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