Contents

Contsruction Specifications Institute (CSI) .............................................................................. 1

Advantages of the CSI MasterFormat....................................................................................... 2
Where the CSI MasterFormat is Being Used ............................................................................. 2
MasterFormat 1995 Divisions (Old) ........................................................................................ 3
MasterFormat 2004 Divisions (New) ...................................................................................... 4
Examples ............................................................................................................................... 7
MasterFormat 1995 Divisions (Old) ........................................................................................ 7
GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................ 16
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................... 17
Contsruction Specifications Institute (CSI)

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is the

organization that publishes the MasterFormat.
Basically, the MasterFormat is an indexing system for
the organization of construction data. The information is
organized in title divisions, such as electrical,
mechanical, procurement and contracting requirements, HVAC and thermal
protection.

Although its earlier publication comprised of 16 divisions of construction, it has

expanded to 50 divisions to reflect the current complexity of the construction
industry along with the need to incorporate maintenance information and facility
life cycle information.

The divisions in the MasterFormat are structured for both future growth and
expansion. Those in the construction industry are even encouraged to propose
revisions to CSI. You might say that the MasterFormat is a continual work in
progress and constantly evolving.

Construction specifications used in the United States typically conform to the

guidelines of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), who have created a
specifications index entitled MasterFormat.

The MasterFormat index groups’ specification sections into easily identifiable

disciplines using a six-digit system with digits in groups of two, such as: 01 24 30.

The first two digits denote the primary section (of which there are 48 sections). For
example, all the items regarding concrete start with the digits 03.

The second two digits identify the main headings and subheadings. In this case, we
look at main headings Concrete Reinforcing (03 20 00) and Cast-in-Place Concrete
(03 30 00) which can be broken down into Reinforcement Bars (03 21 00) and
Structural Concrete (03 31 00).

The breakdown continues further with the final two digits, for example: Plain Steel
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Reinforcement Bars (03 21 11) and Heavyweight Structural Concrete (03 31 13).

Advantages of the CSI MasterFormat

Standards are needed to improve coordination and facilitate communication

among all workers in the construction project, including architects, suppliers,
engineers, project managers and energy consultants.

The CSI MasterFormat is the standard maverick which helps everyone stay on
budget, develop timelines, meet deadlines and meet building owner’s requirements.
It’s also important for you to realize that with the automation increase in the
construction industry, the CSI MasterFormat is vital to achieve meaningful
interoperability. It helps every discipline involved in the design, building and
operations of construction applications, whether it’s a hospital or elementary
school.

The MasterFormat also helps contractors and architects work on additions in the
future and renovations. The data can be easily retrieved. And with the increased
use of building information modeling (BIM), the MasterFormat is a good fit. More
and more, modeling software systems are using MasterFormat’s format for BIM
integration.

Where the CSI MasterFormat is Being Used

Today, the CSI MasterFormat is used in a wide range of industry construction, such
as hospitals, schools, industrial and commercial green buildings. Think about it.
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities is complex. The security, back-up power,
HVAC, medical gas and other systems are more complicated that the traditional
institutional building. With so much on the line, it’s critical that the building will
perform properly for both healthcare workers and patients. For healthcare
facilities, the CSI Master Format has a series of sections specifically dedicated to the
HVAC in healthcare facilities. For green building, there are environmental
performance requirements that cover topics, such as indoor air quality and
sustainable design.
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MasterFormat 1995 Divisions (Old)

The 16-Division specification was the standard used by building professionals from
its release in 1975 until it was retired in 2004. In 2004, MasterFormat increased to
50 Divisions to account for new types of products an a wider range of available
options in building materials.

The list of numbers and titles for MasterFormat is protected intellectual property
so we cannot provide the entire list, but the top level divisions are listed below for
your convenience.

 Division 01 - General Requirements

 Division 02 - Site Construction

 Division 03 - Concrete

 Division 04 - Masonry

 Division 05 - Metals

 Division 06 - Wood and Plastics

 Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection

 Division 08 - Doors and Windows

 Division 09 - Finishes

 Division 10 - Specialties

 Division 11 - Equipment

 Division 12 - Furnishings

 Division 13 - Special Construction

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 Division 14 - Conveying Systems

 Division 15 - Mechanical

 Division 16 – Electrical

MasterFormat 2004 Divisions (New)

The New 50-Division MasterFormat 2004 was released in late 2004. Divisions that
are not listed below are reserved for future use (including Division 49.)

