Why do we still write separate sections for toilet accessories and partitions? Most of the leading manufacturers make both, and they are generally installed by the same contractor. Many of the accessories are even mounted on the partitions.
Have you done it this way? How did it work?
What problems will it cause?
What advantages will it offer?
I would welcome your thoughts.
Many times I will have only accessories - no partitions. It would be time-consuming to delete the parts referring to the partitions.
I work for a company that sells toilet partitions and accessories. We also install the partitions, but rarely the accessories.
Bobrick, ASI, and Bradley (all three are toilet accessory manufactureres) are all aligned with toilet parititons manufacturers, but there are an endless number of toilet partition manufacturers (Knickerbocker, General Partition, Scranton Products, AMPCO, Weiss Robert, All American, Metpar, PSISC, etc).
You statement the most make both is incorrect.
I’m afraid if you put both in the same spec section, it may limit competetition of those who don’t make both.
Having a common manufacturer for multiple products is in itself not a good reason to have one section covering all the products. There may be a good reason when there is a need for close coordination among them such as the same finish and color for example.
As a general rule it is better to have narrow-scope sections. As Lynn puts out there is usually less editing involved. Also it allows the Contractor to package the work as he wants. If he wants to have single subbids on partitions and accessories, he is certainly free to do so, but is not constrained to do so by a combination section.
Since MasterFormat has the subjects in two different locations, one or the other subjects is going to “be out of place” and cause confusion. Some sub-bidders will not realize their work is in the project when it is not located in the usual location.
Another reason: If you use more than one type of toilet compartments (metal, plastic laminate, etc.) in your work, and you assign MasterFormat 2004 narrowscope section numbers to your sections (or somehow keep the types in separate sections), wouldn’t you have to repeat the same text for toilet accessories in each of those sections?
Doesn’t make much sense.
Thanks for setting me straight.
and… the final reason, I can think of. Many times I’ve worked on institutional projects and the Owner has in-place contracts for some toilet accessories – toilet paper roll holders, and maybe paper towels and dispensers – but not the other items. we would typically select from multiple manufacturers for the accessory items when you get to the point of adding in diaper changing stations, and hand dryers.
Here’s one more, in Massachusetts public bid land, the toilet accessories (but not the toilet partitions) are required to be installed by the plumbing trade. Don’t ask.