By the MassBid Estimation team · Reviewed by a senior estimator with 10+ years of experience · Published · Updated
In short
CSI MasterFormat is the standard system for organizing construction specifications and cost estimates in the United States and Canada. It sorts all the work on a project into 50 numbered divisions, 00 to 49, such as 03 Concrete, 09 Finishes and 26 Electrical. Estimators use the same divisions so that an estimate lines up with the specifications and the bid form.
- Published by
- The Construction Specifications Institute and Construction Specifications Canada
- Number of divisions
- 50, numbered 00 to 49, with several held in reserve
- Before 2004
- 16 divisions
- Building work
- Divisions 02 to 14
- Mechanical and electrical
- Divisions 21 to 28
- Site work
- Divisions 31 to 33
What MasterFormat is for
A set of construction documents has two halves: the drawings, which show where things go, and the specifications, which say what they are made of and how they are installed. MasterFormat is the filing system for the specifications. Every product and trade has a home, identified by a six-digit number whose first two digits are the division.
Because architects, contractors, suppliers and estimators all use it, a subcontractor can open any project manual and find their work in the same place. An estimate laid out the same way can be checked against the specifications section by section.
The 2004 edition expanded the system from 16 divisions to 50, mainly to give mechanical, electrical, communications and site work more room.
The full list of CSI divisions, 00 to 49
MasterFormat has 50 division numbers, 00 to 49, in six groups. Thirty-five are in use; the rest are reserved for future expansion. The divisions most building projects use are 01 to 14, 21 to 28 and 31 to 33.
| Group | Division numbers and titles |
|---|---|
| Procurement and Contracting Requirements | 00 Procurement and Contracting Requirements |
| General Requirements | 01 General Requirements |
| Facility Construction | 02 Existing Conditions · 03 Concrete · 04 Masonry · 05 Metals · 06 Wood, Plastics and Composites · 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection · 08 Openings · 09 Finishes · 10 Specialties · 11 Equipment · 12 Furnishings · 13 Special Construction · 14 Conveying Equipment · 15 to 19 reserved |
| Facility Services | 20 reserved · 21 Fire Suppression · 22 Plumbing · 23 Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) · 24 reserved · 25 Integrated Automation · 26 Electrical · 27 Communications · 28 Electronic Safety and Security · 29 reserved |
| Site and Infrastructure | 30 reserved · 31 Earthwork · 32 Exterior Improvements · 33 Utilities · 34 Transportation · 35 Waterway and Marine Construction · 36 to 39 reserved |
| Process Equipment | 40 Process Interconnections · 41 Material Processing and Handling Equipment · 42 Process Heating, Cooling and Drying Equipment · 43 Process Gas and Liquid Handling, Purification and Storage Equipment · 44 Pollution and Waste Control Equipment · 45 Industry-Specific Manufacturing Equipment · 46 Water and Wastewater Equipment · 47 reserved · 48 Electrical Power Generation · 49 reserved |
What each division used on a building covers:
| Division | Covers |
|---|---|
| 00 Procurement and Contracting Requirements | Bid forms, instructions to bidders, contract conditions |
| 01 General Requirements | Supervision, temporary facilities, permits, cleaning, closeout |
| 02 Existing Conditions | Demolition, site assessment, hazardous material removal |
| 03 Concrete | Formwork, reinforcing, cast-in-place and precast concrete |
| 04 Masonry | Brick, concrete block, stone, mortar and grout |
| 05 Metals | Structural steel, joists, deck, stairs, railings, miscellaneous metals |
| 06 Wood, Plastics and Composites | Rough framing, sheathing, trusses, finish carpentry, millwork |
| 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection | Roofing, insulation, waterproofing, flashing, sealants, firestopping |
| 08 Openings | Doors, frames, hardware, windows, storefront, curtain wall, glazing |
| 09 Finishes | Drywall, ceilings, flooring, tile, paint, wall coverings |
| 10 Specialties | Toilet accessories, signage, lockers, fire extinguishers |
| 11 Equipment | Kitchen, laboratory, medical and other fixed equipment |
| 12 Furnishings | Casework, window treatments, furniture |
| 13 Special Construction | Pools, pre-engineered structures, special rooms |
| 14 Conveying Equipment | Elevators, escalators, lifts |
| 21 Fire Suppression | Sprinklers, standpipes, fire pumps |
| 22 Plumbing | Piping, fixtures, water heaters, drains |
| 23 HVAC | Ductwork, air handling, heating and cooling equipment, controls |
| 25 Integrated Automation | Building automation systems |
| 26 Electrical | Power distribution, wiring, devices, lighting |
| 27 Communications | Data, voice, audio-visual cabling |
| 28 Electronic Safety and Security | Fire alarm, access control, video surveillance |
| 31 Earthwork | Clearing, excavation, grading, fill, shoring |
| 32 Exterior Improvements | Paving, curbs, sidewalks, fencing, landscaping |
| 33 Utilities | Water, sewer, storm drainage, site electrical and gas |
Divisions 34 and 35 cover transportation and marine construction. Divisions 40 to 48 cover process and industrial equipment, such as material handling, water and wastewater treatment and power generation. The numbers in between are held in reserve.