 Division 01 - Procurement and Contracting Requirements

 Division 02 - General Requirements

 Division 03 - Existing Conditions

 Division 04 - Concrete

 Division 05 - Masonry

 Division 06 - Metals

 Division 07 - Wood, Plastics, Composites

 Division 08 - Thermal and Moisture Protection

 Division 08 - Openings

 Division 09 - Finishes

 Division 10 - Specialties

 Division 11 - Equipment
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 Division 12 - Furnishings

 Division 13 - Special Construction

 Division 14 - Conveying Equipment

 Division 15 - Reserved for future expansion

 Division 16 - Reserved for future expansion

 Division 17 - Reserved for future expansion

 Division 18 - Reserved for future expansion

 Division 19 - Reserved for future expansion

 Division 20 - Reserved for future expansion

 Division 21 - Fire Suppression

 Division 22 - Plumbing

 Division 23 - Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

 Division 25 - Integrated Automation

 Division 26 - Electrical

 Division 27 - Communications

 Division 28 - Electronic Safety and Security

 Division 31 - Earthwork

 Division 32 - Exterior Improvements

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 Division 33 - Utilities

 Division 34 - Transportation

 Division 35 - Waterway and Marine Construction

 Division 40 - Process Integration

 Division 41 - Material Processing and Handling Equipment

 Division 42 - Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying Equipment

 Division 43 - Process Gas and Liquid Handling, Purification and

Storage Equipment

 Division 44 - Pollution and Waste Control Equipment

 Division 45 - Industry-Specific Manufacturing Equipment

 Division 46 - Water and Wastewater Equipment

 Division 48 - Electrical Power Generation

 Division 49 - Reserved for future expansion

 Division 50 - Reserved for future expansion

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Examples

MasterFormat 1995 Divisions (Old)

Division 1 General Requirements

01100 Summary

01200 Price and Payment Procedures

01300 Administrative Requirements

01400 Quality Requirements

01500 Temporary Facilities and Controls

01600 Product Requirements

01700 Execution Requirements

01800 Facility Operation

01900 Facility Decommissioning

Division 2 Site Construction

02050 Basic Site Materials and Methods

02100 Site Remediation

02200 Site Preparation

02300 Earthwork

02400 Tunneling, Boring and Jacking

02450 Foundation and Load-Bearing Elements

02500 Utility Services

02600 Drainage and Containment

02700 Bases, Ballasts, Pavements and Appurtenances

02800 Site Improvements and Amenities

02900 Planting

02950 Site Restoration and Rehabilitation

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Division 3 Concrete
03050 Basic Concrete Materials and Methods

03100 Concrete Forms and Accessories

03200 Concrete Reinforcement

03300 Cast-In-Place Concrete

03400 Precast Concrete

03500 Cementitious Decks and Underlayment

03600 Grouts

03700 Mass Concrete

03900 Concrete Restoration and Cleaning

Division 4 Masonry
04050 Basic Masonry Materials and Methods

04200 Masonry Units

04400 Stone

04500 Refractories

04600 Corrosion-Resistant Masonry

04700 Simulated Masonry

04800 Masonry Assemblies

04900 Masonry Restoration and Cleaning

Division 5 Metals
05050 Basic Metal Materials and Methods

05100 Structural Metal Framing

05200 Metal Joists

05300 Metal Deck

05400 Cold-Formed Metal Framing

05500 Metal Fabrications

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 05600 Hydraulic Fabrications

05700 Ornamental Metal

05800 Expansion Control

05900 Metal Restoration and Cleaning

Division 6 Wood and Plastics

06050 Basic Wood and Plastic Materials and Methods

06100 Rough Carpentry

06200 Finish Carpentry

06400 Architectural Woodwork

06500 Structural Plastics

06600 Plastic Fabrications

06900 Wood and Plastic Restoration and Cleaning

Division 7 Thermal and Moisture Protection

07050 Basic Thermal and Moisture Protection Materials and Methods

07100 Damproofing and Waterproofing

07200 Thermal Protection

07300 Shingles, Roof Tiles, and Roof Coverings

07400 Roofing and Siding Panels

07500 Membrane Roofing

07600 Flashing and Sheet Metal

07700 Roof Specialties and Accessories

07800 Fire and Smoke Protection

07900 Joint Sealers

Division 8 Doors and Windows

08050 Basic Door and Window Materials and Methods

08100 Metal Doors and Frames

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 08200 Wood and Plastic Doors

08300 Specialty Doors

08400 Entrances and Storefronts

08500 Windows

08600 Skylights

08700 Hardware

08800 Glazing

08900 Glazed Curtain Wall

Division 9 Finishes
09050 Basic Finish Materials and Methods

09100 Metal Support Assemblies

09200 Plaster and Gypsum Board

09300 Tile

09400 Terrazzo

09500 Ceilings

09600 Flooring

09700 Wall Finishes

09800 Acoustical Treatment

09900 Paints and Coatings

Division 10 Specialties
10100 Visual Display Boards

10150 Compartments and Cubicles

10200 Louvers and Vents

10240 Grilles and Screens

10250 Service Walls

10260 Wall and Corner Guards

10270 Access Flooring

10290 Pest Control

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 10300 Fireplaces and Stoves

