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MasterFormat is the construction industry's standard for organizing specifications and project information. Often called the "Dewey Decimal System" of construction, it provides a consistent framework for organizing construction documents in the United States and Canada.
Developed by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC), MasterFormat standardizes how construction specifications are written, organized, and referenced—improving communication among architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers.
CSI originally developed the 16-Division format in 1963, which was widely used for over 40 years. In 2004, MasterFormat was expanded to the current 50-Division format to accommodate modern construction complexity, new technologies, and evolving building systems.
This application uses the 2016 Edition, which includes updates to accommodate new materials, methods, and building technologies. CSI continues to publish updates to keep the standard current with industry practices.
MasterFormat uses a 6-digit numbering system organized in pairs, creating a hierarchical structure:
The 50 divisions are organized into logical groups based on the type of work:
Note: Division numbers 15-20, 24, 29-30, 36-39, 47, and 49 are reserved for future expansion.
Specifications: Architects and engineers use MasterFormat to organize project manuals and technical specifications.
Cost Estimating: Estimators use the divisions to categorize and track costs for accurate budgeting.
Bidding: Contractors reference specific sections when preparing bids, making it easy to compare proposals.
Project Management: Software like Procore uses MasterFormat as default cost codes for tracking construction expenses.
For official MasterFormat standards and updates:
• Takeoff and Estimating Website
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