________________________________________

RESMEAR
SPECIFICATION WRITING AND WUANTITY SURVEYING
INTRODUCTION
________________________________________
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

MasterFormat- A uniform classification system for construction specifications that is

divided in several sections, each of them subsequentially numbered and named. It is the
most widely used standard for organizing specification and other written information for
commercial and institutional building projects in the U.S.

It provides masterlist of division, to follow the organizing information about the facility’s
construction requirements and associated activities. It is a product of Construction
Specification Institute (CSI) and Construction Specification of Canada. It is also known as
Uniform System.
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

MASTERFORMAT 1988 EDITION

Before November 2004, MasterFormat was composed of 16 Divisions:
Division 1 — General Requirements
Division 2 — Sitework
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 (Ex. Plumbing and HVAC)
Division 16 — Electrical
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

MASTERFORMAT 2004 EDITION

Changed to 50 Divisions. All divisions were revised.

Organizing Specifications According to MasterFormatTM 2004

In MasterFormat 2004, the Levels are Level 1 through Level 4. These Levels still express
relative degree of detail or specificity but there are some special considerations. Here is
an example, using doors:
Level 1: 08 ## ## - (two-digit Division number) Openings
Level 2: 08 10 00 - Doors and Frames
Level 2: 08 14 00 - Wood Doors
Level 3: 08 14 23 - Clad Wood Doors
Level 4: 08 14 23.16 - Plastic-Laminate-Faced Wood Doors
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

Organizing Specifications According to MasterFormatTM 2004

Notice Level 4 in the example above. Level 4 is typically the six digits of Level 3 plus a
decimal point and two more digits, for a total of eight. Expanding on the example, 08 14
23 - Clad Wood Doors, MasterFormat 2004 lists three assigned Level 4 Section numbers:
08 14 23.13 - Metal-Faced Wood Doors
08 14 23.16 - Plastic-Laminate-Faced Wood Doors
08 14 23.19 - Wood Doors
Another example of Level 4 Section numbers is for steel doors:
08 13 13 - Hollow Metal Doors
08 13 13.13 - Standard Hollow Metal Doors
08 13 13.53 - Custom Hollow Metal Doors
An advantage of using Level 3 and Level 4 Section numbers and titles is it splits long and
complicated Sections into more concise and more easily understood Sections.

.
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

Organizing Specifications According to MasterFormatTM 2004

Other advantages are:

• The task of assembling a Project Manual is made easier since the specifier is able
to focus on limited areas of information.
• Specifications are easier to coordinate during writing.
• The Contractor can exercise greater control during bidding and construction.

Disadvantages of using several similar sections are:

• Information may be repeated.
• The greater number of narrowly focused sections increases the size of the overall
specifications.
• More effort is required to cross-reference properly between Sections.
• Keeping information separated can reduce the chance that improper associations
between materials and methods will occur. However, it adds redundancy, as
common information is repeated in similar sections.
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

THREE PART FORMAT- FORMAT FOR SPECIFICATION SECTIONS

A typical specification Section in Divisions 02 through 49 contains two categories of
paragraphs, technical and nontechnical, as follows:

In 1969, CSI developed and promulgated the CSI SectionFormat. This has since
been refined and updated several times and is now jointly produced by CSI and
Construction Specifications Canada (CSC), joined with PageFormat. SectionFormat and
PageFormat are so interrelated that they are best presented in a single document.
Prior to the publication of SectionFormat, specifiers arranged the information
within their technical sections in accordance with their own formulas, and in many
instances without any specific method. In many cases, the lack of organization resulted in
duplication and omission of information.
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

THREE PART FORMAT- FORMAT FOR SPECIFICATION SECTIONS

Part Numbering
Overall, a specification Section is organized using levels called Part, Article, Paragraph,
and Subparagraph, as indicated below:
PART 1—GENERAL (First Level) 1.01 ARTICLE (Second Level)
A. Paragraph (Third Level)
1. Subparagraph (Fourth Level)
a. Subparagraph (Fifth Level)
1) Subparagraph (Sixth Level)
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

THREE PART FORMAT- FORMAT FOR SPECIFICATION SECTIONS

Part Numbering
Overall, a specification Section is organized using levels called Part, Article, Paragraph,
and Subparagraph, as indicated below:
PART 1—GENERAL (First Level) 1.01 ARTICLE (Second Level)
A. Paragraph (Third Level)
1. Subparagraph (Fourth Level)
a. Subparagraph (Fifth Level)
1) Subparagraph (Sixth Level)

