CSI and CSC release MasterFormat 2014 update

Words: Construction Repair NYCCSI and CSC recently released the 2014 updates to MasterFormat, their flagship product used to organize construction documents for commercial, industrial, and institutional building projects in the U.S. and Canada.

Several significant revisions are included in this update, among them the addition of “selective demolition” sections to most divisions of the format, providing guidance for companies and project managers who need to incorporate demolition into their plans.

“The 2014 updates to MasterFormat take into account the valuable feedback provided by its users over the past two years,” said CSI Executive Director and CEO Walter Marlowe, P.E., CSI. “We greatly appreciate their feedback as we strive to make MasterFormat the most accessible and expansive guide for the A/E/C industries.”

“These changes continue to ensure that MasterFormat reflects the current needs of its users,” said CSC President Mike Garlinski. “We are pleased that so many users take the time to supply their input, especially the members of the Hydraulic Institute who contributed to the 2014 updates.”

Additional changes in the 2014 edition include:
  • Renaming Division 40 from “Process Equipment” to “Process Interconnections,” and overhauling its content;
  • Reorganizing “Process Liquid Pumps” in Division 43, as a result of input from members of the Hydraulic Institute;
  • Moving “Manufactured Planters” and “Site Seating and Tables” to Division 32 to better align with other site-based work and renaming their former Division 12 location to “Interior Public Space Furnishings” to address similar types of furnishings used in indoor settings;
  • Revising “Equipment” in Division 11 to update, simplify and rationalize its content and organization; and
  • Expanding “Agreement Forms” in Section 00 52 00 to improve alignment with standard forms of agreement.
The MasterFormat Maintenance Task Team conducts a biennial revision cycle process, publishing updates to the format every two years. This committee of volunteers develops the changes to the format based on input from industry supporters and proposals from individual users that were submitted through www.masterformat.com. The Task Team is comprised of appointees from CSI, CSC, ARCAT, ARCOM, Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD), Specification Consultants in Independent Practice (SCIP), Digicon, and Canadian National Master Specifications.

MasterFormat is a master list of numbers and titles classified by work results for construction practices, used to organize project manuals, detail cost information, and relate drawing notations to specifications. By fostering fuller and more detailed construction specifications, MasterFormat is designed to reduce costly changes and delays in projects due to incomplete, misplaced, or missing information. For more information on the 2014 updates, please visit www.masterformat.com.
Is Contact with Wet Mortar or Grout Dangerous?
April 2026

In the world of masonry, few materials are as common as mortar and grout. Whether you are laying brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), or pouring grout into masonry walls, wet cement and mortar are constant companions. However, beneath their utility lies a

The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic