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9.1 CSI MasterFormat Divisions & SectionFormat Structure

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Landscape Architect Registration Examination L.A.R.E.

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1 Chapter 1: Project Management, Legal Framework & Contracts

1.1 Professional Practice, Ethics & the HSW Mandate 1.2 Standard of Care, Responsible Charge & Sealing Documents 1.3 Professional Services Agreements & Contract Clauses 1.4 Fee Structures, Compensation Models & Billing 1.5 Project Scheduling, CPM & Budget Management 1.6 Risk Management, Professional Liability & Insurance

2 Chapter 2: Site Inventory, Surveying & Regulatory Framework

2.1 Boundary Surveys, Legal Descriptions & Survey Datums 2.2 Topographic Surveys, Easements & Encumbrances 2.3 Desktop Inventory, GIS Data & Field Reconnaissance 2.4 Policy Documents & Prior Planning Studies 2.5 Adjacent Land Use & Contextual Data Collection 2.6 Stakeholder Engagement & Public Participation 2.7 Zoning Frameworks, Dimensional Standards & FAR 2.8 Parking Standards, Buffer Yards & Zoning Relief 2.9 Clean Water Act Permitting & NEPA Review 2.10 ESA, Floodplain, Coastal & Historic Preservation Compliance

3 Chapter 3: Physical, Contextual & Environmental Site Analysis

3.1 Scoping Site Analysis & Synthesizing Opportunities and Constraints 3.2 Geotechnical Investigation & Soil Classification Systems 3.3 Problematic Soil Conditions & Agronomic Soil Quality 3.4 Topographic Interpretation & Slope Suitability 3.5 Watershed Mechanics, Stream Order & FEMA Flood Hazard Zones 3.6 Wetland Delineation, Classification & Riparian Buffers 3.7 Utility Analysis & Infrastructure Capacity 3.8 Visual Resource & Viewshed Analysis 3.9 Contextual Analysis: Appropriate Use & Future Development Impacts 3.10 Microclimates, Solar Orientation & Vegetation Analysis

4 Chapter 4: Stewardship, Climate Resiliency & Design Principles

4.1 SITES v2 & LEED Site Credit Rating Systems 4.2 Life-Cycle Assessment, Embodied Carbon & Ecosystem Services 4.3 Climate Resiliency, Adaptation & Urban Heat Island Mitigation 4.4 Environmental Justice & Social Equity in Site Design 4.5 Cultural Landscapes, Historic Preservation & Adaptive Reuse

5 Chapter 5: Master Planning, Programming & Land Use

5.1 Project Visioning, Goal Setting & Space Programming 5.2 Carrying Capacity Analysis & NRPA Park Classification Standards 5.3 Site Suitability Synthesis & Opportunities/Constraints Mapping 5.4 Land Use Allocation & Development Scenario Evaluation 5.5 Master Plan Deliverables & Design Guidelines 5.6 Capital Improvement Programming, Phasing & Implementation

6 Chapter 6: Schematic Design & Spatial Organization

6.1 Design Intent, Conceptual Diagrams & Form Generation 6.2 Basis of Design, Alternatives Evaluation & the Preferred Scheme 6.3 Spatial Hierarchy, Outdoor Rooms & Proportion 6.4 Pedestrian Circulation Networks & Environmental Wayfinding 6.5 ADA & PROWAG Accessible Route Design 6.6 Multimodal Transportation, Vehicular Circulation & Parking Layout

7 Chapter 7: Design Development, Materials & Planting Systems

7.1 Paving Systems: Rigid, Flexible & Unit Pavers 7.2 Retaining Walls, Earth Pressure & Wall Drainage 7.3 Wall System Selection, Fences, Screens & Gates 7.4 Site Furnishings: Selection, Materiality & Anchoring 7.5 Exterior Lighting, Photometrics, Dark Sky & Electrical Safety 7.6 Public Playground Safety: CPSC & ASTM Standards 7.7 Planting Design Principles & Ecological Matching 7.8 Water Conservation, Xeriscaping & Irrigation System Principles 7.9 Opinions of Probable Cost & Value Engineering

8 Chapter 8: Construction Drawings, Layout & Detailing

8.1 Drawing Set Hierarchy, Sheet Standards & Drafting Conventions 8.2 Interdisciplinary Coordination & QA/QC Review 8.3 Demolition Plans & Tree Protection Requirements 8.4 Site Preparation: Clearing, Grubbing, Topsoil & Utility Abandonment 8.5 Layout, Dimensioning & Materials Plans 8.6 Planting Plans, Plant Schedules & Installation Details 8.7 Technical Detailing: Pavements, Curbs & Joint Assemblies 8.8 Retaining Wall, Stair & Ramp Detailing Standards

