Financial summary and NBS Chorus small works

When specifying on small works projects where the contract does not support the use of bills of quantities then it can be useful to create a financial summary based on the content of the specification (see article on our website for further reading).

This financial summary can be used for a number of purposes.

• Prior to tender - to break down any cost estimate to the client
• Prior to construction - to compare tenders
• Prior to completion - to assess valuations and as a base of agreeing the price of any variations

Figure one shows how to generate a Financial Summary from NBS Chorus:
(Click the images below for larger versions)

Figure 1 - Generating a Financial Summary from NBS Chorus 

In Figure 2 below, it can be seen that each section in the specification is listed as a row in the exported spreadsheet. The total value at the base of the spreadsheet automatically adds the values of each row.

Figure 2 - The Financial Summary

A second worksheet is also produced with a list of all clauses in the specification. Any of these items can easily be copied across to the main worksheet if costs need broken down at a finer level - for example of plastic and timber windows need priced separately within L10.

Figure 3 - a list of all content

And finally, great to see some positive feedback immediately on social media for this development. The screenshot below shows how Jeremy Foster takes this exported information and copies it straight into his template for managing costs on his small works projects.

Figure 4 - Further manipulation of the spreadsheet in post processing

To read more about NBS for small works please see the links below:

• NBS Chorus for Small Works
  https://www.thenbs.com/nbs-chorus/small-works
  
  
• J FOSTER ARCHITECTS - small practice case study
  https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/customer-success-story-j-foster-architects
  
  
• Mulroy Architects - moving from Scheduler to Chorus
  https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/mulroy-architects-moving-from-scheduler-to-chorus

New Small Practice BIM publication from NBS

The new BIM publication from NBS and edited by Robert Klaschka "BIM in Small Practices: Illustrated Case Studies" is now available.
- http://www.ribabookshops.com/item/bim-in-small-practices-illustrated-case-studies/80471/

Robert has over 15 years experience working in the UK and Europe in architecture and design and is a real thought leader in terms of Building Information Modelling. The relationship between Robert and NBS goes back to when he was a member of our very first Advisory Panel.

The publication contains a number of illustrated case studies. As part of this year's National BIM Report we did a feature on some of these practices. Within this piece previewing the publication I also gave my two pennies worth on the issue on BIM and the Small Practice...

Each year, the NBS National BIM Report presents the findings, across the UK construction industry,

Mr K

regarding BIM attitudes and adoption. However, looking a little deeper at the findings, we can see that there is a split in results between those from small practices (five employees or less) and the rest.

An example of this can be seen by looking at the questions on BIM awareness and BIM experience. In small practices, 35% were using BIM, compared to 61% usage in larger practices. With respect to BIM maturity, of those small practices which have adopted BIM, 35% have worked on a Level 2 project, compared to 55% in larger practices.

So, why is this the case? Speculating on the reasons behind these findings, it may be that it is more difficult for smaller practices to find the funds to invest in technology and training; it may be that there is less client demand or that the central UK Government mandate is less relevant; or it may be that collaboration is less important on projects of a less complex nature.

However, there is evidence to the contrary, indicating that adopting BIM should actually be easier for a smaller practice. Smaller organisations often have agility, whereas larger organisations often do not. The analogy ‘Is it easier for a speedboat to change direction or an ocean liner?’ is often used here. In addition, it is argued that BIM offers the opportunity for a smaller number of people working on a project to offer greater value.

Eight short opinion pieces are included here from those working in small or medium practices who have adopted a BIM process. They provide good insights into what is possible for those who embrace new technology and processes to put together more coordinated designs.

Click image for larger view - preview in this year's BIM Report

The publication also has contributions from John Enyon and Dave Philp and a section on the UK BIM community from Stefan Mordue and Rebecca de Cicco.

Mordue and Cicco

For more information see RIBA Bookshops:
- http://www.ribabookshops.com/item/bim-in-small-practices-illustrated-case-studies/80471/

...and finally, nice to see now Robert has a book out, he doesn't forget about those that helped him to the top (the BIM Dog)...

NBS Domestic, CAD and Keynotes

NBS Domestic is our online "pay-per-project" specification product for small domestic building projects. At the weekend I was tweeted by NBS Domestic user Nick Jardine about whether specification information generated using NBS Domestic can be used within the AutoCAD keynoting system.

The conversation was as follows, and then Nick was kind enough to send some screenshots through showing how he got on.

