Within CSI’s system for organizing the project manual, the specifications are arranged by MasterFormat®. Administrative and procedural requirements that apply project-wide are located in Division 01 – General Requirements. This division is the bridge between the conditions of the contract and the technical specification Sections in Divisions 02–49.
CSI’s practice guides and CDT content explain that Division 01 is the proper location for:
Requirements for alternates (how they are defined, priced, and documented).
Requirements for project meetings (preconstruction, progress meetings, coordination meetings, etc. – when they occur, who attends, and who keeps minutes).
Requirements and procedures for submittals (types, format, number of copies, review process, resubmittals, and related responsibilities).
These are procedural/administrative items that apply to many or all sections of the work. CSI’s guidance is that such requirements must not be embedded repeatedly in individual technical sections, but instead be centralized in Division 01 and cross-referenced as needed, to ensure consistency and avoid conflicts.
Why the other options are incorrect:
A. Divisions 02-49 – These are the technical specification divisions for materials and systems (sitework, concrete, masonry, finishes, mechanical, electrical, etc.). They may refer to alternates, meetings, or submittals, but they do not establish the overall procedures.
B. The general conditions – General Conditions set out the legal and contractual framework (rights, responsibilities, payment, changes, claims, etc.) between owner and contractor. They are not the primary location for detailed procedures on alternates, meetings, or submittals.
C. The supplementary conditions – Supplementary Conditions modify or add to the General Conditions to address project-specific legal or regulatory issues (local laws, insurance limits, special bonds, etc.), not day-to-day administrative procedures.
Therefore, in CSI-organized construction documents, the correct location for procedural requirements for alternates, project meetings, and submittals is Division 01 – General Requirements, making Option D the correct answer.
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