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SectionFormat,
& Master Specifications
Particular attention should be given to the section on Master Specifications because this is the
key to creating specifications that will endure.
Most architects and engineers in the United States use the Construction Specification Institute’s
(CSI) MasterFormat numbering system to organize construction information into project
manuals. These manuals are also referred to as “bid books” or “the project specifications”.
MasterFormat 1995
Until 2004, there were 16 divisions included in a specification based on the 1995 Edition of
MasterFormat. The 16 divisions were as follows:
MasterFormat 2004
The proposal and unofficial adoption of Division 17 as “Communications” started the
Construction Specification Institute (CSI) evaluating the structure of all of the 16 Divisions. In
2004, CSI completely revised the 16 Divisions and created a format with 50 Divisions. (See
appendix A for complete listing of the 2004 MasterFormat Divisions).
Implementing the new 2004 MasterFormat is totally voluntary for the architects and engineers.
Various end users and government groups have adopted the new format and some are now
requiring that bid or work on these projects use the new MasterFormat. Converting to the new
MasterFormat is not an easy task for the consultants, as they have projects that are currently
being bid or built under the old MasterFormat and will have new projects under design utilizing
the new MasterFormat.
It really doesn’t matter which number system or MasterFormat is used as long as the
information that is needed to assist in the bidding process in included and can be found. Under
the old MasterFormat, communication work was specified under Division 16 Electrical or the
unofficial Division 17 Communications. Under the new 2004 MasterFormat the low voltage
requirements have been broken out among Divisions 25 – 28, which now contain the low
voltage requirements for data. These four Divisions are as follows.
Division 25, Integrated Automation, expanded upon and relocated the integrated automation
subjects from Division 13 in the MasterFormat 1995 Edition. Division 26, Electrical, covers the
electrical and lighting subjects relocated from Division 16 in the MasterFormat 1995 Edition.
Division 27, Communications, expanded the communications subjects relocated from Division
16 in the MasterFormat 1995 Edition. Division 28, Electronic Safety and Security, expanded
upon the electronic safety and security subjects relocated from Division 13 in the MasterFormat
1995 Edition.
Division 27 - COMMUNICATIONS
The sections in Division 27, Communications, are listed below.
PART 1 GENERAL
PART 2 PRODUCTS
PART 3 EXECUTION
The content of each section is defined as follows. Part 1, General, describes administrative,
procedural, and temporary requirements unique to the section. Part 2, Products, describes
materials, products, equipment, fabrications, mixes, systems and assemblies that are required
for incorporation into the project (materials and products are included with the quality level
required). Part 3, Execution, describes installations or applications, including preparatory
actions and post-installation cleaning and protection.
The specification sections that are provided should be written in SectionFormat so that it will
match the other sections that have been written. Changing the number at the top of a section to
match the 1995 or 2004 MasterFormat is very simple task.
Master Specifications
In theory, when a consultant starts a new project, they will start with a new copy of their Master
Specification and modify it to meet the requirements of the current project. In practice, a
consultant may start with a specification that they have modified for a project and modify it again
for the next project.
Conclusion
The MasterFormat is merely an index to organize information for projects in a consistent
manner. Because of the advantages of this consistency and because of its increased scope,
the MasterFormat 2004 Edition is becoming a widely-used format.
References:
MasterFormat™ 2004 Edition Numbers & Titles, published by the Construction Specifications
Institute
MasterFormat™ 1995 Edition Numbers & Titles, published by the Construction Specifications
Institute