10340 Manufactured Exterior Specialties

10350 Flagpoles

10400 Identification Devices

10450 Pedestrian Control Devices

10500 Lockers

10520 Fire Protection Specialties

10530 Protective Covers

10550 Postal Specialties

10600 Partitions

10670 Storage Shelving

10700 Exterior Protection

10750 Telephone Specialties

10800 Toilet, Bath, and Laundry Specialties

10880 Scales

10900 Wardrobe and Closet Specialties

Division 11 Equipment
11010 Maintenance Equipment

11020 Security and Vault Equipment

11030 Teller and Service Equipment

11040 Ecclesiastical Equipment

11050 Library Equipment

11060 Theater and Stage Equipment

11070 Instrumental Equipment

11080 Registration Equipment

11090 Checkroom Equipment

11100 Mercantile Equipment

11110 Commercial Laundry and Dry Cleaning Equipment

11120 Vending Equipment

11130 Audio-Visual Equipment

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 11140 Vehicle Service Equipment

11150 Parking Control Equipment

11160 Loading Dock Equipment

11170 Solid Waste Handling Equipment

11190 Detention Equipment

11200 Water Supply and Treatment Equipment

11280 Hydraulic Gates and Valves

11300 Fluid Waste Treatment and Disposal Equipment

11400 Food Service Equipment

11450 Residential Equipment

11460 Unit Kitchens

11470 Darkroom Equipment

11480 Athletic, Recreational, and Therapeutic Equipment

11500 Industrial and Process Equipment

11600 Laboratory Equipment

11650 Planetarium Equipment

11660 Observatory Equipment

11680 Office Equipment

11700 Medical Equipment

11780 Mortuary Equipment

11850 Navigation Equipment

11870 Agricultural Equipment

11900 Exhibit Equipment

Division 12 Furnishings
12050 Fabrics

12100 Art

12300 Manufactured Casework

12400 Furnishings and Accessories

12500 Furniture

12600 Multiple Seating

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 12700 Systems Furniture

12800 Interior Plants and Planters

12900 Furnishings Restoration and Repair

Division 13 Special Construction

13010 Air-Supported Structures

13020 Building Modules

13030 Special Purpose Rooms

13080 Sound, Vibration, and Seismic Control

13090 Radiation Protection

13100 Lightning Protection

13110 Cathodic Protection

13120 Pre-Engineered Structures

13150 Swimming Pools

13160 Aquariums

13165 Aquatic Park Facilities

13170 Tubs and Pools

13175 Ice Rinks

13185 Kennels and Animal Shelters

13190 Site-Constructed Incinerators

13200 Storage Tanks

13220 Filter Underdrains and Media

13230 Digester Covers and Appurtenances

13240 Oxygenation Systems

13260 Sludge Conditioning Systems

13280 Hazardous Material Remediation

13400 Measurement and Control Instrumentation

13500 Recording Instrumentation

13550 Transportation Control Instrumentation

13600 Solar and Wind Energy Equipment

13700 Security Access and Surveillance

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 13800 Building Automation and Control

13850 Detection and Alarm

13900 Fire Suppression

Division 14 Conveying Systems

14100 Dumbwaiters

14200 Elevators

14300 Escalators and Moving Walks

14400 Lifts

14500 Material Handling

14600 Hoists and Cables

14700 Turntables

14800 Scaffolding

14900 Transportation

Division 15 Mechanical
15050 Basic Mechanical Materials and Methods

15100 Building Service Piping

15200 Process Piping

15300 Fire Protection Piping

15400 Plumbing Fixtures and Equipment

15500 Heat-Generation Equipment

15600 Refrigeration Equipment

15700 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Equipment

15800 Air Distribution

15900 HVAC Instrumentation and Controls

15950 Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing

Division 16 Electrical
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 16050 Basic Electrical Materials and Methods

16100 Wiring Methods

16200 Electrical Power

16300 Transmission and Distribution

16400 Low-Voltage Distribution

16500 Lighting

16700 Communications

16800 Sound and Video

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GLOSSARY

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a
shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for
decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception to demolition.

HVAC
is the technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is to
provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC system design is a sub
discipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid
mechanics, and heat transfer.

MasterFormat
are “that portion of the Contract Documents consisting of the written requirements for
materials, equipment, systems, standards and workmanship for the Work, and
performance of related services,” according to AIA Document A201-2007, the General
Conditions of the Contract for Construction. The technical specifications sections
(Divisions 02 through 49)

Procurement
the action of obtaining or procuring something

Specifications
are a written description of the materials, products, and workmanship used to construct a
building.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.archtoolbox.com/representation/specifications/types-of-construction-sp
ecifications.html
https://www.archtoolbox.com/search.html?q=masterformat
https://www.archtoolbox.com/representation/specifications/1995csidivisions.html
https://www.archtoolbox.com/representation/specifications/csidivisions.html
https://www.planacademy.com/csi-masterformat-construction-industry/
http://www.masterformat.com/
http://www.archtoolbox.com/representation/specifications/csidivisions.html
http://www.hconews.com/articles/2011/03/21/the-benefits-masterformat

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