SALT LAKE CITY, UT, July 9, 2014 – ARCOM and Master Painters Institute (MPI) announced the release of their free online tool that extends the capability of the MPI Architectural Painting Decision Tree to creating MasterSpec specifications.
This tool connects MPI’s online question-and-answer system, which provides an easy way for users to select appropriate paint systems and products, to then create specifications using ARCOM’s SpecBuilder+Expert platform.
“This new capability takes what has been one of the more complex and time consuming areas to accurately specify and frees users from the challenges of maintaining up-to- date product information and the wordsmithing associated with specification creation,” said Matt Johnson, CSI, ARCOM’s chief technology officer. “By combining MPI’s expert- level guidance with ARCOM’s SpecBuilder+Expert capability, what used to take hours can now be done in a few minutes, with a more accurate specification as the end result.”
Once users complete the MPI decision tree, SpecBuilder+Expert identifies the required specification sections. It then provides two choices for fulfilling those specifications: MasterSpec specifications for licensed users or manufacturer’s proprietary specifications for non-MasterSpec-licensed users. All sessions and specifications are automatically saved so users can easily return to previously created specifications and change or build new MasterSpec-based Word documents for future projects.
“Combining MPI’s expertise with ARCOM’s new SpecBuilder+Expert tool will provide users with the industry’s first interactive, intelligent painting specification system,” said Christopher Bushnell, AIA, FCSI, CCS, president and CEO of ARCOM. “The ARCOM team is very excited for architects to realize the productivity potential of ARCOM’s partnership with the Master Painters Institute, an expert in painting systems, products, and applications.”
Like ARCOM, MPI has also anticipated the release of this groundbreaking tool. “MPI has had an excellent relationship with ARCOM for well over 10 years, and we both have worked toward bettering architectural painting specifications across North America,” said Barry Law, MPI president. “The next generation is now upon us with ARCOM’s incredibly innovative SpecBuilder+Expert platform. It has been a long time since we have been this excited about this type of innovation in architectural specifications, and full marks go to the ARCOM team!”
Sherwin-Williams, a leader in architectural finishes, is the first coating manufacturer to partner with ARCOM to augment the SpecBuilder+Expert system with basis of design product listings and expert guidance for specifiers. “Sherwin-Williams remains committed to being a trusted advisor to architects, specifiers, and designers and to making the paint specification process as efficient and accurate as possible,” said Joe Kujawski, Sherwin-Williams director of wholesale marketing. “Integrating our coatings systems and Product MasterSpec directly into ARCOM’s new SpecBuilder+Expert system is the latest example of leveraging technology and collaboration to provide the highest level of service to the design community. SpecBuilder+Expert combines the collective wisdom of ARCOM, Sherwin-Williams and MPI to deliver an innovative new way to produce quality paint specifications.”
About Master Painters Institute
Master Painters Institute (MPI) grew out of an association first started in 1899 then incorporated as a society in 1927. Since 1995, MPI has carried on the mission started by the association in both Canada and the United States.
In 2000, the General Services Administration (GSA) replaced U.S. Federal Paint Specifications with those of MPI, and GSA also adopted the MPI Approved Products List. That same year, MPI standards, paint systems, and the MPI Approved Products List were adopted by the U.S. Military’s Unified Facilities Guide Specification (UFGS).
Shortly thereafter, ARCOM incorporated MPI standards and paint systems into MasterSpec. This was followed by the Government of Canada’s National Master Specification’s and the Canadian General Standards Board’s replacement of paint standards with those of MPI.
About Sherwin-Williams
Throughout its more than 3,900 stores and among its over 2,200 sales representatives, Sherwin-Williams provides fast, flexible, responsive service and personalized, expert advice to meet the coating and color needs of builders, designers, specifiers, property managers, and contractors. As North America’s largest single-source supplier of high- quality paints, stains, masonry coatings, and brand-name wall and floor coverings, Sherwin-Williams is proud to have earned the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for its innovative acrylic alkyd technology.
About ARCOM
ARCOM is the leader in specifications and exclusively publishes MasterSpec for The American Institute of Architects (AIA) for use by architects, engineers, landscape architects, specification writers, and design professionals involved in building projects.
ARCOM owns and publishes SpecText for use by engineers for infrastructure projects, including water and wastewater utilities and equipment.
ARCOM’s full-time staff of specification experts provide architects and engineers with the most thoroughly researched and reviewed specifications available in the construction industry. ARCOM also provides the most extensive product and manufacturer information through cloud-based specification resources, custom manufacturer specifications, and the SpecBuilder+Expert platform.
ARCOM’s SpecWare suite of innovative specification productivity software tools dramatically simplifies specification creation, research, and use. The SpecWare suite includes the easy-to-use Masterworks word-processing plug-in; Altarix, with the Q&A wizard, project editor, and built-in office master; and BIM integration.