Lights are off with Retooled MasterFormat

Now that the Construction Specifications Institute has reorganized the MasterFormat again (“CSI Reenergizes MasterFormat,” April 2002, p. 11), chances of conserving energy through interdiciplinary integration are even slimmer.

Instead of promoting integration, they have further separated related M/E systems already suffering from a lack of communication, coordination and cooperation in design and installation.

Furthermore, lighting—essential to seeing or doing anything—”still don’t get no respect” from CSI. In fact, it appears to me CSI has blindly designated Division 16 into two new divisions—Electrical [to be Division 24] and Communications [to be Division 25] without considering lighting at all. And how does life safety [to be Division 21] work without electric power?

I predict it will be 25 years before any significant energy savings will be accrued in this country.

Gersil Kay, Conservation Lighting International Philadelphia

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