Is Elite Crete Systems on MasterFormat®?
Understanding MasterFormat® from Elite Crete Systems Perspective...
MasterFormat® Specification Standards – Investigation Summary by Elite Crete Systems
MasterFormat® is the industry-standard system for organizing construction specifications and project information in the United States and Canada. Developed and maintained by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC), it functions as the “Dewey Decimal System” of building construction. It provides a consistent numbering and titling structure that allows architects, engineers, general contractors, specification writers, and manufacturers to communicate project requirements clearly and uniformly.
Current Structure (MasterFormat 2020 / 2026 Updates)
MasterFormat organizes information into 50 Divisions, grouped as follows:
| Group | Divisions | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Procurement & Contracting | 00 | Bidding, contracts, administrative requirements |
| General Requirements | 01 | Project-wide procedures, submittals, quality control |
| Facility Construction | 02–19 | Physical building elements (concrete, masonry, metals, finishes, etc.) |
| Facility Services | 20–29 | Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, communications |
| Site & Infrastructure | 30–39 | Earthwork, exterior improvements, utilities, transportation |
The most recent major update (MasterFormat 2026) added significant granularity, especially in Divisions 32 (Exterior Improvements) and 34 (Transportation), along with refinements in Divisions 01, 06, 09, 10, 26, and 28. The core structure for interior finishes and concrete work remains stable and widely used.
Numbering System
MasterFormat uses a hierarchical 6-digit (or longer) numbering system:
- Level 1: Division (e.g., 09 = Finishes)
- Level 2: Broad section (e.g., 09 67 = Flooring)
- Level 3: Specific section (e.g., 09 67 00 = Fluid-Applied Flooring)
- Further levels provide additional detail (e.g., 09 67 23 = Resinous Flooring)
Specifications are typically written in the CSI three-part SectionFormat:
- Part 1 – General (scope, references, submittals, quality assurance, delivery, warranties)
- Part 2 – Products (materials, manufacturers, performance criteria)
- Part 3 – Execution (preparation, installation, curing, protection, field quality control)
Key Divisions Relevant to Polymer-Modified Cement Overlays and Resinous Flooring by Elite Crete Systems
Division 03 – Concrete Covers concrete materials, formwork, reinforcement, casting, and surface treatments. Polymer-modified cementitious overlays, toppings, resurfacing, and decorative concrete finishes are frequently specified here when the primary intent is concrete restoration or thin architectural overlays applied directly to structural slabs. Related sections include concrete finishes, toppings, and repair materials.
Division 09 – Finishes This is the primary home for most fluid-applied and resinous flooring systems:
- 09 67 00 – Fluid-Applied Flooring Broad category for finished floor coverings that are fluid-applied over structural substrates (primarily concrete).
- 09 67 23 – Resinous Flooring The most common and precise section used for epoxy, polyaspartic, polyurethane, polyurea, urethane cement, Novolac, MMA, and electrostatic dissipative (ESD) systems. Most high-performance industrial, commercial, and institutional resinous floors are specified under this number.
- Related or adjacent sections may include quartz flooring, high-performance coatings (09 96 00), and other specialty finishes.
Elite Crete Systems consistently aligns its proprietary MANU-SPEC and CSI three-part specifications with these numbers—most frequently 09 67 23 Resinous Flooring for its HERMETIC™, REFLECTOR™, and related fluid-applied systems, and Division 03 language for its polymer-modified cementitious overlay and restoration products (THIN-FINISH™, TEXTURE-PAVE™, etc.).
Practical Importance for Specification and Project Delivery
- Clarity and Consistency: Using the correct MasterFormat section ensures that design intent, performance requirements, and installation standards are clearly communicated to bidders, contractors, and inspectors.
- System-Based Specifying: High-performance resinous and polymer-modified systems are almost always specified as complete systems (primer + body coats + topcoat + aggregate if required) rather than individual products. MasterFormat sections support this approach.
- Manufacturer Documentation: Reputable manufacturers (including Elite Crete) provide CSI-formatted specifications, technical data sheets, test data, and installation guidelines keyed to the appropriate MasterFormat numbers. This simplifies submittals, mock-ups, and quality assurance.
- Professional Standards: Specifiers increasingly require that installers be manufacturer-trained or approved, especially under 09 67 00 / 09 67 23. References to advanced or MasterFormat-aligned training signal that the manufacturer works with qualified applicators rather than commodity installers.
Summary for Elite Crete Systems Context
| Product Category | Typical MasterFormat Section | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Polymer-modified cement overlays, thin stamped overlays, resurfacing, repair | Division 03 (Concrete) + related finishes language | Often cross-referenced with Division 09 when decorative |
| Resinous / fluid-applied flooring (epoxy, polyaspartic, urethane cement, Novolac, ESD, MMA) | 09 67 00 / 09 67 23 | Primary specification home for HERMETIC™ and related systems |
| High-performance protective coatings | 09 96 00 or 09 67 23 | Depending on system intent |
MasterFormat provides the standardized language that allows architects, engineers, and facility professionals to specify high-performance polymer-modified and resinous systems with precision, while giving manufacturers and qualified contractors a clear framework for documentation, training, and installation accountability.
For the most current section numbers and titles, refer to the official MasterFormat publication from CSI (csiresources.org). Elite Crete Systems maintains ready-to-use CSI three-part specifications aligned with these standards for its major product lines.