ARCOM Launches Altarix, SpecWare's Latest Software for Creating MasterSpec-Based Specifications

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

ARCOM has introduced AltarixTM, new specification productivity software that gives specifiers complete control over their specifications to produce consistent, accurate, and complete project manuals.

Altarix goes beyond the basic capabilities of traditional specification editors – which often include the means to edit text, select options, and globally format sections in a project – and allows users to reuse specification sections from existing projects to create new, custom sections.

Altarix offers a range of features specifically designed for specifiers, including:

  • A smart Q&A tool and new on-screen editor
  • A notes tool to add project notes and automatically track their status and resolution
  • A navigation tool to easily jump from one location in a section to another
  • A status panel bar to track completion progress for each section.

"With Altarix, specifiers can now change their specs as fast as clients change their minds," said Christopher Bushnell, ARCOM's president and CEO. "Altarix is designed for specifiers, by specifiers, with built-in global formatting, intelligent optional text, and navigation capabilities – among the many new tools essential to specifiers. By applying smart technology to specification writing, Altarix reinforces the emerging use of high-tech systems as the industry evolves. We're very excited for MasterSpec users to experience the simplicity and unparalleled productivity enhancements of Altarix."

  • The new program also simplifies the production of complete project manuals by:
  • Generating on-demand table of contents
  • Generating on-demand tracking and management reports, including submittal logs
  • Tracking important design and code criteria in an easy-to-use, centrally located project summary
  • Globally formatting all sections of each project
  • Allowing specifiers to export their Altarix documents straight to Microsoft Word.

Integrated into the Altarix platform is ARCOM's SpecAgent companion resource, a tool that connects the specifications to relevant information about building product manufacturers, including product comparison tables, references and standards, product details, and contact information.

Availability

Altarix is available immediately for MasterSpec Architectural/Structural/Civil and related libraries for an additional fee to the MasterSpec license. MasterSpec clients with licenses for the Mechanical/Electrical and related libraries, as well as the new Historic Preservation Library, will have access to the Altarix software and database later this year. For more information on Altarix, please contact ARCOM at 800.424.5080.

Five Truths About Final Brick Cleandown
May 2026

Not all truths are self-evident. Sometimes they’re easy to forget or clouded with misunderstanding. The good news is these truths of final cleandown are not hard to implement on your next project to ensure successfully cleaned and beautiful new brick.

Shelf Angles and Their Impact on Wall Performance
May 2026

Shelf angles have long been a standard component in masonry construction. Installed at the slab edge, they provide support for brick veneer and are often treated as a routine detail. However, as building performance requirements evolve, particularly aroun

The Mason’s Mark: Defining the Craft Through the Trowel
May 2026

Walk onto any job site, from a custom residential chimney to a sprawling commercial block wall, and you will hear it before you see it: the distinctive ring of high-carbon steel striking masonry. The trowel is more than just a mortar scoop; it is the cond

Registration Now Open for the 2026 MCAA Midyear Meeting in San Antonio, Texas
May 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2026 MCAA Midyear Meeting, set to take place in San Antonio, Texas. This exciting event is scheduled from September 13th-1