CSI MasterFormat (1995

Ed.)
16 Divisions
Prof. Jose Danilo Silvestre
Arch 134
2nd Semester AY 2018-2019
The American Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)

CSI was founded after WWII in the United States of America, in March 1948 by the construction
specification writers of various US government agencies. The initial objective of the association was
to improve the quality of construction specifications.

This was essential to improving construction specification quality due to the growing demand for
optimal quality during the tremendous post-World War II construction boom.

Development of best practices in construction specification-writing, promulgating standards/formats,

professional education through to certification and accreditation were the objectives on which the
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) was founded.

“The Institute grew quickly to include specification writers in the private sector, design professionals
concerned about communicating their vision in construction documents, constructors interested in
delivering high-quality facilities, and material suppliers with unique solutions to construction
challenges. These construction professionals continue to work together today as CSI members to
effectively communicate the designers' vision, the material producers' solutions, and the constructors'
techniques to create outstanding facilities that meet facility owners' objectives.”

from the CSI website: https://www.csiresources.org/institute/csi-history

The American Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)

The MasterFormat developed by the CSI categorizes building materials and construction related items
into sixteen (16) divisions. This effectively organizes the multitude of building materials, products and
components into a simplified classification system to facilitate referencing and organizing construction
specifications. Although the format was developed for use in the United States, it is widely accepted
around the world and specifically in the Philippines. This does not mean that other classification
systems are not utilized, with Europe and the United Kingdom (UK), Japan and other developed
countries instituting their own standards.

As a whole, construction specifications are intended to augment and complement the information
found in Construction Design Drawings. As such, specifications provide detailed descriptions and
discussions of the required properties and characteristics of various building materials, finishes,
systems, furnishings, fixtures and equipment. Specifications also integrate a detailed description of
the workmanship, procedures and processes required for proper installation and application of the
aforegoing building elements. In this, they also complement cost estimates, bills of
quantities/materials (BOQs/BOMs) and the detailed construction drawings. Hence Construction
Specifications do NOT include information on cost, quantities or graphic representations/drawings.

As a generally accepted contractual practice, unless otherwise stated, should inconsistencies or