The screenshots...

NBS Domestic generates a PDF and also a SDLX file for use in Cost Tracking and Annotation

The list of systems in the NBS Annotator

Export the list of systems to the required CAD format

Linked to the drawings via the Keynoting Settings dialog

Annotations now managed using Keynotes functionality

Useful links:

• NBS Domestic
• NBS Tools - free tools including the Viewer, the Annotator and the Cost Tracker

NBS for Small Domestic Building Projects

Occasionally I get a chance to write a short article for the RIBA newsletter for Chartered Practices. For the Summer 2012 publication I have written a few words on using NBS for small domestic building projects...

When most people in the construction industry think of NBS they immediately think of large projects. However, more and more practices that work on small domestic building projects are now using the NBS Domestic online specification writing tool. Since its release at the end of 2010, almost 1,000 practices have used the service and hundreds of these have used it on a number of projects. The specification content is designed especially for work on small domestic buildings and it includes clear and concise work sections of the type typically needed on projects of this nature.

One of the key differences between NBS Domestic and the more traditional NBS specification products is that the tool runs through the web browser. This means that there is no need to purchase or install any software. It also means that it may be used on any platform, PC or Mac, using Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Another fundamental difference is that NBS Domestic has a ‘pay-per-project’ payment model. The user simply registers for an account, pays a small amount and then completes the specification within a very intuitive user interface.

Writing your specificationThe first task that is required when starting to write a specification is to select the work sections and the contract particulars for the relevant construction contracts, which include JCT Home Owner, JCT Minor Works and SBCC Minor Works. The 22 work sections provided cover site preparation, building fabric, landscape and services for domestic building projects.

Figure 1 shows how the user may edit the template specification clauses that are within each work section. In the example given, the user simply goes through the clause items within the Wood Weatherboarding system outline clause. They remove items that are not relevant to the project and complete the items that are. Suggested drop down values and expert technical guidance are provided to help with the completion of each clause.

Each work section has a logical structure starting with system outline clauses, then the product clauses and then a number of workmanship clauses to provide a concise yet robust specification.

Figure 1 – The NBS Domestic specification writing user interface

The content within NBS Domestic is updated by the Technical Team at NBS throughout the year. This means that when a work section is added to a project, a user may be confident that it is up to date and will reference the latest construction standards and regulations.

Publishing your specification
Once the specification is complete then a professional looking PDF may be generated that can be downloaded to create part of a tender package. As shown in Figure 2, the finished document looks just like a traditional NBS specification, with cash columns to the right of the page that allow for easy pricing by the contractor.

Figure 2 – The published output

Free software downloads are also available so that the information from a specification can be used for different tasks. The free NBS Annotator tool works with the data output from an NBS Domestic specification so that CAD drawings and schedules can be quickly annotated with the NBS project clause references. The NBS Cost Tracking tool can also work with this data so that pre-tender cost estimates can be prepared, tender comparisons can be made and costs can be tracked as they progress throughout the construction stage.

In little over twenty months NBS Domestic appears to becoming the de-facto standard specification for small domestic construction jobs in the UK. It is really nice to see a simple, low cost tool, which works through modern internet technology, satisfying a real construction professional need.

What our users say

“The start-up process involves a very simple online purchase and form that incorporates the JCT Home Owners Contract and as such is good value in this respect. The process of completing the preambles and initial sections is very user friendly and it is simple then to move onto the specific sections, if you have your drawings to hand it’s very easy to use standard clauses or add in specific information from the drawings as well as some spec obtained directly from the suppliers / manufacturers. My one suggestion to NBS would be that a little more template content would be useful as more and more domestic projects involve new materials and finishes more akin to commercial projects. But on the whole a good experience and hopefully it will be of great benefit to the client in terms of product specification and call-off on site (self-build)."

 Adrian Williamson Director at WM Design & Architecture Ltd

Fig 3 - Illustration of self-build project specified using NBS Domestic

Fig 4 - Illustration of self-build project specified using NBS Domestic

NBS Domestic Specification - One year on

It's now one year since we launched our digital version of NBS Domestic Specification.
- theNBS.com/Domestic

In this last year, it's been used by well over 500 practices. Many of who have used it on multiple projects. A few screenshots below to demonstrate why it has been such a success:

Figure 1 above shows that the specification system is entirely "cloud-based". It is accessed through your preferred web browser on any platform. This means that there is no need for you to install or purchase any software - it's pay-per-project - and very reasonably priced at £40. In terms of scope of content, NBS Domestic Specification is ideal for domestic clients, professional designers and domestic builders, including home owners/occupiers who may or may not have engaged a consultant to oversee the work.

