NBS develops standard specification system for building services
A specification system for engineering services has been developed by NBS, part of RIBA Enterprises. Written specifically for the sector by an expert team of in-house engineers, NBS Engineering Services is based on the same methods used by over 25 000 building-fabric specifiers who already use the NBS. It brings 30 years of experience to the £30 billion building-services market. NBS Engineering Services is a computer-based system that enables users to produce clear, concise and comprehensive engineering-services specifications. It is aimed at professionals across all parts of the building-services sector, from consultants, contractors and design-and-build to product manufacturers, multi-disciplinary firms and sole practitioners. The system provides a library of pre-written specification clauses. They are updated quarterly and can be edited on screen to meet individual project requirements. Extensive guidance is provided to help users produce specifications with the high levels of accuracy and detail they require. Drop-down lists and pre-edited manufacturers’ product information enables clauses to be completed quickly and easily. There are links to Building Regulations Approved Documents and the Construction Information Service. There are two versions of NBS Engineering Services. The abridged services is suitable for domestic, residential, commercial and light-industrial projects; it is available now. The full service containing specialist material for healthcare, large industrial and more complex projects will follow. Richard Waterhouse, managing director at NBS, says, ‘Badly written specification clauses can cause major problems for clients, contractors and every member of a design team, whereas clear, detailed documents can facilitate savings in terms of both cost and time. ‘Adding the specification expertise we have developed over the last 30 years to our engineering team’s hands-on sector experience has enabled us to create a system which will make a tangible, commercial difference to engineering-services projects.’ Annual subscriptions to NBS Engineering Services start at £580 plus VAT for a single licence. A series of events takes place through the Autumn, beginning with Bristol on 7 September. More details from the web site.
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