CSI Division

CSI Division 26 Electrical: section numbers and submittal deviations

What gets flagged between a Division 26 Electrical 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.

By Deviation Check Editorial Team. Last reviewed June 1, 2026.

Short answer

Electrical is Division 26 in CSI MasterFormat, so its section numbers start with 26. Common sections include 26 22 00 Low-Voltage Transformers, 26 24 16 Panelboards, and 26 24 19 Motor-Control Centers. Its submittals deviate most often on product substitutions, performance ratings, and missing certifications.

Division 26 covers electrical systems in commercial construction: power distribution, lighting, communications raceways, grounding, overcurrent protection, wiring devices, and related equipment. Common CSI sections submitted for review:

Division 26 Electrical CSI section numbers

Division 26 Electrical spec sections frequently submitted for review:

Representative Division 26 CSI MasterFormat sections
Section	Title
`26 05 00`	Common Work Results for Electrical
`26 05 19`	Low-Voltage Electrical Power Conductors and Cables
`26 05 33`	Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems
`26 05 53`	Identification for Electrical Systems
`26 09 23`	Lighting Control Devices
`26 22 00`	Low-Voltage Transformers
`26 24 16`	Panelboards
`26 24 19`	Motor-Control Centers
`26 27 26`	Wiring Devices
`26 28 16`	Enclosed Switches and Circuit Breakers
`26 29 13`	Enclosed Controllers
`26 32 13`	Engine Generators
`26 33 53`	Static Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
`26 36 23`	Automatic Transfer Switches
`26 41 00`	Facility Lightning Protection
`26 51 13`	Interior Lighting Fixtures

Sending a Division 26 package? Run the free Division 26 pre-submittal checklist first. It prints or downloads as a PDF, no email required.

The six deviation categories in Division 26 Electrical

Every issue Deviation Check flags maps to one of six categories. Here is how each appears in Division 26 Electrical 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.

Electrical equipment specs frequently name manufacturers with specific catalog numbers (e.g., "Square D QO130, or approved equal"). Submittals often propose alternative brands (Eaton, Siemens, ABB, GE) without an approved equal letter. Look for:

Manufacturer or Product Substitution in Division 26 Electrical 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 electrical submittals:

Performance Specification Gap in Division 26 Electrical 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 electrical submittals:

Missing Certification or Compliance Documentation in Division 26 Electrical submittals →

Aesthetic Deviation

Fix and Resubmit A visible attribute (color, finish, texture, profile) differs from the spec or the architect-approved sample.

Less common in electrical but applies to:

Aesthetic Deviation in Division 26 Electrical 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 26 Electrical 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 26 specs:

Submittal Package Incompleteness in Division 26 Electrical submittals →

How Division 26 deviations are graded

Each finding is graded Blocker, Fix and Resubmit, or Note. Division 26 escalation rules:

Any SCCR or AIC rating below spec requirement: Always BLOCKER (life-safety - explosion/fire risk)
Voltage mismatch: Always BLOCKER (equipment damage, electrocution risk)
Missing UL/ETL listing: Always BLOCKER (NEC requirement, code violation)
Wire gauge undersized vs spec: BLOCKER (fire risk per NEC)
NEMA enclosure rating lower than spec: BLOCKER if outdoor or wet location, FIX_AND_RESUBMIT if indoor dry location
Missing arc flash study: BLOCKER (OSHA/NFPA 70E compliance)
Lighting CCT or CRI mismatch: FIX_AND_RESUBMIT (aesthetic, not safety)
Missing DLC listing for lighting: FIX_AND_RESUBMIT (energy code compliance, not life-safety)

Run a Division 26 submittal review

Upload a Division 26 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 26 checklist.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CSI code for electrical?

Electrical is CSI MasterFormat Division 26, and every section number in it starts with 26. Common sections include 26 22 00 Low-Voltage Transformers, 26 24 16 Panelboards, 26 24 19 Motor-Control Centers, 26 27 26 Wiring Devices, and 26 28 16 Enclosed Switches and Circuit Breakers. Type any number into the CSI division lookup to decode it.

What is Division 26 Electrical in construction?

What are the most common deviations in Division 26 Electrical 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 26 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.