Section Format provides for the arrangement and presentation of information under
three separate parts. The Part is considered the First Level of detail in a specification
Section.
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

THREE PART FORMAT- FORMAT FOR SPECIFICATION SECTIONS

Part 1—General
Describes administrative, procedural and temporary requirements and is an extension of
Division 01 - General Requirements unique to the section. It specifies the procedures for
accomplishing portions of the Work specified in the Section and the relationships with
other portions of the Work or requirements in the project.
1.1 SUMMARY
A. Scope of Work 1.4 System Description
B. Work of other section 1.5 Submittals
C. Related section 1.6 Quality Assurance
D. Allowances 1.7 Delivery, Storage, Handling
E. Unit Prices 1.8 Project/Site Condition
F. Measurement and Payment 1.9 Sequencing and Scheduling
G. Alternates 1.10 Warranty
1.2 References 1.11 System Start-up
1.3 Definition of Terms 1.12 Maintenance
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

THREE PART FORMAT- FORMAT FOR SPECIFICATION SECTIONS

Part 2—Products
Describes, in detail, the materials, products, equipment, systems, or assemblies that are
required for incorporation into the Project. It specifies the products to be incorporated
into the project as specified in the Section, including their offsite fabrication.
2.1 Manufacturers
2.2 Existing Products
2.3 Materials
2.4 Manufactured Units
2.5 Equipment
2.6 Components
2.7 Accessories
2.8 Mixes
2.9 Fabrication
2.10 Finishes
2.11 Source Quality Control
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

THREE PART FORMAT- FORMAT FOR SPECIFICATION SECTIONS

Part 3—Execution
Describes, in detail, preparatory actions, what on-site actions are required, and how the
products shall be incorporated into the project.
3.1 Acceptable Installers
3.2 Preparation
3.3 Erection/ Installation/ Application/Construction
3.4 Repair/Restoration
3.5 Reinstallation
3.6 Field Quality Control
3.7 Adjusting
3.8 Cleaning
3.9 Demonstration
3.10Protection
3.11 Schedules
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

Article Numbering
Article numbers are the Second Level of detail in a specifications Section. The Article
Number = PART Number + Consecutive Number.
Examples:
1.4 SUBMITTALS: Article in PART 1 specifying submittals
2.1 MANUFACTURERS: Article in PART 2 specifying acceptable manufacturers
3.9 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL: Article in PART 3 specifying testing and inspections to
be performed at the project site
2.11 SOURCE QUALITY CONTROL: Article in PART 2 specifying testing and inspection
to be performed at on off-site production facility
1.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE: Administrative requirements governing source and field
quality control activities, including field samples, mock- ups, and pre-installation or
pre-application conference to be convened at the project site
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

Paragraph Numbering
Paragraphs and Subparagraphs are subordinate levels under an Article. Paragraphs are
the Third Level and use uppercase letters followed by a period (such as “A.”) for
identifiers.

• Subparagraphs are the Fourth Level through Sixth Level of detail. All are referred
to as Subparagraphs. There are no sub-subparagraphs and sub-sub-
subparagraphs.
•
• The Fourth Level subparagraphs use an Arabic numeral followed by a period,
such as “1.” for identifiers.
•
• The Fifth Level subparagraphs use a lowercase letter followed by a period, such
as “a.” for identifiers.
•
• Sixth Level subparagraphs use an Arabic numeral followed by a parenthesis, such
as “2).” for identifiers.
Organization of Specifications
SPECIFICATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4

PageFormat
Accompanying and closely related to Section- Format, CSI/CSC PageFormat is a
standardized presentation of text for each page of a specification Section, providing an
orderly and uniform arrangement of the Articles, Paragraphs, and Subparagraphs.
• SectionFormat addresses the content of the Articles, Paragraphs, and
Subparagraphs.
• PageFormat addresses the numbering of Articles, Paragraphs, and
Subparagraphs.
• PageFormat addresses the physical arrangement on the page, such as margins,
indents, headers, and footers.

The benefits of using PageFormat are:

• Text is presented clearly and at a density best suited for easy reading without
• obscuring the message or hindering rapid understanding.
It is suitable for use in construction specifications of all types and sizes.
• It is suitable for use with most current production methods (word processing and
computer-assisted specifications).