Glossary
CSI division
A CSI division is one of the numbered groups of work in MasterFormat, the standard used to organize construction specifications and estimates.
By IntelCost Team ·
A CSI division is one of the numbered groups in MasterFormat, the system published by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada for organizing construction information by type of work. Division 03 is concrete, Division 08 is openings, Division 26 is electrical, and so on.
How it works
MasterFormat runs from Division 00 to Division 49. Some numbers are reserved for future use, so not every division exists. The divisions sit in groups:
- Procurement and Contracting Requirements: Division 00.
- General Requirements: Division 01.
- Facility Construction: Divisions 02 to 19.
- Facility Services: Divisions 20 to 29.
- Site and Infrastructure: Divisions 30 to 39.
- Process Equipment: Divisions 40 to 49.
Within each group, some division numbers are reserved and have no work in them yet.
Inside each division, work is broken into sections with six-digit numbers in three pairs. For example, 03 30 00 is Cast-in-Place Concrete within Division 03. The more digits filled in, the more specific the section.
The current layout dates from the 2004 edition. Older specs and some estimators still use the earlier 16-division format, so an old "Division 15" (mechanical) maps to Divisions 21, 22 and 23 today.
Common divisions in an estimate
| Division | Title |
|---|---|
| 01 | General Requirements |
| 03 | Concrete |
| 04 | Masonry |
| 05 | Metals |
| 06 | Wood, Plastics, and Composites |
| 07 | Thermal and Moisture Protection |
| 08 | Openings |
| 09 | Finishes |
| 22 | Plumbing |
| 23 | Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) |
| 26 | Electrical |
| 31 | Earthwork |
| 32 | Exterior Improvements |
| 33 | Utilities |
Example
Say you are filing four items from a takeoff (example items):
| Item | Division | Section |
|---|---|---|
| 4 in slab on grade | 03 Concrete | 03 30 00 Cast-in-Place Concrete |
| Hollow metal door frames | 08 Openings | 08 11 13 Hollow Metal Doors and Frames |
| Recessed light fixtures | 26 Electrical | 26 51 00 Interior Lighting |
| Mass excavation | 31 Earthwork | 31 23 00 Excavation and Fill |
Filed this way, the quantity takeoff lines up with the specification book, and each sub's scope can be pulled out by division.
Why estimators use it
- Scope checks: going division by division through the specs is a simple way to find work the drawings do not show.
- Sub packages: most trades bid by division or section.
- Comparisons: costs filed the same way on every job can be compared from job to job.
Your general conditions often sit in Division 01. In IntelCost, each item is filed by division, scope and sub-scope under CSI MasterFormat as you measure, with UniFormat, NRM 1, NRM 2 and CESMM also available. The CSI MasterFormat divisions guide covers every division in more depth.