The old 16 CSI divisions, and where they went
Before 2004, MasterFormat had 16 divisions, numbered 1 to 16. Many older specifications, cost books and contractors' cost codes still use them. Divisions 3 to 12 and 14 kept their numbers; sitework, mechanical and electrical were split up.
| Old division (16-division format) | Current division |
|---|---|
| 1 General Requirements | 01 General Requirements |
| 2 Site Construction (sitework) | 02 Existing Conditions (demolition), 31 Earthwork, 32 Exterior Improvements, 33 Utilities |
| 3 Concrete | 03 Concrete |
| 4 Masonry | 04 Masonry |
| 5 Metals | 05 Metals |
| 6 Wood and Plastics | 06 Wood, Plastics and Composites |
| 7 Thermal and Moisture Protection | 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection |
| 8 Doors and Windows | 08 Openings |
| 9 Finishes | 09 Finishes |
| 10 Specialties | 10 Specialties |
| 11 Equipment | 11 Equipment |
| 12 Furnishings | 12 Furnishings |
| 13 Special Construction | 13 Special Construction, with fire suppression, controls and security moved to 21, 25 and 28 |
| 14 Conveying Systems | 14 Conveying Equipment |
| 15 Mechanical | 21 Fire Suppression, 22 Plumbing, 23 HVAC |
| 16 Electrical | 26 Electrical, 27 Communications, 28 Electronic Safety and Security |
Which CSI division is it? Quick lookup by trade
Mechanical work is Division 23 (HVAC), with plumbing in Division 22 and fire sprinklers in Division 21. Drywall is Division 09, section 09 29 00, and demolition is Division 02, section 02 41 00. Sitework is split across Divisions 31 Earthwork, 32 Exterior Improvements and 33 Utilities, and asphalt paving is 32 12 16. The table gives the division and the section number most specifications use for each common trade.
