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September 05, 2004
MasterFormat 2004 Released
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has released the final version of its updated MasterFormat system for organizing construction specifications. Dubbed MasterFormat 2004, this significant revision provides new divisions dedicated to disciplines previously under-represented, expands the numbering system to allow for greater depth of content, and also attempts to minimize disruption of the system's core architectural divisions.
The number of Divisions, the largest organizational groupings in the system, increases from 16 to 49. Major changes include:
- Division 02 Existing Conditions
- Divisions 20 - 29 Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Fire Suppression and other "Facilities Services"
- Divisions 20 - 39 Sitework, Transportation, Utilities, and other "Site and Infrastructure"
- Division 40 - 49 industrial "Process Equipment"
The numbering system itself has been expanded from five digits to six to create more space for individual Section numbers. For example, Clay Unit Masonry, previously Section 04210, is now Section 042100. Section numbers themselves are organized into two-digit groups, each group representing a finer level of subdivision. So in the previous example, '04' is referred to as the Division or "level one" designation, the middle '21’ is the level two designation, and the final '00' is level three. Level four designations can also be provided as two-digit suffixes. An example of how these level designations are used to subdivide specification content looks like this:
- Section 042000 Unit Masonry
- Section 042100 Clay Unit Masonry
- Section 042113 Brick Masonry
- Section 042113.13 Brick Veneer Masonry
Thankfully for architectural specifiers, Divisions 03 Concrete through 14 Conveying Equipment have undergone only modest updates, aside from the expanded numbering system itself.
More Information
_More information on the MasterFormat 2004 system is available on CSI's All About MasterFormat 2004 Edition page. A copy of the complete new system can also be downloaded from this page.
_The MasterFormat system and its role in the construction industry is discussed on pages 11 - 12 of the textbook. Section numbers relevant to specific content are also provided close to the end of each chapter.
September 5, 2004 in 01 Making Buildings, specifications | Permalink
Comments
It's my impression that CSI felt Masterformat was at risk of losing its status as the defacto standard for organizing construction specifications if they did not make changes to better accomodate poorly represented subject areas.
Earlier drafts proposed even more radical reorganizations than what was finally published. These earlier proposals were scaled back in response to comments received from the design/construction community. Thus the attempt in the final version to minimize changes to the core architectural divisions.
Posted by: Joe Iano | Sep 8, 2004 3:07:01 PM
I am baffled by the changes to the CSI Masterformat categories. WHY?
What was wrong with a system that has been in place for a number of years and has been adopted, in essence, by estimators, government agencies, Sweets catalogs and product manufacturers, the AIA, not to mention specifiers themselves. Will all these groups have to throw out and retool the material that has been developed over a number of years for this new system? What was wrong with the 16 division format? Was it a problem for those in the construction specification profession?
I see no gain commensurate with the amount of chaos that is being introduces by this change.
Posted by: karle packard | Sep 7, 2004 5:51:36 PM
