The Canadian Master Specification (CMS) is a master specification library, oriented to medium sized and larger construction projects. 

It includes the most common Divisions from 00 through 34 consisting of approximately 600 sections. It is written to allow for performance, prescriptive, and proprietary specification methods


The National Master Specification (NMS)* was created by Public Works and Government Services, presently managed by the National Research Council (NRC). 

Although predominantly prescriptive in nature, the NMS is composed of both performance and prescriptive specification sections. 

  • The prescriptive specification sections are targeted primarily at traditional stipulated price type contracts, while the performance specification sections are more geared to serving the rapidly growing design-build market. 
  • The performance specification sections have been directed at the requirements of the Canadian Design-Build Institute (CDBI).


*NMS content is provided under licence from the National Research Council Canada (NRC)