A Quick Review of the MasterFormat, SectionFormat,

& Master Specifications

Prepared by: Edward Coye, CSI CDT/CCPR, RCDD/NTS/OSP

Introduction This document is offered to provide a better understanding and overview of the changes that have occurred with the specifications being written by the architects, engineers and other consultants. 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:

DIVISION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS DIVISION 2 SITE CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 3 CONCRETE DIVISION 4 MASONRY DIVISION 5 METALS DIVISION 6 WOOD AND PLASTICS DIVISION 7 THERMAL AND MOISTURE PROTECTION DIVISION 8 DOORS AND WINDOWS DIVISION 9 FINISHES DIVISION 10 SPECIALTIES DIVISION 11 EQUIPMENT DIVISION 12 FURNISHINGS DIVISION 13 SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 14 CONVEYING SYSTEMS DIVISION 15 MECHANICAL DIVISION 16 ELECTRICAL

Communications cabling was either included as part of Division 16 (Electrical) or added as an extra division, Division 17. However, many other subjects were added as a Division 17 as well, so things got confusing after Division 16.

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 DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL DIVISION 27 COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION 28 ELECTRONIC SAFETY AND SECURITY

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.

27 15 00 Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.16 Voice Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.19 Data Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.23 Audio-Video Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.39 Patient Monitoring and Telemetry Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.43 Nurse Call and Intercom Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.46 Paging Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.49 Intermediate Frequency/Radio Frequency Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 00.53 Antennas Communications Horizontal Cabling 27 15 13 Communications Copper Horizontal Cabling 27 15 23 Communications Optical Fiber Horizontal Cabling 27 15 33 Communications Coaxial Horizontal Cabling 27 15 43 Communications Faceplates and Connectors 27 16 00 Communications Connecting Cords, Devices and Adapters 27 16 13 Communications Custom Cable Assemblies 27 16 16 Communications Media Converters, Adapters, and Transceivers 27 16 19 Communications Patch Cords, Station Cords, and Cross Connect Wire

SectionFormat No matter which version of MasterFormat is used, the information contained within the Divisions is written in a style called SectionFormat. SectionFormat consists of three parts:

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 Construction Specifications Institute Manual of Practice

Appendix A: MasterFormat 2004 Divisions Division 0 Division 01 General Requirements Division 02 Existing Conditions Division 03 Concrete Division 04 Masonry Division 05 Metals Division 06 Wood, Plastics, and 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 15 Reserved Division 16 Reserved Division 17 Reserved Division 18 Reserved Division 19 Reserved Division 20 Reserved Division 21 Fire Suppression Division 22 Plumbing Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Division 24 Reserved Division 25 Integrated Automation Division 26 Electrical Division 27 Communications Division 28 Electronic Safety and Division 29 Reserved Division 30 Reserved Division 31 Earthwork Division 32 Exterior Improvements Division 33 Utilities Division 34 Transportation Division 35 Waterway and Marine Construction Division 36 Reserved Division 37 Reserved Division 38 Reserved Division 39 Reserved Division 40 Process Integration Division 41 Material Processing and Handling Equipment Division 42 Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying Equipment Division 43 Process Gas & Liquid Handling, Purification, & Storage Equipment Division 44 Pollution Control Equipment Division 45 Industry-Specific Manufacturing Equipment Division 46 Reserved Division 47 Reserved Division 48 Electrical Power Generation Division 49 Reserved