# What CSI Division Is It? A Reverse Lookup by Construction Item

> Source: https://deviationcheck.com/guides/what-csi-division-is-it/

Most CSI lookups start with a number. This one starts with the thing in front of you. You know you are submitting toilet partitions, or a packaged rooftop unit, or a card-access system, but not which of the 23 [CSI MasterFormat](/glossary/csi-masterformat/) divisions it files under. The table below maps common construction products and scopes to their division and links each one to its submittal deviation guide. If you already have the section number, the [CSI division lookup tool](/tools/csi-division-lookup/) decodes it the other way.

## Common construction items by CSI division

The first two digits of any spec section set the division. Here is where the work usually lands:

| Division | Common items and products |
|---|---|
| [Division 02 - Existing Conditions](/divisions/02-existing-conditions/) | Demolition, surveys, hazardous material abatement, site assessments |
| [Division 03 - Concrete](/divisions/03-concrete/) | Cast-in-place concrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, precast, admixtures |
| [Division 04 - Masonry](/divisions/04-masonry/) | Brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), stone veneer, mortar and grout |
| [Division 05 - Metals](/divisions/05-metals/) | Structural steel, metal deck, steel joists, railings, metal stairs |
| [Division 06 - Wood, Plastics, and Composites](/divisions/06-wood-plastics-composites/) | Rough carpentry, architectural woodwork and millwork, custom casework, plastic fabrications |
| [Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection](/divisions/07-thermal-moisture-protection/) | Roofing, waterproofing, insulation, siding, firestopping, sealants |
| [Division 08 - Openings](/divisions/08-openings/) | Doors and frames, windows, storefronts and curtain walls, glazing, door hardware, louvers |
| [Division 09 - Finishes](/divisions/09-finishes/) | Gypsum board and framing, acoustical ceilings, flooring, tile, paint and coatings |
| [Division 10 - Specialties](/divisions/10-specialties/) | Toilet partitions, signage, lockers, toilet and bath accessories, fire extinguisher cabinets |
| [Division 11 - Equipment](/divisions/11-equipment/) | Appliances, commercial kitchen and laundry equipment, laboratory equipment, athletic equipment |
| [Division 12 - Furnishings](/divisions/12-furnishings/) | Casework and cabinetry, countertops, window treatments, furniture, entrance mats |
| [Division 13 - Special Construction](/divisions/13-special-construction/) | Pools, saunas, pre-engineered metal buildings, cleanrooms, sound and vibration control |
| [Division 14 - Conveying Equipment](/divisions/14-conveying-equipment/) | Elevators, escalators, moving walks, material lifts, hoists |
| [Division 21 - Fire Suppression](/divisions/21-fire-suppression/) | Fire sprinklers, standpipes, fire pumps, clean-agent extinguishing systems |
| [Division 22 - Plumbing](/divisions/22-plumbing/) | Plumbing fixtures, water heaters, domestic water and waste piping, pumps, valves |
| [Division 23 - HVAC](/divisions/23-hvac/) | Ductwork, air handlers, rooftop units, chillers, boilers, VAV boxes, controls |
| [Division 25 - Integrated Automation](/divisions/25-integrated-automation/) | Building automation systems, integrated controls, network gateways |
| [Division 26 - Electrical](/divisions/26-electrical/) | Lighting and fixtures, panelboards and switchgear, conduit and wiring, generators, transformers |
| [Division 27 - Communications](/divisions/27-communications/) | Structured cabling, data and telephone, audiovisual systems, distributed antenna |
| [Division 28 - Electronic Safety and Security](/divisions/28-electronic-safety-security/) | Fire alarm and detection, access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection |
| [Division 31 - Earthwork](/divisions/31-earthwork/) | Excavation and grading, soil stabilization, shoring, piles and caissons, erosion control |
| [Division 32 - Exterior Improvements](/divisions/32-exterior-improvements/) | Asphalt and concrete paving, site furnishings, fences and gates, planting and irrigation |
| [Division 33 - Utilities](/divisions/33-utilities/) | Site water distribution, sanitary and storm sewers, septic, site electrical and gas |

## When the item could fall in two divisions

A few items sit on a line between divisions, and the spec decides which side they land on:

- **Casework:** manufactured casework is Division 12, but site-built architectural woodwork is Division 06.
- **Fire alarm vs fire sprinklers:** alarm and detection are Division 28; sprinklers and pumps are Division 21. Different divisions, different submittals.
- **Appliances vs cabinetry:** the appliance is Division 11; the cabinet it drops into is Division 12.
- **Controls:** a thermostat tied to a single unit is Division 23, but a building-wide automation system is Division 25.

When two divisions could claim the same scope, the section number in the [submittal log](/glossary/submittal-log/) settles it. The first two digits are the division of record.

## Why the division matters for your submittal

The division is more than a filing label. Each one has its own deviation patterns, so the [Division 09 Finishes](/divisions/09-finishes/) guide flags different traps than [Division 26 Electrical](/divisions/26-electrical/). Once you know the division, the matching guide tells you what gets caught in that trade before you send the package or approve it.

Have the section number instead of the item? Run it through the [CSI division lookup tool](/tools/csi-division-lookup/). Ready to check a package against its spec? [Start a review](/#pricing).

## Frequently asked questions

### What CSI division is appliances?

Appliances are Division 11, Equipment. Residential appliances fall under 11 30 00 Residential Equipment, and commercial kitchen and laundry equipment sit in the same division. The cabinetry around them is Division 12, Furnishings.

### What CSI division is casework and countertops?

Manufactured casework and countertops are Division 12, Furnishings (12 35 00 and 12 36 00). Site-built architectural woodwork and custom millwork are usually Division 06, Wood, Plastics, and Composites (06 40 00), so check whether the spec treats the work as a manufactured product or as architectural woodwork.

### Is a fire alarm the same CSI division as fire sprinklers?

No, and this is a common mix-up. Fire alarm and detection are Division 28, Electronic Safety and Security (28 31 00). Fire sprinklers, standpipes, and fire pumps are Division 21, Fire Suppression. They are two different divisions and two separate submittals.

### What CSI division are elevators?

Elevators and escalators are Division 14, Conveying Equipment (14 20 00 Elevators). They are a frequent long lead item, so their submittal is usually one of the first reviewed and released.