| Trade | Division | Typical section |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition | 02 Existing Conditions | 02 41 00 Demolition |
| Concrete | 03 Concrete | 03 30 00 Cast-in-Place Concrete |
| Precast concrete | 03 Concrete | 03 40 00 Precast Concrete |
| Rebar | 03 Concrete | 03 20 00 Concrete Reinforcing |
| Masonry (brick, block) | 04 Masonry | 04 20 00 Unit Masonry |
| Structural steel | 05 Metals | 05 12 00 Structural Steel Framing |
| Stairs, railings, miscellaneous metals | 05 Metals | 05 50 00 Metal Fabrications |
| Framing lumber | 06 Wood, Plastics and Composites | 06 10 00 Rough Carpentry |
| Millwork and finish carpentry | 06 Wood, Plastics and Composites | 06 20 00 Finish Carpentry |
| Insulation | 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection | 07 21 00 Thermal Insulation |
| Waterproofing | 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection | 07 10 00 Dampproofing and Waterproofing |
| Roofing | 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection | 07 50 00 Membrane Roofing |
| Firestopping | 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection | 07 84 00 Firestopping |
| Joint sealants | 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection | 07 92 00 Joint Sealants |
| Doors and frames | 08 Openings | 08 11 00 Metal Doors and Frames |
| Door hardware | 08 Openings | 08 71 00 Door Hardware |
| Storefront | 08 Openings | 08 41 13 Aluminum-Framed Entrances and Storefronts |
| Curtain wall | 08 Openings | 08 44 00 Curtain Wall and Glazed Assemblies |
| Windows | 08 Openings | 08 50 00 Windows |
| Glass and glazing | 08 Openings | 08 80 00 Glazing |
| Metal studs (non-structural) | 09 Finishes | 09 22 16 Non-Structural Metal Framing |
| Drywall | 09 Finishes | 09 29 00 Gypsum Board |
| Acoustical ceilings | 09 Finishes | 09 51 00 Acoustical Ceilings |
| Tile | 09 Finishes | 09 30 00 Tiling |
| Resilient flooring (LVT, vinyl) | 09 Finishes | 09 65 00 Resilient Flooring |
| Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) | 09 Finishes | 09 65 19 Resilient Tile Flooring |
| Rubber or vinyl wall base | 09 Finishes | 09 65 13 Resilient Base and Accessories |
| Carpet | 09 Finishes | 09 68 00 Carpeting |
| Painting | 09 Finishes | 09 91 00 Painting |
| Signage | 10 Specialties | 10 14 00 Signage |
| Toilet accessories and partitions | 10 Specialties | 10 28 00 Toilet, Bath and Laundry Accessories; 10 21 13 Toilet Compartments |
| Fireplaces and stoves | 10 Specialties | 10 30 00 Fireplaces and Stoves |
| Casework and cabinets | 12 Furnishings | 12 32 00 Manufactured Wood Casework |
| Elevators | 14 Conveying Equipment | 14 20 00 Elevators |
| Fire sprinklers | 21 Fire Suppression | 21 13 00 Fire-Suppression Sprinkler Systems |
| Plumbing | 22 Plumbing | 22 00 00 Plumbing |
| Mechanical (HVAC) | 23 HVAC | 23 00 00 Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning |
| Electrical | 26 Electrical | 26 00 00 Electrical |
| Building automation | 25 Integrated Automation | 25 00 00 Integrated Automation |
| Data and low voltage cabling | 27 Communications | 27 10 00 Structured Cabling |
| Fire alarm | 28 Electronic Safety and Security | 28 46 00 Fire Detection and Alarm |
| Earthwork and grading | 31 Earthwork | 31 20 00 Earth Moving |
| Sitework (site preparation, clearing) | 31 Earthwork | 31 10 00 Site Clearing |
| Asphalt paving | 32 Exterior Improvements | 32 12 16 Asphalt Paving (under 32 12 00 Flexible Paving) |
| Concrete curbs, sidewalks and site concrete | 32 Exterior Improvements | 32 13 00 Rigid Paving; 32 16 00 Curbs, Gutters, Sidewalks |
| Fencing | 32 Exterior Improvements | 32 31 00 Fences and Gates |
| Landscaping | 32 Exterior Improvements | 32 90 00 Planting |
| Water, sewer and storm | 33 Utilities | 33 00 00 Utilities |
Older documents may still use the 16-division format from before 2004. In it, all mechanical work, including plumbing, HVAC and sprinklers, was Division 15 Mechanical, and electrical was Division 16.
We take off and price every one of these trades. The service pages, by division:
- Division 02: demolition estimating, and our guide on how to estimate a demolition job
- Division 03: concrete and precast concrete
- Division 04: masonry estimating, with the masonry takeoff formulas
- Divisions 05 and 06: structural steel, lumber takeoff and carpentry
- Division 07: roofing, waterproofing and firestopping and sealants
- Division 08: doors and hardware, storefront, curtain wall and windows
- Division 09: drywall, flooring and painting
- Divisions 21 to 28: plumbing, HVAC, electrical and fire alarm and low voltage
- Divisions 31 to 33: earthwork, asphalt paving, exterior improvements and site utilities
How divisions appear in an estimate
An estimate summary lists one line for each division that has work in it. On an 8,020 square foot interior renovation we estimated, twelve divisions appeared: 01, 02, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 22, 23, 26 and 27. There was no Division 03 or 05, because an interior fit-out pours no concrete and erects no steel.