9 Chapter 9: Construction Specifications & Bidding

9.1 CSI MasterFormat Divisions & SectionFormat Structure 9.2 Specification Writing Methods & the Drawings–Specifications Relationship 9.3 Project Manual, General Conditions & Front-End Documents 9.4 Bid Requirements, Bid Forms & Addenda Management 9.5 Pre-Bid Procedures, Bid Opening & Contractor Evaluation

10 Chapter 10: Construction Administration, Submittals & Changes

10.1 Pre-Construction Conference & Construction Administration Authority 10.2 Initial Decision Maker, Communication Protocols & Project Records 10.3 Submittals, Shop Drawings, Product Data & Samples 10.4 Requests for Information (RFIs) & Technical Clarifications 10.5 Change Orders, Construction Change Directives & Claims

11 Chapter 11: Field Observation, Quality Control & Close-Out

11.1 Field Observations, Site Reports & Non-Conforming Work 11.2 Quality Control, Material Testing & Inspections 11.3 Substantial Completion, Punch Lists & Retainage 11.4 Project Close-Out, Guarantees, Warranties & Final Acceptance

12 Chapter 12: Contour Interpretation, Grading & Earthwork Calculations

12.1 Contour Rules & Topographic Landform Interpretation 12.2 Spot Elevations & Contour Interpolation Calculations 12.3 Slope Formulas, Maximum Gradients & Cross Slopes 12.4 Earthwork Calculations: Average End Area & Grid Methods 12.5 Cut and Fill Balancing, Shrinkage, Swell & Mass Haul 12.6 Reviewing Grading Design: Error Detection & Constructability

13 Chapter 13: Stormwater Hydrology, Runoff & BMP Design

13.1 Hydrologic Cycle, Watershed Delineation & Time of Concentration 13.2 Peak Runoff Estimation: The Rational Method (Q = CiA) 13.3 NRCS Curve Number Method & Runoff Hydrographs 13.4 LID Principles, Water Quality Volume & Bioretention Design 13.5 Bioswales, Permeable Pavement, Green Roofs & Harvesting

14 Chapter 14: Site Drainage Systems, Hydraulics & Erosion Control

14.1 Open Channel Hydraulics, Manning’s Equation & Swale Design 14.2 Gutter Flow, Spread & Roadway Inlet Hydraulics 14.3 Subsurface Drainage, Catch Basins & Pipe Invert Calculations 14.4 Stormwater Storage: Detention, Retention & Water Quality Basins 14.5 Reviewing Drainage Plans & Evaluating Design Alternatives 14.6 Erosion Mechanics, RUSLE & the NPDES/SWPPP Framework 14.7 Erosion & Sediment Control BMPs, Basins & Site Stabilization

9.1 CSI MasterFormat Divisions & SectionFormat Structure

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

CSI MasterFormat organizes specifications into 50 divisions, with Division 31 Earthwork, Division 32 Exterior Improvements, and Division 33 Utilities carrying most landscape work.

Planting, irrigation, paving, and site furnishings are specified in Division 32 Exterior Improvements, which replaced the legacy Division 02 Sitework classification.

CSI SectionFormat divides every section into Part 1 General (administrative and procedural requirements including submittals, quality assurance, and warranty), Part 2 Products (materials, mixes, and fabrication), and Part 3 Execution (examination, installation, field quality control, and cleaning).

Submittal requirements belong in Part 1 General, not in Part 2, even when they describe a product, because submittals are a procedural obligation.

Warranty and maintenance period requirements belong in Part 1, while the acceptance testing that triggers the warranty start belongs in Part 3.

Last updated: September 2026

Core Focus: Construction specifications establish the legal, qualitative, and administrative baseline for landscape construction. Mastery of the CSI MasterFormat 50-division system, CSI SectionFormat 3-part structure, specification writing methodologies, and the legal relationship between drawings and specifications is essential for passing the LARE Section 3 (Construction Documentation and Administration) examination.

