Maybe you are an architect or an engineer wanting a digital specification solution?
Maybe you are a client wanting to receive record specifications and audit trails in a structured data format?
Maybe you are a construction manufacturer wanting to be specified more?
If so, then watch the video below to get a 60 seconds introduction to NBS...
If, you then want to know more, then the on-demand webinar below is a slightly deeper dive 30 minutes(ish) presentation on NBS from myself...
As we're approaching the end of the year, I thought I'd look back on 2020 and blog about what we've been up to at NBS.
Let's look at things in three sections 1. NBS Chorus, 2. NBS Source and 3. Other activity.
We expected NBS Chorus usage to grow steadily this year, but nobody could have predicted by how much. With the majority of our users being forced to work from home, the industry moved away from installed software to cloud software. As a result, we end the year with the majority of those previously using NBS Building and NBS Create now using NBS Chorus for their specification writing.
We recognised that this was the future and we are now retiring our desktop products and focusing all attention on our cloud platforms. Some of the biggest features are looked at below...
All of the specifications published now are stored in the cloud. Each publication has defined meta data that aligns to the ISO 19650 framework (suitability, revisions, container ID...). Within each specification all items can be classified to Uniclass 2015 and new, amended and deleted requirements are clearly highlighted.
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| A record of all specifications issued on a project |
Further information - https://support.thenbs.com/support/solutions/folders/7000042806
Last year we implemented the ability to import an NBS Create specification for use in NBS Chorus with the Uniclass 2015 classification. In 2020 we implemented the same process to allow NBS Building specifications to be imported retaining their CAWS classifications.
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| Traditional NBS specifications - a more modern version of Building in the cloud |
Further information - https://support.thenbs.com/support/solutions/folders/7000043439
Content is king. But how the content looks is also pretty important, We've learnt over the years that designers want their documentation, drawings and specification to have the same presentation. By introducing templates into Chorus, users can present their specifications to look as they wish.
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| Customer title and cover pages and logos, styles and header-footers |
Further information - https://support.thenbs.com/support/solutions/folders/7000043430
We recognise that for jobs of a more simple nature that all of the NBS specification and guidance content is not needed. We introduced a lower price Chorus offering for the smaller practices. Small Works comes with one simple content set, but is still offered in the Chorus 1 or Chorus 2 feature package as we recognise that smaller practices still utilise the best technology.
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| Chorus small works |
Further information - https://www.thenbs.com/nbs-chorus/small-works
In 2019 we worked with partners Autodesk and Archicad to launch NBS Chorus plug-ins. As many of the smaller practices use Vectorworks, it was great to be able to adapt the plug-in to work seamlessly with that design tool too in 2020.
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| Great seeing NBS Chorus embedded in the leading design tools |
Further information - https://support.thenbs.com/support/solutions/folders/7000043018
We'd realised that the way we presented our manufacturer product information needed a refresh. Having case studies and literature in RIBA Product Selector, specifications in NBS Plus and digital objects in NBS National BIM Library was a disjointed approach. With NBS Source we brought simplicity and a new offering within a single modern web platform.
Having our product teams focus on only two platforms allowed us to deliver lots of value throughout the year. This will continue throughout 2021. Some of the biggest features from 2020 are below...
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| All the great search features that users are used to from sites like Amazon, Ebay, Autotrader etc... |
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| The technical information specifiers need |
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| Manufacturer technical details aligned to the NBS generic specification structure |
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| Relevant information linked together - products, case studies, catalogues, certificates... |
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| A self-serve platform and QA process to manage the data in the NBS Source system |
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| The UK Construction Minister speaking at the main NBS event, and one or two others... |
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| The key topics on every project |
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| Designers and manufacturers working collaboratively in the cloud |
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| Uniclass continuing to grow |
This blog posts builds on an article I wrote for theNBS.com - Specifications and classifications
https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/specifications-and-classification
There are a number of use cases for classify assets/things, for example:
But with roughly half of the industry choosing CAWS and half choosing Uniclass 2015, the question often arises, do they map? and if so how?
In our latest release of NBS Source, all manufacturer systems and products with specifications information now have both Uniclass 2015 codes and CAWS codes.
Some examples below showing the mapping. Starting with a simple examples and then gradually showing more complex examples.
