Common arrangement of work sections classification
The Common Arrangement of Work Sections (CAWS), provides a consistent arrangement for specifications and bills of quantities. For more information see Common Arrangement of Work Sections.
The Common Arrangement of Work Sections sub-classification is listed below:
B: Complete buildings / structures / units
B11 | Prefabricated building units |
B12 | Conservatories |
B13 | Modular buildings |
B14 | Prefabricated panelled constructions |
B15 | Prefabricated framed constructions |
B50 | General structural requirements |
B91 | Buildings in the landscape |
C: Demolition / alteration / renovation
C10 | Site survey |
C11 | Site investigation |
C20 | Demolition |
C30 | Shoring / facade retention |
C40 | Cleaning masonry / cleaning concrete |
C41 | Repairing / renovating / conserving masonry |
C42 | Repairing / renovating / conserving concrete |
C45 | Damp proof course renewal / insertion |
C46 | Cavity wall tie renewal / insertion |
C51 | Repairing / renovating / conserving timber |
C52 | Fungus / beetle eradication |
C90 | Alterations – spot items |
D: Groundwork
D20 | Excavating and filling |
D21 | Ground gas collection and venting systems |
D30 | Piling |
D40 | Embedded retaining walls |
D41 | Crib walls, gabions and other gravity retaining walls |
D45 | Soil nailing |
D50 | Underpinning |
E: In situ concrete / large precast concrete
E05 | In situ concrete construction generally |
E10 | Mixing / casting / curing in situ concrete |
E11 | Sprayed in situ concrete |
E20 | Formwork for in situ concrete |
E30 | Reinforcement for in situ concrete |
E40 | Designed joints in in situ concrete |
E41 | Worked finishes to in situ concrete |
E42 | Accessories cast into in situ concrete |
E60 | Precast / composite concrete floors / roof decks |
F: Masonry
F10 | Brick / block walling |
F11 | Glass block walling |
F20 | Natural stone rubble walling |
F21 | Natural stone / ashlar walling / dressings |
F22 | Cast stone ashlar walling / dressings |
F30 | Accessories / sundry items for brick / block / stone walling |
F31 | Precast concrete sills / lintels / copings / features |
F42 | Straw bale walling systems |
G: Structural / carcassing metal / timber
G10 | Structural steel framing |
G11 | Structural aluminium framing |
G12 | Isolated structural metal members |
G13 | LSF Light Steel Frame |
G20 | Carpentry/Timber framing/First fixing |
G21 | Load-bearing timber blockwork |
G22 | CLTP Cross Laminated timber panel systems |
G23 | Post and Beam frames |
G24 | Laminated timber frames |
G25 | LTF Light Timber Frames |
G26 | SIPS Structural Insulated Panel Systems |
G27 | ISPS insulated structural panel systems |
G28 | Dowelled/Nailed stacked wood panel systems |
G3 | Metal/ Timber decking |
G30 | Metal profiled sheet decking |
G31 | Prefabricated timber unit decking |
G32 | Edge supported/Reinforced woodwool slab decking |
H: Cladding / covering
J10 | Cementitious mortar tanking / damp proofing |
J20 | Mastic asphalt tanking / damp proofing |
J21 | Mastic asphalt roofing / insulation / finishes |
J30 | Liquid applied tanking / damp proofing |
J31 | Liquid applied waterproof roof coatings |
J40 | Flexible sheet waterproofing / damp proofing |
J41 | Reinforced bitumen membrane roof coverings |
J42 | Single layer polymeric sheet roof coverings |
J44 | Sheet linings for pools / lakes / waterways |
K: Linings / sheathing / dry partitioning
K10 | Plasterboard dry linings / partitions / ceilings |
K11 | Rigid sheet flooring / sheathing / decking / sarking / linings / casings |
K12 | Under perlin / Inside rail panel linings |
K13 | Rigid sheet fine linings and panelling |
K20 | Timber board flooring / sarking / linings / casings |
K21 | Wood strip /board fine flooring / linings |
K30 | Panel partitions |
K32 | Panel cubicles / duct and wall linings / screens |
K40 | Demountable suspended ceilings |
K41 | Raised access floors |
K45 | Suspended ceiling system alterations |
K46 | Raised floor system alterations |
L10 | Windows / rooflights / screens / louvres |
L20 | Doors / shutters / hatches |
L30 | Stairs / ladders / walkways / handrails / balustrades |
L35 | Fixed utilitarian access systems |
L40 | General glazing |
M10 | Cement based levelling / wearing screeds |
M11 | Mastic asphalt flooring / floor underlays |
M12 | Resin flooring |
M13 | Calcium sulfate based levelling screeds |
M20 | Plastered / rendered / roughcast coatings |
M21 | Insulation with rendered finish |
M22 | Sprayed monolithic coatings |
M30 | Metal lathing / anchored mesh reinforcement for plastered / rendered coatings |
M40 | Stone / concrete / quarry / ceramic tiling / mosaic |
M41 | Terrazzo tiling / In situ terrazzo |
M42 | Wood block / composition block / mosaic parquet flooring |
M50 | Rubber / plastics / cork / lino / carpet tiling / sheeting |
M51 | Edge fixed carpeting |
M52 | Decorative papers / fabrics |
M60 | Painting / clear finishing |
M61 | Intumescent coatings for fire protection of steelwork |
N10 | General fixtures / furnishings / equipment |
N11 | Domestic kitchen fittings, furnishings and equipment |
N12 | Commercial catering fittings, furnishings and equipment |
N13 | Sanitary appliances and fittings |
N14 | General internal signage systems |
N15 | Internal fire and safety signage systems |
N16 | Bird and vermin control systems |
N17 | Portable fire fighting systems |
