTERSPEC program that enables manufacturers to license, edit, and distribute actual MASTERSPEC sections. In addition, ARCOM will distribute these custom-edited sections to thousands of MASTERSPEC users who receive the CD-ROM updates.
What is PRODUCT MASTERSPEC?
PRODUCT MASTERSPEC is a special program designed for product manufacturers that enables them to:
- License actual MASTERSPEC sections
- Work with ARCOM to make product-specific edits to the documents
- Distribute these edited sections to thousands of specifiers who can then specify those products as the "basis of design"
These documents help specifiers find and compare meaningful product information in a consistent manner. They enable specifiers to determine if a product fits their project requirements and to specify products by brand name.
For more information on PRODUCT MASTERSPEC, contact:
ARCOM Consulting Services Group Attn: George T. Middleton, AIA, CSI, LEED AP 630.355.5503 productmasterspec@arcomnet.com |
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