conflicts arise between drawings and specifications, it is the specifications that will govern.
 16 Divisions
01 General Requirements 09 Finishes
02 Site Construction 10 Specialties
03 Concrete 11 Equipment
04 Masonry 12 Furnishing
05 Metals 13 Special Construction
06 Wood & Plastics 14 Conveying Systems
07 Thermal & Moisture Protection 15 Mechanical
08 Doors & Windows 16 Electrical
01 General Requirements
01200 Price and Payment Procedures
01400 Quality Control: Testing & Surveying
01500 Temporary Facilities and Controls
01800 Facility Operation/Maintenance
02 Site Construction
02050 Basic Site Materials and Methods
02100 Site Remediation/Demolition/Abatement
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 Landscaping
03 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
03900 Concrete Restoration and Cleaning
04 Masonry
04050 Basic Masonry Materials and Methods
04400 Stone
04800 Masonry Assemblies
05 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
05700 Ornamental Metal
05800 Expansion Control
05900 Metal Restoration and Cleaning
06 Wood & Plastics
06050 Basic Wood and Plastic Materials and Methods
06100 Rough Carpentry
06200 Finish Carpentry
06400 Architectural Woodwork
06600 Plastic Fabrications
07 Thermal & Moisture Protection
07050 Basic Thermal & Moisture Protection Materials
07100 Damp-proofing & Waterproofing
07200 Thermal Protection
07300 Shingles, Roof Tiles & Roof Coverings
07400 Roofing & Siding Panels
07500 Membrane Roofing
07600 Flashing and Sheet Metal
07700 Roof Specialties & Accessories
07800 Fire & Smoke Protection
07900 Joint Sealers
08 Doors & Windows
08050 Basic Door & Window Materials
08100 Metal Doors and Frames
08200 Wood and Plastic Doors
08300 Specialty Doors
08400 Entrances and Storefronts
08500 Windows
08600 Skylights
08700 Hardware
08800 Glazing
08900 Glazed Curtain Wall
09 Finishes
09050 Basic Finish Materials
09100 Metal Support Assemblies
09200 Plaster Gypsum Board
09300 Tile
09400 Terrazzo
09500 Ceilings
09600 Flooring
09700 Wall Finishes
09800 Acoustical Treatment
09900 Paints & Coatings
10 Specialties
10100 Visual Display Boards 10450 Pedestrian Control Devices
10150 Compartments & Cubicles 10500 Lockers
10200 Louvers & Vents 10520 Fire Protection Specialties
10240 Grilles & Screens 10530 Protective Covers
10250 Service Walls 10550 Postal Specialties
10260 Wall and Corner Guards 10600 Partitions
10270 Access Flooring 10670 Storage Shelving
10290 Pest Control 10700 Exterior Protection
10300 Fireplaces & Stoves 10750 Telephone Specialties
10340 Manufactured Exterior Specialties 10800 Toilet, Bath, and Laundry
10350 Flagpoles Specialties
10400 Identification Devices 10900 Wardrobe and Closet Specialties
11 Equipment
11010 Maintenance Equipment 11100 Mercantile Equipment
11020 Security and Vault Equipment 11110 Commercial Laundry and Dry Cleaning
11030 Teller and Service Equipment Equipment
11120 Vending Equipment
11040 Ecclesiastical Equipment
11130 Audio-Visual Equipment
11050 Library Equipment
11140 Vehicle Service Equipment
11060 Theater and Stage Equipment
11150 Parking Control Equipment
11070 Instrumental Equipment
11080 Registration Equipment 11160 Loading Dock Equipment
11170 Solid Waste Handling Equipment
11090 Checkroom Equipment
11190 Detention Equipment
11 Equipment
11200 Water Supply and Treatment 11500 Industrial and Process Equipment
Equipment 11600 Laboratory Equipment
11280 Hydraulic Gates and Valves 11650 Planetarium Equipment
11300 Fluid Waste Treatment and Disposal 11660 Observatory Equipment
Equipment
11680 Office Equipment
11400 Food Service Equipment
11700 Medical Equipment
11450 Residential Equipment
11780 Mortuary Equipment
11460 Unit Kitchens
11850 Navigation Equipment
11470 Darkroom Equipment
11870 Agricultural Equipment
11480 Athletic, Recreational, and Therapeutic
Equipment 11900 Exhibit Equipment
12 Furnishings
12050 Fabrics
12100 Art
12300 Manufactured Casework
12400 Furnishings and Accessories
12500 Furniture
12600 Multiple Seating
12700 Systems Furniture
12800 Interior Plants and Planters
12900 Furnishings Restoration and Repair
13 Special Construction
13010 Air-Supported Structures 13120 Pre-Engineered Structures
13020 Building Modules 13150 Swimming Pools
13030 Special Purpose Rooms 13160 Aquariums
13080 Sound, Vibration, and Seismic Control 13165 Aquatic Park Facilities
13090 Radiation Protection 13170 Tubs and Pools
13100 Lightning Protection 13175 Ice Rinks
13110 Cathodic Protection 13185 Kennels and Animal Shelters
13190 Site-Constructed Incinerators
13 Special Construction
13200 Storage Tanks 13500 Recording Instrumentation
13220 Filter Underdrains and Media 13550 Transportation Control
Instrumentation
13230 Digester Covers and Appurtenances
13600 Solar and Wind Energy Equipment
13240 Oxygenation Systems
13260 Sludge Conditioning Systems 13700 Security Access and Surveillance
13800 Building Automation and Control
13280 Hazardous Material Remediation
13850 Detection and Alarm
13400 Measurement and Control
Instrumentation 13900 Fire Suppression
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
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
16 Electrical
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
References
http://www.plainsbuilders.com/ipin35/IPIN2/CSIDivisions.asp
j.Danilo A. Silvestre/DASA/Archives/project Files