CSI Division
CSI Division 03 Concrete: section numbers and submittal deviations
What gets flagged between a Division 03 Concrete spec section and the submittal package, why it matters, and how each deviation is graded, so you can catch it before you send the package or before you approve it.
Short answer
Concrete is Division 03 in CSI MasterFormat, so its section numbers start with 03. Common sections include 03 10 00 Concrete Forming and Accessories, 03 15 00 Concrete Accessories, and 03 20 00 Concrete Reinforcing. Its submittals deviate most often on product substitutions, performance ratings, and missing certifications.
Division 03 covers concrete work in commercial construction: formwork, reinforcing, cast-in-place concrete, precast, grout, and related accessories. Common CSI sections submitted for review:
Division 03 Concrete CSI section numbers
Division 03 Concrete spec sections frequently submitted for review:
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
03 10 00 | Concrete Forming and Accessories |
03 15 00 | Concrete Accessories (waterstops, vapor retarders, joint fillers) |
03 20 00 | Concrete Reinforcing |
03 21 00 | Reinforcement Bars |
03 22 00 | Welded Wire Reinforcement |
03 24 00 | Fibrous Reinforcing |
03 30 00 | Cast-in-Place Concrete |
03 31 00 | Structural Concrete |
03 35 00 | Concrete Finishing |
03 39 00 | Concrete Curing |
03 40 00 | Precast Concrete |
03 41 00 | Precast Structural Concrete |
03 45 00 | Precast Architectural Concrete |
03 48 00 | Precast Concrete Specialties |
03 54 00 | Cast Underlayment |
03 60 00 | Grouting |
Sending a Division 03 package? Run the free Division 03 pre-submittal checklist first. It prints or downloads as a PDF, no email required.
The six deviation categories in Division 03 Concrete
Every issue Deviation Check flags maps to one of six categories. Here is how each appears in Division 03 Concrete submittals, with the full guide one click away.
Manufacturer or Product Substitution
Blocker The submittal proposes a different manufacturer or product than the spec names, without an approved or-equal or substitution request.
Concrete specs frequently name specific ready-mix producers, precast fabricators, and specialty product manufacturers. Look for:
Manufacturer or Product Substitution in Division 03 Concrete submittals →
Performance Specification Gap
Blocker A measurable performance property in the submittal (rating, capacity, tolerance, efficiency) does not meet what the spec requires.
Key performance parameters in concrete submittals:
Performance Specification Gap in Division 03 Concrete submittals →
Missing Certification or Compliance Documentation
Fix and Resubmit A required listing, test report, certification, or compliance document is absent from the submittal package.
Required certifications in concrete submittals:
Missing Certification or Compliance Documentation in Division 03 Concrete submittals →
Aesthetic Deviation
Fix and Resubmit A visible attribute (color, finish, texture, profile) differs from the spec or the architect-approved sample.
Applies primarily to architectural concrete:
Aesthetic Deviation in Division 03 Concrete submittals →
Detail or Installation Mismatch
Fix and Resubmit The submitted detail, dimension, anchorage, or installation method differs from what the spec or drawings require.
Detail or Installation Mismatch in Division 03 Concrete submittals →
Submittal Package Incompleteness
Fix and Resubmit A required submittal element (cut sheet, schedule, calculation, sample) is missing, leaving the package unreviewable as submitted.
Commonly required items in Div 03 specs:
Submittal Package Incompleteness in Division 03 Concrete submittals →
How Division 03 deviations are graded
Each finding is graded Blocker, Fix and Resubmit, or Note. Division 03 escalation rules:
- Compressive strength (f'c) below spec requirement: BLOCKER (structural capacity, building code)
- Rebar grade below spec: BLOCKER (structural capacity per ACI 318)
- Missing ACI 318 compliance: BLOCKER (building code requirement)
- Chloride content exceeds limit for reinforced concrete: BLOCKER (corrosion/durability, ACI 318)
- W/cm ratio exceeds maximum for exposure class: BLOCKER (durability per ACI 318 Table 19.3.2)
- Air content outside range for freeze-thaw exposure: BLOCKER (durability, ACI 318)
- Missing PCI certification for precast fabricator: BLOCKER (quality assurance for structural precast)
- Missing mill certificates for reinforcing steel: FIX_AND_RESUBMIT (traceability)
- Concrete cover below ACI 318 minimum: BLOCKER (durability and fire resistance)
- Form finish class mismatch for architectural concrete: FIX_AND_RESUBMIT (aesthetic)
- Missing cold/hot weather plan where spec requires: FIX_AND_RESUBMIT (quality assurance)
- Fiber dosage below spec minimum: FIX_AND_RESUBMIT (crack control)
Run a Division 03 submittal review
Upload a Division 03 spec section and your submittal package before you send it, and get a one-page deviation report in under five minutes, so the package goes through the first time. GC reviewers use it the same way on a package that just arrived. Before that, work through the free Division 03 checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CSI code for concrete?
Concrete is CSI MasterFormat Division 03, and every section number in it starts with 03. Common sections include 03 10 00 Concrete Forming and Accessories, 03 15 00 Concrete Accessories, 03 20 00 Concrete Reinforcing, 03 21 00 Reinforcement Bars, and 03 22 00 Welded Wire Reinforcement. Type any number into the CSI division lookup to decode it.
What is Division 03 Concrete in construction?
Division 03 covers concrete work in commercial construction: formwork, reinforcing, cast-in-place concrete, precast, grout, and related accessories. In a CSI MasterFormat spec, its sections carry the submittal and product requirements a Division 03 package is reviewed against.
What are the most common deviations in Division 03 Concrete submittals?
The most common are product or manufacturer substitutions, performance specification gaps, and missing certification or compliance documentation. Deviation Check sorts every finding into one of six categories.
How are Division 03 deviations graded?
Each finding is graded Blocker (resolve before approval), Fix and Resubmit (correct and re-send before fabrication or install), or Note (acceptable with a comment).
View this page as Markdown for LLMs and note-taking.