Arcat MCP: building product specs, CAD and BIM by asking

Add Arcat to your project research

1. 1Click Connect Arcat free and paste an API key from your Arcat account.
2. 2All four tools look things up in Arcat's catalog, and all start on. Keep `search_products` and `search_manufacturers`, and switch off `browse_csi_sections` if your team never browses by MasterFormat division.
3. 3Add ContextGate to your AI app as a connector or MCP server. The steps for each app are on the Works with page.
4. 4Ask your AI app for manufacturers of fire-rated doors and their CSI specs on Arcat, then open Activity to see the search.

Specifying with Arcat

• Search building products by keyword, CSI MasterFormat section or content format with `search_products`, with links to specs, CAD, BIM and catalog downloads.
• Find manufacturers with `search_manufacturers` and open a full profile, with CSI sections and product count, using `get_manufacturer`.
• Browse CSI MasterFormat divisions, such as 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection, with `browse_csi_sections`.

Search records for your projects

• Activity records every Arcat search, so you can see what was looked up for a project.
• Switch off any Arcat tool your team doesn't use.
• Policies check each call, for example to hide client details pasted into a search.

What you get with Arcat and ContextGate

• Your AI apps can use ArcatClaude, Cursor, ChatGPT and other AI apps reach Arcat through the one ContextGate connection you add to them.
• You choose which tools they can useSwitch off any Arcat tool you don't want used. It's hidden from your AI apps and refused if called.
• Every call is checked and recordedYour policies check each call (for example, personal data is hidden and secrets are blocked), and Activity keeps a record of it.

ContextGate sees only the tool calls that go through it, not your AI app's built-in tools or your chats.

Arcat tools

Examples of what your AI apps can do in Arcat. You'll see the exact list of tools after you connect it.

• search_productsSearch for building products by keyword, CSI MasterFormat section, or content format. Returns product details with links to specifications, CAD, BIM, and catalog downloads on arcat.com.
• search_manufacturersSearch for building product manufacturers by name, keyword, or CSI MasterFormat section. Returns company details with links to their ARCAT profile.
• get_manufacturerGet detailed profile for a specific building product manufacturer by their ARCAT ID. Returns company info, CSI sections, available content types, and product count.
• browse_csi_sectionsBrowse CSI MasterFormat building product categories. No parameters: list all divisions (e.g., "07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection"). Division only: list all entries under that division. Division + level: filter by hierarchy depth: Level 1 = Groups (e.g., 07 10 00 Dampproofing and Waterproofing) Level 2 = Sections (e.g., 07 21 00 Thermal Insulation) Level 3 = Narrowscope (e.g., 07 21 13 Bo