1. The CSI MasterFormat 50-Division System

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) publish MasterFormat , the universal standard for organizing construction specifications, project manuals, and cost data across North America. Prior to 2004, MasterFormat utilized a legacy 16-division system where all site work was compressed into a single division (Division 2: Site Work). The modernized 50-Division system organizes construction into five broad groups across 50 divisions (00 through 49), providing dedicated divisions for site work, civil infrastructure, and environmental systems. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  • | CSI MASTERFORMAT ORGANIZATIONAL GROUPS |
  • +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  • | 1. Procurement and Contracting Requirements Group (Division 00) |
  • | 2. Specifications Group: |
  • | - General Requirements Subgroup (Division 01) |
  • | - Facility Construction Subgroup (Divisions 02 - 19) |
  • | - Facility Services Subgroup (Divisions 20 - 29) |
  • | - Site and Infrastructure Subgroup (Divisions 31 - 35) |
  • | - Process Equipment Subgroup (Divisions 40 - 49) |
  • +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  • Key Divisions in Landscape Architecture Practice

Landscape architects must demonstrate fluency with the specific divisions governing site documentation, procurement, and execution:

Division 00 — Procurement and Contracting Requirements: Contains the bidding requirements, bid solicitation, instructions to bidders, bid forms, contract agreement forms, bond forms, and General and Supplementary Conditions of the Contract. Note: Division 00 covers procurement and contracting procedures, not technical building specifications.

Division 01 — General Requirements: Establishes overarching administrative, procedural, and temporary requirements that apply universally across every technical section in Divisions 02 through 49. Topics include submittal procedures, quality control testing, temporary tree protection fencing, project meetings, substitution protocols, and closeout requirements.

Division 31 — Earthwork: Covers all subsurface operations, site preparation, and earth moving. Key sections include:

  • 31 10 00 Site Clearing (clearing, grubbing, topsoil stripping)
  • 31 20 00 Earth Moving (rough grading, excavation, embankment fill)
  • 31 23 00 Excavation and Fill (trenching, backfill, compaction)
  • 31 25 00 Erosion and Sedimentation Controls (silt fence, sediment basins, SWPPP compliance)
  • 31 35 00 Slope Protection (riprap, slope revetments, gabions)

Division 32 — Exterior Improvements: The primary technical division authored by landscape architects, encompassing all above-ground surface finishes, hardscapes, site amenities, and biological systems:

  • 32 01 00 Operation and Maintenance of Exterior Improvements
  • 32 10 00 Bases, Ballasts, and Paving
  • 32 12 16 Asphalt Paving
  • 32 13 13 Concrete Paving
  • 32 14 00 Unit Paving (concrete pavers, clay brick, stone setts, permeable unit pavers)
  • 32 15 00 Aggregate Paving (crushed stone, decomposed granite)
  • 32 30 00 Site Improvements
  • 32 31 00 Fences and Gates (ornamental steel, chain link, timber)
  • 32 32 00 Retaining Walls (segmental retaining walls [SRW], boulder walls, gabion walls)

32 39 00 Manufacture Site Specialties / Site Furnishings (benches, litter receptacles, bicycle racks, tree grates, bollards)

  • 32 80 00 Irrigation
  • 32 84 00 Planting Irrigation (spray heads, drip irrigation, smart controllers, backflow preventers)
  • 32 90 00 Planting
  • 32 91 00 Planting Preparation (soil testing, soil amendments, engineered planting soils)
  • 32 92 00 Turf and Grasses (seeding, hydroseeding, sodding, native meadow establishment)
  • 32 93 00 Exterior Plants (trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennial plugs, wetland emergent plants)
  • 32 96 00 Transplanting (relocation and preservation of existing specimen trees)

Division 33 — Utilities: Covers civil site infrastructure outside the five-foot building line:

  • 33 40 00 Storm Drainage Utilities (area drains, catch basins, culverts, storm piping, underground detention)
  • 33 10 00 Water Utilities (site domestic water distribution, fire service mains)
  • 33 30 00 Sanitary Sewerage Utilities
  • MasterFormat 6-Digit Section Numbering Logic

MasterFormat employs a standardized 6-digit classification system organized into three pairs of two digits, representing increasing levels of specificity: 32 [Level 1: Division] ⟶ 93 [Level 2: Broad Scope] ⟶ 13 [Level 3: Medium Scope] \mathbf{32} \;\text{[Level 1: Division]} \quad \longrightarrow \quad \mathbf{93} \;\text{[Level 2: Broad Scope]} \quad \longrightarrow \quad \mathbf{13} \;\text{[Level 3: Medium Scope]} 32 [Level 1: Division] ⟶ 93 [Level 2: Broad Scope] ⟶ 13 [Level 3: Medium Scope]

For example, in section number 32 93 13 Exterior Trees :

  • 32 represents Division 32 (Exterior Improvements)
  • 93 represents the Broad Scope category (Exterior Plants)
  • 13 represents the Medium Scope topic (Exterior Trees)
  • 2. CSI SectionFormat: The Standardized 3-Part Specification Section

