Using UNIFORMAT II
Elsewhere I have suggested this system for organizing a details library and assigning project work. It is based on a GSA system called UNIFORMAT. There are 12 divisions and one level of subdivisions. In the late 1980s the system was updated to UNIFORMAT II. The organization remained similar but the numbering system changed to accommodate more levels of detail. The system was updated again in 2010, and appears to appeal to product manufacturers, BIM databases, and it seems to be similar to UNIFORMAT II except with deeper numbering conventions that tie into the 2004 MASTERFORMAT numbering system for specifications.
Since UNIFORMAT II has been adopted by other national organizations (and since I can't find UNIFORMAT 2010 published free anywhere), I recommend using the second level categories of UNIFORMAT II to categorize details. The numbering system for UNIFORMAT II is shown below. Three levels are shown here. The detail categories are the second levels, e.g. A10, A20, B10, B20... The detail numbering system would use the third level so searching on those numbers would find specific details.
UNIFORMAT II
A SUBSTRUCTURE
A10 Foundations
A1010 Standard Foundations
A1020 Special Foundations
A1030 Slab on Grade
A20 Basement Construction
A2010 Basement Excavations
A2020 Basement Walls
B SHELL
B10 Super Structure
B1010 Floor Construction
B1020 Roof Construction
B20 Exterior Enclosure
B2010 Exterior Walls
B2020 Exterior Windows
B2030 Exterior Doors
B30 Roof
B3010 Roof Coverings
B3020 Roof Openings
C INTERIORS
C10 Interior Construction
C1010 Partitions
C1020 Interior Doors
C1030 Fittings
C20 Stairs
C2010 Stair Construction
C2020 Stair Finishes
C30 Interior Finishes
C3010 Wall Finishes
C3020 Floor Finishes
C3030 Ceiling Finishes
D SERVICES
D10 Conveying
D1010 Elevators & Lifts
D1020 Escalators & Moving Walks
D1090 Other Conveying Systems
D20 Plumbing
D2010 Plumbing Fixtures
D2020 Domestic Water Distribution
D2030 Sanitary Waste
D2040 Rain Water Drainage
D2090 Other Plumbing Systems
D30 HVAC
D3010 Energy Supply
D3020 Heat Generating Systems
D3030 Cooling Generating Systems
D3040 Distribution Systems
D3050 Terminal & Package Units
D3060 Controls & Instrumentation
D3070 Systems Testing & Balancing
D3090 Other HVAC Systems & Equipment
D40 Fire Protection
D4010 Sprinklers
D4020 Standpipes
D4030 Fire Protection Specialties
D4090 Other Fire Protection Systems
D50 Electrical
D5010 Electrical Service & Distribution
D5020 Lighting and Branch Wiring
D5030 Communications & Security
D5090 Other Electrical Systems
E EQUIPMENT & FURNISHINGS
E10 Equipment
E1010 Commercial Equipment
E1020 Institutional Equipment
E1030 Vehicular Equipment
E1090 Other Equipment
E20 Furnishings
E2010 Fixed Furnishings
E2020 Movable Furnishings
F SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION
F10 Special Construction
F1010 Special Structures
F1020 Integrated Construction
F1030 Special Construction Systems
F1040 Special Facilities
F1050 Special Controls & Instrumentation
F20 Selective Building Demolition
F2010 Building Elements Demolition
F2020 Hazardous Components Abatement
G BUILDING SITEWORK
G10 Site Preparation
G1010 Site Clearing
G1020 Site Demolition & Relocations
G1030 Site Earthwork
G1040 Hazardous Waste Remediation
G20 Site Improvements
G2010 Roadways
G2020 Parking Lots
G2030 Pedestrian Paving
G2040 Site Development
G2050 Landscaping
G30 Site Mechanical Utilities
G3010 Water Supply
G3020 Sanitary Sewer
G3030 Storm Sewer
G3040 Heating Distribution
G3050 Cooling Distribution
G3060 Fuel Distribution
G3090 Other Site Mechanical Utilities
G40 Site Electrical Utilities
G4010 Electrical Distribution
G4020 Site Lighting
G4030 Site Communications & Security
G4090 Other Site Electrical Utilities
G90 Other Site Construction
D9010 Service & Pedestrian Tunnels
D9090 Other Site Systems & Equipment