N25 | Permanent access and safety equipment |
N91 | External signage and interpretation |
P10 | Sundry insulation / proofing work |
P11 | Foamed / fibre / bead cavity wall insulation |
P12 | Fire stopping systems |
P20 | Unframed isolated trims / skirtings / sundry items |
P21 | Door / window ironmongery |
P30 | Trenches, pipeways and pits for buried engineering services |
P31 | Holes, chases, covers and supports for services |
Q: Paving / planting / fencing / site furniture
Q10 | Kerbs / edgings / channels / paving accessories |
Q20 | Granular sub-bases to roads / pavings |
Q21 | In situ concrete roads / pavings / bases |
Q22 | Asphalt roads / pavings |
Q23 | Gravel / hoggin / woodchip / resin bound roads / pavings / overlays |
Q24 | Interlocking brick / block roads / pavings |
Q25 | Slab / brick / sett / cobble pavings |
Q26 | Special surfacings / pavings for sport / general amenity |
Q28 | Topsoil and soil ameliorants |
Q30 | Seeding / turfing |
Q31 | External planting |
Q32 | Internal and artificial planting |
Q35 | Landscape maintenance |
Q37 | Green roofs |
Q40 | Fencing |
Q41 | Barriers / guardrails |
Q50 | Site / street furniture / equipment |
Q52 | Play and sports equipment |
Q55 | External decks, boardwalks and bridges |
R10 | Rainwater drainage systems |
R11 | Above ground foul drainage systems |
R12 | Below ground drainage systems |
R13 | Land drainage |
R16 | Groundwater pressure relief drainage |
R17 | Soakaway, septic tank and sewage treatment units |
R18 | Pumping stations and pressure pipelines |
S14 | Irrigation |
S15 | Fountains / water features |
S17 | Water reclamation systems |
S90 | Hot and cold water supply systems - domestic |
S91 | Natural gas supply systems - domestic |
S92 | Sprinkler systems - domestic |
T: Mechanical heating / cooling / refrigeration systems
T90 | Heating systems - domestic |
U: Ventilation / air conditioning systems
U90 | General ventilation - domestic |
V: Electrical supply / power / lighting systems
V90 | Electrical systems - domestic |
V91 | Electrical systems - landscape |
W: Communications / security / control systems
W53 | Assistance call systems |
W90 | Communications and security systems - domestic |
X12 | Vertical platform lift systems |
X13 | Inclined stairlift systems |
Z: Building fabric reference specification
Z10 | Purpose made joinery |
Z11 | Purpose made metalwork |
Z12 | Preservative / fire retardant treatment |
Z20 | Fixings and adhesives |
Z21 | Mortars |
Z22 | Sealants |
Z31 | Powder coatings |
Z33 | Anodizing |
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bills of quantities.
- BIM classification.
- Classification systems.
- Common arrangement of work sections.
- Comparison of SMM7 with NRM2.
- Construction Project Information Committee.
- Elemental cost plan.
- How to take off construction works.
- New Rules of Measurement.
- Preliminaries.
- Production information.
- Specifications.
- Standard Method of Measurement (SMM7).
- Uniclass.
Featured articles and news
Government consultations for the summer of 2025
A year of Labour, past and present consultations on the environment, the built environment, training and tax.
CMA competitiveness probe of major housing developers
100 million affordable housing contributions committed with further consultation published.
Homes England supports Greencore Homes
42 new build affordable sustainable homes in Oxfordshire.
Zero carbon social housing: unlocking brownfield potential
Seven ZEDpod strategies for brownfield housing success.
CIOB report; a blueprint for SDGs and the built environment
Pairing the Sustainable Development Goals with projects.
Types, tests, standards and fires relating to external cladding
Brief descriptions with an extensive list of fires for review.
Latest Build UK Building Safety Regime explainer published
Key elements in one short, now updated document.
UKGBC launch the UK Climate Resilience Roadmap
First guidance of its kind on direct climate impacts for the built environment and how it can adapt.
CLC Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy 2025
Launched by the Minister for Industry to look at fatalities on site, improving mental health and other issues.
One of the most impressive Victorian architects. Book review.
Common Assessment Standard now with building safety
New CAS update now includes mandatory building safety questions.
RTPI leader to become new CIOB Chief Executive Officer
Dr Victoria Hills MRTPI, FICE to take over after Caroline Gumble’s departure.
Social and affordable housing, a long term plan for delivery
The “Delivering a Decade of Renewal for Social and Affordable Housing” strategy sets out future path.
A change to adoptive architecture
Effects of global weather warming on architectural detailing, material choice and human interaction.
The proposed publicly owned and backed subsidiary of Homes England, to facilitate new homes.
How big is the problem and what can we do to mitigate the effects?
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
A number of cool guides to help with the heat.
The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy: A 10 year plan
Previous consultation criticism, current key elements and general support with some persisting reservations.
Building Safety Regulator reforms
New roles, new staff and a new fast track service pave the way for a single construction regulator.