The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice [Hardcover]

The Construction Specifications Institute (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071370048 | ISBN-13: 978-0071370042 | Publication Date: September 16, 2004 | Edition: 5th

The authoritative resource for the organization, preparation, use, and interpretation of construction documents encompassing the entire life cycle of a facility. This new edition considers the need for interdependent processes of design, construction and facility use.

The Fifth Edition expands the scope of the manual to meet the requirements of all participants involved in a construction project in a stage-by-stage progression, including owners, A/Es, design-builders, contractors, construction managers, product representatives, financial institutions, regulatory authorities, attorneys, and facility managers. It promotes a team model for successful implementation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

First published in 1967, the CSI Manual of Practice has been recognized as the standard for project manual preparation and administration.

NEW IN THIS EDITION

• Covers entire life cycle of a facility
• Guide to Project Conception for owners, developers, and A/Es
• Guide to selecting a project delivery method
• Guide for procurement (bidding/negotiating/purchasing)
• Construction project administration and management tools
• Effective transition from construction to facility management
• New forms

"It is a huge stride forward for CSI to develop a manual that covers the total life cycle of a facility. CSI is one of the few organizations in existence with the representation within it to create a 'balanced' view of such a broad subject." -- Mr. Robert Johnson, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA, CSI Past-President

A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS
There's no better guide for organizing and documenting construction projects than The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice. From the first glimmering of a project idea, through every stage of procurement, design, and construction, to facility management, PRM gives you working tools to make every project go smoother and quicker. It helps avoid errors, misunderstandings, and cost overruns, and assists you in reaching the ultimate project goal -- coming in on time and within budget, and meeting the owner's requirements.

Used universally throughout the construction industry, The Project Resource Manual is the ideal tool to help you:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the four project teams: owner, design, contractor, and supplier
• Determine the most appropriate project delivery method
• Understand the design process and product selection
• Prepare accurate and enforceable specifications applying the CSI/CSC’s UniFormat(tm), MasterFormat(tm), SectionFormat(tm), and PageFormat(tm) for clear, concise, correct, and complete contract documents
• Coordinate, interpret, and enforce contract documents
• Effectively administer construction contracts
• Improve communications among project participants
• Utilize project resources for effective facility management
• Plan for existing facility improvements and modifications

Filled with helpful solutions, the new edition of this reference tool gives you a common language and system for organizing, standardizing, retrieving, communicating, and exchanging construction information in an effective and efficient way. Let The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice, help improve your company or practice today.

INSIDE: RESOURCES TO BUILD ON:
* Construction Industry Fundamentals * Project Conception * Project Planning and Design * Project Delivery * Construction Documents * Bidding/Negotiating/Purchasing * Managing Construction * Construction Contract Administration * Product Representation * Facilities Management

About the Author

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Alexandria, Virginia, is a national professional association that provides format standards to meet the construction industry's need for a common system of organizing and presenting documents. CSI also provides technical information and publications, continuing education, professional conferences, and product shows to assist the professions involved in creating and sustaining the built environment. CSI's 18,000 members in more than 140 chapters include architects, engineers, specifiers, contractors, building owners, facility managers, and product manufacturers. Founded in 1948, CSI is the only organization that serves all the major disciplines involved in facility design and construction.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1200 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 5th edition (September 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071370048
• ISBN-13: 978-0071370042
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent counterpart to the AIA Handbook., January 6, 2007

By 

C. Baumbach (Sonoma County, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice (Hardcover)

First off, I'm an architect, so my review is written from that perspective.

This is a great companion to the AIA Handbook. If the AIA Handbook is about running a firm, the CSI PRM is about running a project. An oversimplification, yes, but both books are so dense and full of critical information, no 100 word review could do either justice.

The CD includes many useful references including an overview of MasterFormat and a list of divisions / sections, but does not include the entire MasterFormat "product" (the full MF product includes 95-04 conversion tools and additional documentation).

My only complaint is that the text is so dense it takes a lot of time and energy to absorb all of the information within. :) It's as if they took a 1000 page tome and compressed it into 300 pages. (The product description says 1200 pages, but it's only an inch thick, so I'm guessing 300 pp.)

A must-have for architects who strive to deliver projects in a more expert and professional manner, and wish to more effectively interface with contractors during the construction phase. If you're a pure "designer" or only involved with the front end of projects this will probably stay on the shelf, but if you're responsible for the rest of the process (DD through construction and occupancy) this book is essential.

I can't believe I made it through 6 years of architectural education without being required to own this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a reference book, not an adventure novel, January 17, 2007

By 

SKM (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice (Hardcover)

I purchased this to study for the CDT exam. It is very complete, but reads (as you'd expect) more like a specification than a textbook. Five stars for completeness, and five stars for cure for insomnia.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed review, overall high marks, September 23, 2010

By 

Chris Sullivan (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice (Hardcover)

I'm an Intern Architect. This book is a reference manual, intended to explain the CSI perspective on standards and protocols in industries related to building construction. Points are given for the scope and holistic treatment of the subject, for depth of coverage and insight, and clear and unambiguous language.

This book is intended as the backbone for the CDT certification, which is the prerequisite for more advanced CSI certifications. As such, CSI promotes their products (along with those produced by other professional interest associations) throughout this manual. It should be understood that using a standard method, developed by experts, imparts many advantages. These alone should be sufficient to purchase the book.

Unfortunately, some of the text (apparently breaking the CSI rule of saying something only once) has literally been copied and pasted from one section to another, and wordy exposition is prevalent. Editing out convincing narratives and justifications would greatly reduce the size of the book without affecting the scope. In addition, the inclusion of several pages worth of advice for Product Representatives, including attire and manners, in the center of the section on Design left me with more questions (relating to the ability of the editors) than answers (about the subject of construction standards and protocols).

The approach toward the subject matter also occasionally, maddeningly oscillates between the assumption that the reader has advanced construction knowledge (referring casually to the various sleeves, anchors, bolts and other bits of building) with complete exposition that would suit only the ignorant. It leaves me with the impression of a know-it-all jerk dropping technical terms for his own aggrandizement while patronizing his students, a practice for which I have little patience.

In all, what works with this book has great value, but there's a lot of room for revision. If I were in a position where I didn't need to read this book for the certification, I would do so. Having read it, I feel I have benefited from the information, at a price equal to my annoyance.