MasterFormat Divisions

MasterFormat is a standard for collecting specifications and other written instructions for commercial and residential building projects. The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) created MasterFormat. In 1975, the CSI introduced the MasterFormat’s 16 Divisions. This introduction marked a significant milestone in the construction industry, as it standardized the organization of construction specifications. Consequently, it enhanced communication and efficiency across various construction projects.

How many divisions are there in CSI format?

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) established a numbered system for organizing requirements in 1948. This initiative aimed to streamline and standardize construction documentation, ultimately improving clarity and efficiency within the industry. They published a system for construction requirements with CSI MasterFormat 16 Divisions of Labor in 1963.

Later, in 1975, CSI introduced the MasterFormat with only 16 Divisions. This format remained until late 2004, when the updated 50-Division MasterFormat 2004 was released. Notably, divisions not listed below, including Division 49, are held in reserve for future use.

Divisons:

• Division 00 – Procurement and Contracting Requirements
• Division 01 – General Requirements
• Division 02 – Existing Conditions
• Division 03 – Concrete
• Division 04 – Masonry
• Division 05 – Metals
• Division 06 – Wood, Plastics, Composites
• Division 07 – Thermal and Moisture Protection
• Division 08 – Openings
• Division 09 – Finishes
• Division 10 – Specialties
• Division 11 – Equipment
• Division 12 – Furnishings
• Division 13 – Special Construction
• Division 14 – Conveying Equipment
• 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
• 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

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CSI masterformat 16 Divisions Explained

Below are all the CSI Divisions covered by Real Estimate Service

Division 00 – Procurement and Contracting Requirements

Simply put, procurement refers to the process of purchasing supplies and services for the building industry. To improve a project’s efficiency, A construction company must carefully evaluate procurement and purchase materials in order to complete projects on schedule and under budget.

Division 01 – General Requirements

General Requirements outline the precise methods for organizations associated with a specific project, as well as each individual trade or division (CSI). These methods include submittals, scheduling requirements, LEED, payment apps, permitting, safety checks, daily logs, RFIs, progress meetings,  and all other project documentation. 

Division 02 – Existing Conditions

Existing Conditions include site evaluations and analyses. A simple example is the demolition of buildings, and the cleanup of contamination, soil, and buildings. Mainly it covers strategies for locating areas of land that can affect projects in the future.

Division 03 – Concrete

Concrete includes the basic materials of concrete, types of admixtures, and reinforcement, as well as the shaping, handling, and finishing of concrete. It also includes maintenance and repair activities.

Division 04 – Masonry

Building with masonry involves setting out and joining single units using cement. This method provides durability and strength, making it a preferred choice for many construction projects. Additionally, masonry offers aesthetic appeal and versatility, contributing to its widespread use in the industry. The three most often used materials in masonry buildings are brick, stone, and concrete blocks. 

Division 05 – Metals

Throughout the entire building, metals play a crucial role. Structural steel columns and beams shape the skeletal frame. Meanwhile, builders use bent and formed metals to create roofs, floors, stairs, and decorative designs. This integration demonstrates the versatility and essential role of metals in construction.This widespread application highlights the versatility and importance of metals in construction.

Division 06 – Wood, Plastics, Composites

Builders utilize a set of classic and modern materials, known as “wood, plastics, and composites,” in all types of construction for structural, non-structural, and finish purposes. Wood, in particular, finds a variety of uses due to the unique qualities offered by different wood species and material types. Consequently, its versatility makes it a popular choice across various construction applications.

Division 07 – Thermal and Moisture Protection

Thermal and moisture protection, which includes the materials used to seal and safeguard a building or structure’s exterior against moisture, thermal, and air infiltration, as well as any related insulation and accessories. This division covers roofing, insulation, dampproofing, and waterproofing; the last two don’t apply to concrete construction.

Division 08 – Openings

Openings involve the maintenance, repair, installation, or replacement of those building components or goods that cover openings, such as windows, skylights, doors, grilles, entrances, glazing systems, hardware, glazing supplies, louvers, and vents.

Division 09 – Finishes

Finishes comprise the vast majority of typical interior finishes, including everything from walls to paint to ceilings to floors. Descriptions of interior finishes provide insights into their history, current state, installation requirements, and procedures. Additionally, these descriptions hint at potential future developments, offering a comprehensive understanding of the materials and techniques involved.

Division 10 – Specialties

Specialties typically comprise bathroom accessories, wall and corner protection, signs, display boards, fire safety equipment, and so forth. Every company requires each and every one of these goods.

Division 11 – Equipment

Equipment encompasses any and all equipment that a structure, facility, or residence may require. During the design or building phase of a project, designers frequently address equipment requirements. This proactive approach ensures that all necessary tools and machinery are accounted for, facilitating a smoother construction process.To mention a few pieces of equipment; parking control, security, a bank, a laundry, an office, food service, entertainment, health care, garbage collection, and recreational equipment.

Division 12 – Furnishings

Furnishings encompass a broad range of items installed in finished spaces, categorized as decorative or works of fine art. These elements can either support human interaction or simply enhance the visual appeal of any built environment. Consequently, furnishings play a versatile role in adding both functionality and aesthetic value to spaces.

