diff --git a/src/ifc5d/README.md b/src/ifc5d/README.md
index cd7fa2ab1b..c0d7d7f298 100644
--- a/src/ifc5d/README.md
+++ b/src/ifc5d/README.md
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ See example files as a CSV file format reference:
 Some notes on the format:
 - Empty lines are ignored.
 - Importing ods/xlsx is not currently supported, only csv.
+- 'Hierarchy' is just an informational column that doesn't affect the import.  
+E.g. '1', '1.1', '1.1.1', etc.
+- 'Index' column is a hierarchy depth that's used for building hierarchy during csv import, starting from 1.  
+E.g. root items of the same level have index '1', their children have '2', etc.
+- 'Index' was preferred for import hierarchy source over 'Hierarchy' as it's easier to edit from the table view.
 
 ## Usage IFC to CSV, ODS, XSLS
 
diff --git a/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/csv2ifc.py b/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/csv2ifc.py
index 8ef2208107..6a04a630e5 100644
--- a/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/csv2ifc.py
+++ b/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/csv2ifc.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from typing import Any, Union, Optional, TypedDict, NotRequired
 
 
 class CsvHeader(TypedDict):
+    Index: int
     Name: int
     Quantity: int
     Unit: int
@@ -86,13 +87,16 @@ class Csv2Ifc:
         locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, "")  # set the system locale
         non_sor_fields = {"Property", "Query"}
 
+        # TODO: 25-04-17 Deprecated 0 indices, should fully remove later.
+        min_index = None
+
         with open(self.csv, "r", encoding="utf-8") as csv_file:
             reader = csv.reader(csv_file)
             for row in reader:
                 if not row[0]:
                     continue
                 # parse header
-                if row[0] == "Hierarchy":
+                if not self.headers:
                     self.has_categories = True
                     for i, col in enumerate(row):
                         if not col:
@@ -129,12 +133,18 @@ class Csv2Ifc:
 
                     continue
                 cost_data = self.get_row_cost_data(row)
-                hierarchy_key = int(row[0])
-                if hierarchy_key == 1:
+                index = int(row[self.headers["Index"]])
+                if min_index is None and index in (0, 1):
+                    if index == 0:
+                        print(
+                            "WARNING. Indices in csv table start from 0, they should start from 1. It will be deprecated soon completely."
+                        )
+                    min_index = index
+                if index == min_index:
                     self.cost_items.append(cost_data)
                 else:
-                    parents[hierarchy_key - 1]["children"].append(cost_data)
-                parents[hierarchy_key] = cost_data
+                    parents[index - 1]["children"].append(cost_data)
+                parents[index] = cost_data
 
     def get_row_cost_data(self, row: list[str]) -> CostItem:
         name = row[self.headers["Name"]]
diff --git a/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/ifc5Dspreadsheet.py b/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/ifc5Dspreadsheet.py
index a670d423aa..17d005106b 100644
--- a/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/ifc5Dspreadsheet.py
+++ b/src/ifc5d/ifc5d/ifc5Dspreadsheet.py
@@ -160,9 +160,8 @@ class IfcDataGetter:
     @staticmethod
     def get_cost_items_data(file: ifcopenshell.file, schedule: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) -> list[CostItem]:
         cost_items_data: list[CostItem] = []
-        index = 0
         for cost_item in IfcDataGetter.get_root_costs(schedule):
-            IfcDataGetter.process_cost_data(file, cost_item, cost_items_data, index)
+            IfcDataGetter.process_cost_data(file, cost_item, cost_items_data)
         return cost_items_data
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/src/ifc5d/rates.csv b/src/ifc5d/rates.csv
index 824084c52b..de91f1294c 100644
--- a/src/ifc5d/rates.csv
+++ b/src/ifc5d/rates.csv
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"Hierarchy","Identification","Name","Quantity","Unit","Value"
+"Index","Identification","Name","Quantity","Unit","Value"
 1,1,"Rates",,,
 ,,,,,
 2,1.1,"Category A",,,
diff --git a/src/ifc5d/sample_cost_schedule_house_FR.csv b/src/ifc5d/sample_cost_schedule_house_FR.csv
index de9da092a4..6be7d7a39a 100644
--- a/src/ifc5d/sample_cost_schedule_house_FR.csv
+++ b/src/ifc5d/sample_cost_schedule_house_FR.csv
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Hierarchy,Identification,Name,Quantity,Unit,Contract,Rate,Material Rate,Labor Rate,Subtotal,Property,Query
+Index,Identification,Name,Quantity,Unit,Contract,Rate,Material Rate,Labor Rate,Subtotal,Property,Query
 1,DB,Design and build,,,,,,,,,
 2,DB.1,Design,,,,,,,,,
 3,DB.1.1,Architecte,1,unit,40000,,,,40000,,
diff --git a/src/ifc5d/schedule.csv b/src/ifc5d/schedule.csv
index c57458bee9..fcf243d095 100644
--- a/src/ifc5d/schedule.csv
+++ b/src/ifc5d/schedule.csv
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"Hierarchy","Identification","Name","Quantity","Unit","Foo","Bar","Baz","Subtotal"
+"Index","Identification","Name","Quantity","Unit","Foo","Bar","Baz","Subtotal"
 1,1,"Demolition",,,,,,301
 ,,,,,,,,
 2,1.1,"Building A",,,,,,96