Explore the different coding schemas used in the construction industry, including OmniClass, Uniformat, and Master Format, and understand their relevance to different stages of design and development. Learn about the transition from the 16 division coding schema CSI-95 to the 50 divisions of Master Format, and why it's essential to be familiar with both systems despite CSI-95's lack of continued support.
Key Insights
- OmniClass is a schema provided with Revit, a building information modeling software that offers a significant amount of metadata to support construction projects.
- Uniformat is used in conceptual estimating, allowing costs to be calculated based on metrics like surface area, but eventually needs to transition to Master Format, the final coding category for any estimate.
- Although the 16 division coding schema CSI-95 is no longer supported, it's crucial to understand it as it occasionally appears on bid forms, and professionals may need to translate it into the more widely used 50 division Master Format system.
Note: These materials offer prospective students a preview of how our classes are structured. Students enrolled in this course will receive access to the full set of materials, including video lectures, project-based assignments, and instructor feedback.
Let's take a look at format types. Although there are several coding schemas that are widely used throughout the country and used in the construction industry, many of them are related to different stages of design and development, also known as LODs. One such schema provided with Revit is called OmniClass.
It provides a suitable structure to some extent, and Autodesk Revit is the actual building information modeling software that not only includes the three dimensions used in construction, but it also has a significant amount of metadata that will support the project going forward. Uniformat is one that is utilized by conceptual estimating, where, instead of everything being based on the square foot cost of the building, it could be a square foot cost based on surface area, just as an example. Now, Uniformat can be utilized throughout conceptual estimating, but at some point needs to migrate towards MasterFormat, which is going to be the final coding system for any estimate.
CSI-95 is the 16-division coding schema that was utilized strictly up to the year 2004, which later migrated into the 50 divisions of MasterFormat. It's no longer supported. It still shows up from time to time on bid forms and similar documents.
It's important to understand it, even though it's not typically going to be used. Every now and then you're going to come across a client who uses 16-division. It's important that you understand what that is and if you can cross-reference it into the 50-division MasterFormat.
Learn Construction Estimating
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Authorized Autodesk training center
Then again, we have the 2016 MasterFormat, which is widely used throughout the entire industry, with the exception of some designers. MasterFormat is the industry standard for code structure and will be the system used in our introduction to construction estimating class.
