16 DIVISIONS - refers to the 16 divisions of
construction, as defined by the Construction
Specifications Institute (CSI)'s MasterFormat.
MASTERFORMAT1995 EDITION
- before November 2004, MasterFormat was
composed of 16 primary divisions: there are
now 50 divisions
Division 01 - General Requirements
Division 02 - Site Construction
Division 03 - Concrete
Division 04 - Masonry
Division 05 - Metals
Division 06 - Wood and Plastics
Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection
Division 08 - Doors and Windows
Division 09 - Finishes
Division 10 - Specialties
Division 11 - Equipment
Division 12 - Furnishings
Division 13 - Special Constructions
Division 14 - Conveying Systems
Division 15 - Mechanical
Division 16 - Electrical
DIVISION 1 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- includes general administrative and technical
provisions that may not be listed elsewhere
and which may apply to more than one
division.
General requirements include
● contractual/ legal requirements
● summary of work to be done,
● explanation of work to be performed later
● description of meetings to be held
(construction coordination meetings,
scheduling meetings,and progress meetings,
for instance)
● Quality control
● Submittal - referring to catalog descriptions
or "shop drawings" of equipment, which are
submitted by the contractor for approval by
the architect and/or engineer.
Division 1 also includes a description of:
- temporary facilities
- preparation of the job site for construction
- details how the job is to be closed out when
construction is completed.
General Requirements
- Lists details on how many sets of
construction plans to be furnished to the
construction contractor for the project
General Conditions
- Drawn by professional organizations for
architects and engineers for use in the
General Requirements division
Supplemental General Conditions
- written by the architect or engineer
- Include special items that pertain to a
particular job
- Include special laws or building code
requirements
DIVISION 2 - SITE CONSTRUCTION
- describes work to be done on the site
● soil testing
● core drilling
● standard penetration tests
● seismic exploration.
All of these tests must be conducted, and the
requirements are expressed in this division.
- includes demolition of existing structures,
materials, and debris
- mentions capping and removal of existing
services even if the work is also included
under the trade division.
> For example, the capping of an
existing sewer line is mentioned in Division 2 and then
is described in detail in Division 16 (plumbing). In
addition, the site work division describes the various
steps in the clearing of the site.
> Clearing of the site includes structure
moving, clearing and grubbing of shrubs, tree removal
pruning, and tree relocation. Also described are
grading and earthwork, grading and drainage
paving and surfacing, and landscaping. Site
improvements such as fences, gates, guardrails,
lighting, and irrigation systems (site watering systems)
are also included in this division
DIVISION 3 - CONCRETE
- concrete work
- The major subdivisions included under
Division 3 are:
● concrete form work
● expansion and contraction joints
 ● cast-in-place concrete
● specially placed concrete, and
recast concrete
DIVISION 4 - MASONRY
- deals with brick, stone, fire brick, glass brick,
clay backing tile, and ceramic veneer.
- also includes related topics such as
joint reinforcement, mortar, anchors and tie
systems, masonry joints, control joints, and
masonry accessories
DIVISION 5 - METALS
- specifies metals used in the building
- if the building has a steel structure, the steel
members are specified in this section
- metal roof decking, metal floor decking, and
permanent metal forms
- metal fabrications such as stairs, handrails,
railings, gratings, castings, and lintels
- (in some cases), ornamental metals are
used for these fabrications
DIVISION 6 - WOOD AND PLASTICS
- describes materials such as rough carpentry
(framing), heavy timber construction,
prefabricated structural wood, finished
carpentry, and architectural woodwork
(cabinets and built-in woodwork)
- plastics are used in many ways in modern
construction.
- devoted to such items as joists, studs,
columns, beams, hangers, connecting
devices, and other miscellaneous plastic
items not specifically identified under other
headings.
DIVISION 7 - THERMAL AND MOISTURE
PROTECTION
- contains written descriptions of roofing
materials, waterproofing materials, flashing
and sheet metal trim, insulation, roof
accessories, and sealants
DIVISION 8 - DOORS AND WINDOWS
- Metal doors and frames, wood and plastic
doors, entrances and storefronts, metal
windows, special windows, wood and plastic
windows, hardware and specialties, and
glazing
DIVISION 9 - FINISHES
- Lath and plaster, gypsum wallboard,
terrazzo, acoustical treatment, ceiling
suspension systems, wood flooring finishes,
carpeting, special flooring, floor treatment,
painting, special coatings, and wall covering
DIVISION 10 - SPECIALTIES
- catch-all section
- If items required for the construction do not
fall under the other divisions of the
specifications, they are usually found in
Division 10.
- Typical items in this division are chalkboards
and tackboards, lovers and vents, grilles and
screens, pest control, fireplaces, flagpoles,
lockers, storage shelving, directional
signage, and sun control devices
DIVISION 11 - EQUIPMENT
- lists equipment which is normally furnished
and installed by the general contractor as a
part of the construction of the building
- Equipment described includes maintenance
equipment, bank and vault equipment, food
service equipment, vending equipment,
athletic equipment, laundry equipment,
library equipment, medical equipment, waste
handling equipment, and loading dock
equipment
DIVISION 12 - FURNISHINGS
- major headings in this division are artwork,
window treatment, fabrics, furniture, rugs
and mats, and furnishing accessories
DIVISION 13 - SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
- the description and necessary information for
constructing special areas are given in this
division
- Special construction areas include clean
rooms, operating rooms in hospitals,
incinerators, instrumentation rooms, nuclear
reactors, radiation treatment rooms, sound
and vibration rooms, vaults, and swimming
pool spaces
DIVISION 14 - CONVEYING SYSTEMS
- dumbwaiters, elevators, hoists and cranes,
lifts, material handling systems, moving
stairs and walks, and pneumatic tube
systems are typical items described in
Division 14

DIVISION 15 - MECHANICAL
- covers information on air conditioning,
ventilating and heating in a building
- major sections consisting of general
provisions (general description of the work,
procedures, etc.) basic materials and
methods, equipment, air distribution, piping,
insulation, controls, and instrumentation.

Note: Plumbing specifications are also included

in the standard mechanical specification
division; however, many engineers now write
plumbing specifications as a separate division.
With plumbing as Division 16, electrical
becomes Division 17

DIVISION 16 - ELECTRICAL
- usually consists of general provisions, basic
materials and methods, power generation,
power transmission, power service and
distribution, lighting, special systems,
communications, controls, and
instrumentation