What Is CSI Code?

Organize your construction specs and project information

"Material Bidders uses CSI as the link used to match the requested tenders of buyers with the corresponding suppliers. Material Bidders has chosen CSI for its widespread use in the specifications of projects worldwide."

Herein a brief on what is CSI and its different sections.

MasterFormat is a coding system for organizing construction documents, contracts, design specifications, and operational manuals. It uses specific numbers and associated titles that make up a universal indexing system. MasterFormat is also a publication created and maintained by the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC). It is widely used in the construction and operation of buildings and systems in a variety of industries and projects, from hospitals and public infrastructure to schools and residential construction.

Advantages of Using MasterFormat

One of the most important benefits of MasterFormat is improved communication between project groups, most notably between the design and construction teams. It allows all team members to refer to specific sections of any document using the universal coding system. This facilitates coordination and communication between project owners, architects, contractors, and suppliers, minimizing the time spent organizing documents.

For industries with complex operations, such as health care, MasterFormat helps communicate and organize critical operational information among designers, builders, operations managers, and facility owners. In addition, as these and many other industries are increasingly using building information modeling, or BIM, MasterFormat can be used by modeling software to enhance data interoperability and improve BIM adoption.

The MasterFormat system can be used to organize many types of project documents, including:

  • Design specifications
  • Project manuals
  • Drawings (keynotes)
  • Product literature/data filing
  • Facility management and maintenance
  • Project integration and communication
  • Detailed cost estimating/project accounting
  • Building information modeling
MasterFormat Divisions and Subgroups
MasterFormat includes a group of "39 divisions" of construction information. Each division has its own number.

+ 02 00 00 Existing Conditions
+ 02 30 00 Subsurface Investigation
+ 02 40 00 Demolition and Structure Moving
+ 02 50 00 Site Remediation
+ 02 60 00 Contaminated Site Material Removal
+ 02 70 00 Water Remediation
+ 02 80 00 Facility Remediation
+ 03 00 00 Concrete
+ 04 00 00 Masonry
+ 05 00 00 Metals
+ 06 00 00 Wood, Plastics, and Composites
+ 07 00 00 Thermal and Moisture Protection
+ 08 00 00 Openings
+ 09 00 00 Finishes
+ 10 00 00 Specialties
+ 11 00 00 Equipment
+ 12 00 00 Furnishings
+ 13 00 00 Special Construction
+ 14 00 00 Conveying Equipment
+ 21 00 00 Fire Suppression
+ 22 00 00 Plumbing
- 23 00 00 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
+ 23 01 00 Operation and Maintenance of HVAC Systems
+ 23 05 00 Common Work Results for HVAC
+ 23 06 00 Schedules for HVAC
+ 23 07 00 HVAC Insulation
+ 23 08 00 Commissioning of HVAC
+ 23 09 00 Instrumentation and Control for HVAC
+ 23 10 00 Facility Fuel Systems
+ 23 11 00 Facility Fuel Piping
+ 23 12 00 Facility Fuel Pumps
+ 23 13 00 Facility Fuel-Storage Tanks
+ 23 20 00 HVAC Piping and Pumps
+ 23 21 00 Hydronic Piping and Pumps
+ 23 22 00 Steam and Condensate Piping and Pumps
+ 23 23 00 Refrigerant Piping
+ 23 24 00 Internal-Combustion Engine Piping
+ 23 25 00 HVAC Water Treatment
+ 23 30 00 HVAC Air Distribution
+ 23 31 00 HVAC Ducts and Casings
+ 23 32 00 Air Plenums and Chases
+ 23 33 00 Air Duct Accessories
+ 23 34 00 HVAC Fans
+ 23 35 00 Special Exhaust Systems
+ 23 36 00 Air Terminal Units
+ 23 37 00 Air Outlets and Inlets
+ 23 38 00 Ventilation Hoods
+ 23 40 00 HVAC Air Cleaning Devices
+ 23 41 00 Particulate Air Filtration
+ 23 42 00 Gas-Phase Air Filtration
+ 23 43 00 Electronic Air Cleaners
+ 23 50 00 Central Heating Equipment
+ 23 51 00 Breechings, Chimneys, and Stacks
+ 23 52 00 Heating Boilers
+ 23 53 00 Heating Boiler Feedwater Equipment
+ 23 54 00 Furnaces
+ 23 55 00 Fuel-Fired Heaters
+ 23 56 00 Solar Energy Heating Equipment
+ 23 57 00 Heat Exchangers for HVAC
+ 23 60 00 Central Cooling Equipment
- 23 61 00 Refrigerant Compressors
+ 23 62 00 Packaged Compressor and Condenser Units
+ 23 63 00 Refrigerant Condensers
+ 23 64 00 Packaged Water Chillers
+ 23 65 00 Cooling Towers
+ 23 70 00 Central HVAC Equipment
+ 23 71 00 Thermal Storage
+ 23 72 00 Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Equipment
+ 23 73 00 Indoor Central-Station Air-Handling Units
+ 23 74 00 Packaged Outdoor HVAC Equipment
+ 23 75 00 Custom-Packaged Outdoor HVAC Equipment
+ 23 76 00 Evaporative Air-Cooling Equipment
+ 23 80 00 Decentralized HVAC Equipment
+ 23 81 00 Decentralized Unitary HVAC Equipment
+ 23 82 00 Convection Heating and Cooling Units
+ 23 83 00 Radiant Heating Units
+ 23 84 00 Humidity Control Equipment
+ 25 00 00 Integrated Automation
+ 26 00 00 Electrical
+ 27 00 00 Communications
+ 28 00 00 Electronic Safety and Security
+ 31 00 00 Earthwork
+ 32 00 00 Exterior Improvements
+ 33 00 00 Utilities
+ 34 00 00 Transportation
+ 35 00 00 Waterway and Marine Construction
+ 40 00 00 Process Interconnections
+ 41 00 00 Material Processing and Handling Equipment
+ 42 00 00 Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying Equipment
+ 43 00 00 Process Gas and Liquid Handling,
+ 44 00 00 Pollution and Waste Control Equipment
+ 45 00 00 Industry-Specific Manufacturing Equipment
+ 46 00 00 Water and Wastewater Equipment
+ 48 00 00 Electrical Power Generation