1. Simple example
One of the aims behind the Uniclass 2015 project was to have a single classification to represent each 'thing' in the built environment. So one classification for a Secondary School (Co_25_10_77) down to one classification for an Interactive Whiteboard (Pr_40_30_25_42).
So in CAWS, is it the same and there is a nice one to one mapping?
Not quite, but almost so in the most simple examples. Consider a daylight pipe.
Source example - https://nbs.fyi/M8wKaK
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| Simple example - Daylight Pipe |
There is a one-to-one mapping between Pr_30_59_72_21 Daylight pipes and L10/495 Daylight pipe.
Moving up a level in the tree L10 groups Windows/ rooflights/ screens/ louvres and Pr_30_59_72 groups Rooflights with Pr_30_59 grouping all Openings and opening component products.
By clicking on the classification reference in Source then similar products may be viewed.
- Rooflights filtered to show only daylight pipes
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| Grouping different types of rooflights together |
But this is a one-to-two mapping! What is L10/52 Daylight pipes?
This is the simplified clause in L10 used in the Small Works library. For legacy reasons, there are many products with multiple CAWS references with a specification clause for more complex work and one for more simple work.
2. Not quite as simple example
The second example is a concrete roof tile.
Source example: https://nbs.fyi/awY4MC
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| Not quite as simple - a concrete roof tile |
In this example, Uniclass 2015 is simple - one code for one physical product. But CAWS unfortunately has a clause for concrete roof tiling and another one for concrete roof tiling with counterbattens. Then, in addition, there are small works versions of both of these.
So analysing 'big data' across many projects with CAWS would need a look up of for four codes.
With Uniclass 2015, a client need look up just one.
Again, the parent groupings allow similar products to be quickly viewed.
View concrete interlocking tiles within the parent category of roof and cladding units
3. Complex example
The most complex example can be seen with products that can be used with many systems. The way CAWS references evolved over time means that there can be a huge number of relevant reference codes. However, with Uniclass 2015 there is only a single code in the majority of cases.
In this final example we will look at lime mortar
Source example: https://nbs.fyi/IW6SQo
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| Complex example - one to many |
When the CAWS content was developed, computers were barely used and we lived in a paper world. Now we have modelling tools that can create a link between a parent system and a child product (such as NBS Chorus) or a parent space and a child system (such as Archicad/Revit). So each thing can have a single code and the modelling tool can digitally give the context.
The screenshots below shows one type of lime mortar being used by two different systems. But specified once. By specifying once it makes procurement easier and when potentially defending specification decisions gives context. For clients that want build a digital estate - it makes data querying achievable.
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| Masonry system A linking to the mortar product |
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| Masonry system B linking to the same mortar product |
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| The product specified once - but with clear context shown |
To view the mappings, explore NBS Source (free-to-industry):
- https://source.thenbs.com/
To specify to the Uniclass 2015 structure, CAWS structure use NBS Chorus (subscription):
- https://www.thenbs.com/nbs-chorus
To watch a video to learn more about NBS offerings - click below:
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| The information platform for the construction industry |
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| Searching for 'window', then filtering to show composite windows from Velfac that have digital objects |
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| Selecting three products to compare |
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| Comparing the technical features of the selected products |
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| Discover a PDF brochure or case study, then jump to the technical data about the relevant products |
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| Viewing insulated panels within the context of the 'sibling' classifications |
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| Using the Uniclass terminology and structure - but with the codes in the background |
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| As you type your third letter, search categories, manufacturers and products are suggested |
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| ...and if you know the product you want, just type in its reference |
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| For any item on the site - click to get the permalink |
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| Third party certification will be a primary search filter (left of screen) |
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| Each manufacturer product's specification will be aligned to the NBS specification clause definitions |
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| A single manufacturer product platform from NBS |
Throughout the day there were a number of inspiring speakers. A combination of Government Advisors and leaders from the construction industry. A clear message was presented. The construction industry must become more productive, it must become greener and it must become safer and standardized digitized information and tools will play a big part enabling this.
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| The potential behind digitising the construction industry |
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| What specifiers need from manufacturers |
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| A number of current solutions developed by NBS - being brought into a combined platform |
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| Standardized terminology across manufacturer products |
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| Terminology that has been defined in the construction standards |
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| Software demo |
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| Find. Select. Specify |
