CSI three-part format slated to change

As if a new CSI Masterformat™ wasn't enough, CSI is now preparing to change the 3-PART SectionFormat™! The CSI SectionFormat PageFormat Update Task Team (SPUTT for short) has been meeting for almost two years, with the goal of making the Three-PART format even easier to understand and use. BSD's Susan McClendon has been on the team, bringing the perspective of master guide specification providers to the wide array of points of view gathered in the review process. The proposed changes are significant but not radical -- thankfully there are still 3 parts rather than 4! When the new edition of SectionFormat is published (planned for June 2007), BSD will begin modification of the SpecLink master database, implementing the changes by means of the normal updating process, by which users may accept or reject any change. Unfortunately, there will be no "switch" like for Masterformat 2004 -- instead, blocks of text will change locations within individual sections. We expect the process to take several quarters. (By the way, the PageFormat™ recommendations will also change, but with no real consequence to SpecLink -- the existing built-in styles will be in conformance.)