By Dvir Atias
Construction specs are organized by MasterFormat: numbered divisions and six-digit sections, each written in three parts. If you sell roofing, doors, flooring or lighting, a handful of section numbers tell you exactly where your product, and your competitor’s, is named. Here is the map, with the sections that matter most to spec reps.
Almost every commercial and public project in North America organizes its specifications with MasterFormat, the numbering system published by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada. Learn a few section numbers and you can open any spec book and find your product, and your competitor’s, in under a minute.
How the numbers work
Current MasterFormat uses six-digit section numbers written in three pairs, like 07 54 23. The first pair is the division (07, Thermal and Moisture Protection), the next pairs narrow it down to a specific work result (07 54 23, Thermoplastic-Polyolefin Roofing). The higher the precision, the more specific the product.
Every section has three parts
- Part 1 General: scope, submittals, quality assurance and warranty.
- Part 2 Products: the manufacturers, products and performance requirements. This is where the basis of design, the listed manufacturers and any “or approved equal” appear.
- Part 3 Execution: how the work is installed, inspected and protected.
Division 01: the rules for substitutions
Division 01 (General Requirements) does not name your product, but it decides whether you can get in. Two sections matter most: 01 25 00 Substitution Procedures and 01 60 00 Product Requirements. They set the deadline and documentation for proposing an equal. Read them before you plan a substitution request. Our guide to what “or approved equal” means covers the process.
The sections spec reps check most
Division 07, Thermal and Moisture Protection (roofing and envelope):
07 21 00Thermal Insulation07 52 00Modified Bituminous Membrane Roofing07 54 23Thermoplastic-Polyolefin (TPO) Roofing07 62 00Sheet Metal Flashing and Trim07 92 00Joint Sealants
Division 08, Openings:
08 11 13Hollow Metal Doors and Frames08 71 00Door Hardware, often with a detailed hardware schedule naming exact products08 80 00Glazing
Division 09, Finishes:
09 29 00Gypsum Board09 51 00Acoustical Ceilings09 65 00Resilient Flooring09 91 00Painting
Mechanical and electrical: Division 22 (Plumbing), Division 23 (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) and Division 26 (Electrical), including 26 51 00 Interior Lighting.
How to use this on a real spec book
- Open the table of contents and jump to your section number.
- Read Part 2 for the basis of design, the listed manufacturers and whether equals are allowed.
- Check Division 01 for the substitution deadline.
- Search the addenda for your section number. Changes are listed by section.
✱FAQ
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