Every individual specification section within the project manual follows CSI SectionFormat , which mandates a three-part structure. This standardization ensures that contractors, estimators, and specifiers locate critical information consistently across all trades. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  • | CSI SECTIONFORMAT: 3-PART STRUCTURE |
  • +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  • | PART 1: GENERAL |
  • | Administrative, procedural, and quality requirements unique to section |
  • +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  • | PART 2: PRODUCTS |
  • | Materials, manufactured items, mixes, fabrications, and approved brands |
  • +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  • | PART 3: EXECUTION |
  • | Substrate inspection, surface preparation, installation, and field QC |
  • +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  • Part 1 — General

Part 1 defines the administrative, legal, and operational parameters governing the work in that specific section:

Section Includes / Summary: Brief summary of the specific work covered.

Related Requirements: References to other related sections (e.g., cross-referencing Section 31 20 00 Earth Moving from Section 32 91 00 Planting Preparation).

References: Consensus industry standards incorporated by reference (e.g., ASTM, ANSI, AASHTO, AmericanHort).

Submittals: Detailed submittal requirements divided into:

Action Submittals: Require formal review and responsive action from the landscape architect before fabrication or procurement (shop drawings, manufacturer product cut sheets, physical material samples).

Informational Submittals: Verifications submitted for the record that do not require design approval (material test reports, certificates of compliance, installer qualification statements, nursery source declarations).

Closeout Submittals: Project record documents (as-builts), operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals, warranty documents.

Quality Assurance: Minimum qualifications for installers (e.g., "Installer shall possess a minimum of 5 consecutive years of documented experience installing commercial segmental retaining walls and hold certification from the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association [CMHA]"), mockups, pre-installation conferences, and regulatory approvals.

Delivery, Storage, and Handling: Protection of materials prior to installation (e.g., protecting bare-root nursery stock from desiccation, storing bagged turf seed in a dry, ventilated enclosure).

Field / Site Conditions: Environmental limitations (e.g., "Do not place asphalt paving when ambient air temperature is below 50°F (10°C) or when base course is wet or frozen").

Warranty: Guarantee provisions extending beyond the standard one-year contract correction period (e.g., specifying a mandatory 1-year full-replacement plant establishment warranty for all trees and shrubs).

Part 2 — Products

Part 2 describes the physical materials, equipment, manufactured items, and assemblies to be incorporated into the work:

Manufacturers / Acceptable Products: Lists acceptable manufacturers and model names (in proprietary specifications) or performance parameters.

Materials: Physical, chemical, and biological properties (e.g., concrete paver compressive strength [minimum 8,000 psi per ASTM C936], aggregate base course gradation per AASHTO M147, organic compost pH range 6.0 to 7.5 and organic matter content > 50%).

Mixes: Engineered formulations proportioned before or during installation (e.g., structural soil mixes [80% crushed angular stone, 20% clay loam by weight, with hydrogel bonding agent], concrete mix designs).

Fabrication & Finishes: Factory fabrication tolerances, weld treatments, powder-coat paint standards, and galvanizing thicknesses (e.g., hot-dip galvanizing per ASTM A123).

Source Quality Control: Quality verifications performed at the source before delivery to the job site (e.g., landscape architect plant tagging at the production nursery, quarry aggregate testing).

Part 3 — Execution

Part 3 establishes on-site installation standards, workmanship tolerances, and field operations:

Examination: Inspection and acceptance of subgrade or substrate conditions before work begins (e.g., "Examine compacted aggregate base course; verify grades and elevations meet specified tolerances prior to installing bedding sand. Do not proceed until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected").

Preparation: Necessary preliminary work (e.g., scarifying subsoil to a depth of 6 inches, moistening planting beds, cleaning slab joints).

Installation / Application / Erection: Detailed, chronological procedures for assembling or installing the work (e.g., paver laying patterns, joint sand sweeping and plate compaction, tree planting pit excavation to 2–3 times root ball width, setting root flare 1–2 inches above finished grade).

Site Tolerances: Permissible physical variances from drawing dimensions (e.g., "Finished concrete pavement surface shall not vary more than 1/4 inch under a 10-foot straightedge").

Field Quality Control: On-site inspection and testing protocols (e.g., field density testing of compacted fill per ASTM D1557 / D698, concrete slump and compressive strength cylinder breaks).

Cleaning and Waste Management: Removal of surplus soil, excess materials, and job site debris.

Demonstration and Training: Operational training provided to the owner's maintenance personnel (e.g., 4 hours of on-site instruction on programming the central irrigation satellite controller).

Protection: Measures to protect installed work from damage by subsequent trades or weather prior to Substantial Completion.