DD# 84: 3 Reasons to Adopt Masterformat 2010

Interest in our 2010 Masterformat Sample Cost Code list has been strong recently, reminding us that many contractors are moving to the new platform for their estimating and job cost tracking systems. We think it’s a good idea and are surprised so many are taking the head-in-the-sand approach.

In our opinion, our construction industry has already achieved critical mass with the new format:

1. The US Government, including the Army Corps of Engineers, NAVFAC, and the Air Force are specifying 100% of their projects in the new format.
2. Most state and county jobs in our region, (Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and Alaska) are also using 48-division format.
3. MF 1995 (16-divisions) is bursting at the seams, and there’s no room to put the emerging technologies in its overstuffed divisions.

So why the resistance? Three reasons we hear from our change-resistant clients:

1. “It’s just like the metric system, a flash-in-the-pan that will never happen”. (We disagree)
2. “The new system just doesn’t make sense”. (We agree that it’s unfortunate that Earthwork, old Division 2, moved to Div 31, 31, 32, & 34. But it was necessary to maintain the familiarity of Div 3-14, as well as accommodate all the work that just won’t fit into a single division. Can you imagine the pushback we’d be hearing if the Civil divisions were renumbered to 2, 3, & 4, and all that work in Concrete through Conveying were renumbered Divisions 5-16? EVERYONE would hate it, and it would be another mistake of “metric” proportion.
3. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. (The problem is in  our opinion, that it IS broke, and yet our industry is stuck in the old “we’ve always done it that way” mentality)

Here’s a quick look at the MF’95 to MF’10 conversion. This month we’re also offering a complementary consultation if you want to discuss converting from CSI 1005 to CSI MF-2010 at your company. An expanded version of our 2010 cost codes is also included for your use.

In closing, a bit of wisdom from a local Shakespeare in the Park performance over the summer: “Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear, Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.” We think the adoption of the 48 divisions of Masterformat 2010 is equally inevitable. Don’t be the last ones to smell the coffee.