No problem with shared Division 01 here, either. For CM and negotiated contracts, it would be difficult to produce meaningful specifications without input. As George notes, there are a few sections a specifier should care very much about, as the remainder of the sections rely on what’s in them.
That brings up another animal called Design-Build.
When I prepared a fee proposal for one project, I had all the Division 01 sections included. Then I found out it was a D-B project. My estimated Division 01 count went from 19 to 5. I only needed to cover those sections that affected product requirements, quality control and assurance, submittals, and substitutions.
Everything else regarding owner-contractor requirements should have been covered in the D-B agreement. Even if they weren’t covered, it’s not a concern of the architect–or the specifier.
Shared Div 01 - absolutely. George, and Sheldon and Ron, are correct. As specifiers we can often help with the project management portions of Div 01, but we need to give our architects shots of the appropriate hormones when it comes to those crucial components that control the practice of architecture: quality, products, and execution.
agree with Phil on this one - -for the Owner-issued “front end” I should have said “Bidding Documents”. I see Division 1 as the architect’s bullet-resistant vest and tailor it to the architect’s needs. This was taught to me at my last office, where I was very sternly informed that the Owner could change the contract requirements with the contractor all they wanted and we needed documents to protect OUR interest in the project.
I also agree with Phil… we typically work with Owner-issued Div.00 and 01 and actually will match our format to whatever their hearts desire. It’s never occurred to me to use PageFormat for Div.00 – our client/owners have their own requirements for format so even the rest of the Divisions will not conform to PageFormat.
I use PageFormat, SectionFormat, and yes, even MasterFormat as guides – not Bibles.
I guess I’m lucky I haven’t had to deal with the CM problems described here. That would drive me nuts. I’m too used to writing in coordination with the owner’s “front end.”