Division 13 – Special Construction

Special Construction deals with buildings made for very specific purposes, like greenhouses, that need complex construction specifications and techniques that are specific to that particular building use. It also covers the installation of precisely defined and unique sub-systems inside of commonly built buildings, like a bank vault.

Division 14 – Conveying Equipment

Conveying equipment refers to mechanical handling equipment that moves materials from one location to another. Some examples are elevators and conveying belts.

Division 21 – Fire Suppression

Fire Suppression describes the range of tasks involved in suppressing fire at a project site that is located inside the footprint of a building or other structure. Fire pumps, water-based fire suppression systems, fire extinguishing systems, and fire suppression water storage will all fall under this.

Division 22 – Plumbing

This section outlines the requirements for valves, plumbing fixtures, sanitary and stormwater drainage systems, fire protection piping, and domestic hot and cold water systems.

Division 23 – Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Division 23 Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) describe the scope of work at a construction site that involves delivering conditioned air to the occupied zones of a building. Systems that return air from the conditioned space and mix it with outside air are also covered, as are those that remove polluted air via exhaust systems. Exhaust air from kitchens and laboratories collected by hoods is also included.

Division 26 – Electrical

Electrical division refers to the installation of anything within the scope given by the client that is used to generate, modify, regulate, control, distribute, utilize, or safeguard electrical energy for mechanical, chemical, cosmetic, heating, lighting, or similar purposes.

Division 28 – Electronic Safety and Security

The electronic safety and security division includes all the work related to electronic (or “intelligent”) components of security, fire, and other life safety systems in a new or an existing building.

Division 31 – Earthwork

Earthwork includes the process of changing the soil to help with building projects. This division deals with how to move, place, and improve the soil. It also includes building foundations, building special foundations for different types of soil, and building tunnels.

Division 32 – Exterior Improvements

In Division 32, one needs to list all the work that needs to be done on a project site outside of a building or structure’s surface area. This division includes the last improvements to a site after any earthwork, which is covered in Division 31. Division 32 covered the two main types of site improvements Paving and landscaping. Concerns about fencing, retaining walls, irrigation, plants, and wetlands are all subtopics of landscaping.

Division 33 – Utilities

Division 33 Utilities includes all mechanical and electrical services at a site that help a building work. This includes pipes for water and wastewater, electrical conduit and overhead power lines, systems for getting fuel and steam, networks for phone calls, and structures for draining storm water.

How does CSI MasterFormat work?

To ensure consistency between manufacturers and the builders used CSI MasterFormat standard. Manufacturers use MasterFormat to guarantee that their products meet specifications such as size, weight, and material type.

This allows building companies to plan ahead of time and arrange a scene for acquired materials.

Here’s an example: Let’s say a builder understands that when installing a toilet while creating a bathroom from scratch, the water and drainage lines must be correctly spaced from the wall and from each other. Because of the MasterFormat, toilet makers pre-built the toilet to accommodate the plumbing—where and how the builders prepared.

Why do we use MasterFormat in estimating?

For contractors who are familiar with and frequently use MasterFormat, it makes building data more predictable and easier to utilize.

It is primarily a numerical system and subsystem to ease the classification and estimation of both material and processes.

What is the most recent version of MasterFormat?

The 2018 version is the current version of MasterFormat.

This is the current MasterFormat structure as of July 2020. Masterformat organized ASTM standard for evaluating the sustainability of building items.

What is the difference between MasterFormat and UniFormat?

UniFormat (UF) and MasterFormat (MF) are two project breakdown standards and at various stages of the project lifecycle used to guide construction cost estimating.

UniFormat is a systems-based organization of building content. Foundations, external walls, sprinkler systems, and lighting are examples of elements.

While, MasterFormat is a material-based organization of building content.

The two standards are fundamentally different in their intent.

When “system” decisions must be taken, everyone involved will look to UniFormat. However, if data becomes more specific, such as “materials,” MasterFormat steps in.  One process gradually leads to the other.

Why is it important to understand the work breakdown structure WBS and CSI Master Format?

What is SectionFormat?

The main purpose of a WBS is to reduce complicated activities to a collection of tasks. This is important for the project manager because she can oversee the tasks more effectively than complex activities. So tasks must be measurable and independent, with clearly defined limits.

What is a 3 Part specification?

SectionFormat provides a uniform standard for arranging specification text in a project manual’s sections using a three-part format. It reduces the chance of omissions or duplications in a specification section.

Each specification section is divided into three parts. These parts are Part 1–General, Part 2–Products, and Part 3–Execution. Each part includes particular information about the subject of the section because these three parts are fixed in number and title and are included in all specification sections.

How does the MasterFormat help all participants in the industry communicate?

It is the most common standard for organizing specifications for commercial and institutional buildings in the United States and Canada because it helps improve communication between members of the design and construction team by providing a master list of numbers and titles to organize project manuals and details.

What is Uniformat work breakdown structure?

In practice, an element may be considered any logical component of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). From a project management perspective, the UNIFORMAT II classification is the ideal WBS for the design phase of a building project to control scope, cost, quality, and time.

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