That is the first thing to check on any estimate: do the divisions listed match the trades in the drawings? A missing division usually means a missing trade. The full breakdown of that estimate is in how to read a construction estimate.
Real samples, division by division
We estimate every division, and the samples page has at least one finished estimate or takeoff for each of Divisions 01 to 12, 21 to 23, 26 to 28 and 31 to 33. A few examples:
| Division | Sample project | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| 02 Existing Conditions | Education building, Maryland, 8,260 sq ft | $57,620 suggested bid |
| 03 Concrete | Multi-story building, California | $846,899 concrete |
| 05 Metals | Retail store addition, Florida, 5,155 sq ft | $160,679 metals |
| 08 Openings | Equipment rental building, North Carolina, 10,500 sq ft | $89,144 |
| 09 Finishes | City recreation center, Texas, 11,500 sq ft | $86,873 flooring |
| 22 Plumbing | Three-story apartment building, Florida, 30,900 sq ft | $882,592 plumbing |
| 23 HVAC | Four-story hotel, Florida, 80,500 sq ft | $764,512 HVAC |
| 26 Electrical | Apartment building, California, 12,200 sq ft | $238,337 electrical |
| 31 Earthwork | Childcare center site, Texas | $140,732 |
| 32 Exterior Improvements | City road and roundabout, Florida | $538,980 paving |
Common questions
MasterFormat has 50 divisions, numbered 00 to 49. Several are held in reserve for future use, so fewer than 50 are in active use. Before 2004 there were 16.
50, numbered 00 to 49, the same structure used since the 2004 edition. About 35 are in use and the rest are reserved. The answer is 50, not 16; 16 was the count before 2004.
Plumbing: domestic water piping, sanitary waste and vent, plumbing fixtures, water heaters and plumbing equipment. In the old 16-division format it was part of Division 15 Mechanical.
Fire Suppression: fire sprinkler systems, standpipes, fire pumps and clean-agent systems. Fire alarm is separate, in Division 28.
Sitework is split across three divisions: 31 Earthwork (clearing, excavation, grading, fill), 32 Exterior Improvements (paving, curbs, sidewalks, fencing, landscaping) and 33 Utilities (water, sewer, storm). In the old 16-division format it was all Division 2.
Section 32 12 16 Asphalt Paving, under 32 12 00 Flexible Paving, in Division 32 Exterior Improvements.
Luxury vinyl tile is usually specified under 09 65 19 Resilient Tile Flooring, in Division 09 Finishes. Resilient base is 09 65 13.
Division 10 Specialties, section 10 30 00 Fireplaces and Stoves. Masonry fireplaces built in place can also appear in Division 04.
Division 08 Openings, section 08 41 13 Aluminum-Framed Entrances and Storefronts. Curtain wall is 08 44 00.
General Requirements: costs that belong to the project but not to one trade, such as supervision, temporary facilities, permits, cleaning and closeout.
Division 09, Finishes, under section 09 29 00 Gypsum Board. Division 09 also covers ceilings, flooring, tile, paint and wall coverings.
In current MasterFormat, mechanical work is split across three divisions: HVAC is Division 23, plumbing is Division 22 and fire suppression is Division 21. In the 16-division format used before 2004, all of it was Division 15 Mechanical.
Division 23. Plumbing is Division 22, fire suppression is Division 21 and electrical is Division 26.
Demolition is Division 02, Existing Conditions, under section 02 41 00 Demolition. Selective interior demolition is usually 02 41 19.
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), together with Construction Specifications Canada. Most prescriptive specifications in the United States and Canada are organized with it.
Division 31 Earthwork, Division 32 Exterior Improvements and Division 33 Utilities. Demolition of existing structures is in Division 02.
Yes. Every estimate is organized by MasterFormat division, with a summary line for each division and a detail sheet behind it, unless you ask for your own format.