Figure 2 above shows that after you have taken the specification template and made it project specific then you can publish and issue a professional looking specification document.

Many core NBS benefits such as technical guidance, template clauses and suggested drop down values are included in the web application. The technical content is updated throughout the year, so at the point of specification creation you can be confident in the currency of the content.

So one year on, it is great to see that our first step into a 100% software-as-a-service (SAAS) offering is going from strength to strength.

- theNBS.com/Domestic

NBS Domestic Specification - How it was developed

Last week NBS Domestic Specification was launched as the first ever online specification service from NBS.

I always like looking back at the original sketches and then comparing them to the live product. Below are the pencil sketches from the start of the year compared to the finished product released in November:

Fig 1 - Sign up

Fig 2 - The My Projects area

Fig 3 - Adding your work sections

Fig 4 - Editing your specification

Fig 5 - Publishing your specification

NBS Domestic Specification - Now Live

theNBS.com/Domestic

I am delighted to announce that our new online specification service NBS Domestic Specification is now live. Many thanks to all of the Beta Testers who've given us help pushing this over the finishing line over the last few days!

Below is an article I have written for the upcoming RIBA Practice Newsletter about this service...

Best practice specification for domestic projects – now online
By Stephen Hamil, Head of NBS Software Development
There are around 2,500 architectural practices in the UK with only one or two practicing architects. A large portion of their work is on small domestic building projects. In 2007 NBS Domestic Specification, a loose-leaf paper specification template for use on small domestic projects was launched. Following its success and customer feedback received, it has been developed into the first 100% online NBS specification writing service and was launched in November 2010.

The Benefits
NBS have been producing specification writing tools for over 35 years, which include products to suit projects varying in complexity. NBS Domestic Specification is a new tool designed to better address the needs of those working on small domestic buildings. It is ideal for domestic clients, professional designers and domestic builders, including home owners/occupiers who need to produce technically accurate and up-to-date specifications.
Building on the success of the paper edition, this new online version allows the user to quickly and easily produce a professional specification online that can be published as a PDF. It works on a PC or a Mac and there is no subscription or installation required – users simply buy each specification for £40 (plus VAT) as and when it’s needed for a project.
As with all electronic NBS specification products, NBS Domestic Specification is updated three times a year by our team of in-house technical authors, and provides onscreen guidance to help complete the specification.

How it works
You can create a new specification using NBS Domestic Specification in just six simple steps:
1. Login/register
Firstly login to or create an NBS Website Account. Creating your free account is a quick and easy process that asks you for a few standard details.
2. Create
Create a new specification and give it some project details such as a title, client name and project address.
3. Select
From the full list of preliminaries and work sections available, select the specific content you need for your project. The service can be used with JCT or SBCC minor works contracts and the JCT home owner contracts. You are provided with around 25 work sections which allow best practice specification for work on small domestic buildings. These include site preparation, board and sheet cladding, ventilation and heating systems.
4. Pay
Pay for your specification using our quick and secure payment facility.
5. Edit
The principles behind NBS Domestic Specification are the same as existing NBS products. Each work section contains pre-written technical specification clauses that you edit to produce a project specification. The clauses are pre-written, so very little typing is involved. Where clauses require completion, optional drop down values and technical guidance are provided. Where information is not required, you simply exclude it. The result is a precise project specification without the unnecessarily high page count.
General guidance with information on materials and design, including workmanship advice and tips on how to avoid pitfalls is provided for each work section.
You don't have to complete your specification in one go – you can save your work and come back at any time. In the meantime, you can trust NBS to securely look after your data.
6. Publish
At any time you can publish your specification to PDF format which you can then print, email or put on a DVD. The specification is a priceable document. It has cash columns, collections and a tender summary to allow the tenderers to clearly enter their prices.

Quote
“Using NBS Domestic as part of my construction documentation will certainly assist me, particularly in ensuring that all elements of works are considered in preparation of documentation, yet providing me with a document tailored to the specific project in hand. It's pay as you require, is brilliant in assisting in keeping practice overheads down particularly in the current economic climatic.”
John Cloonan
Michael Ahearne & Associates Ltd


Summary
NBS have been responding to the needs construction industry for over 35 years, providing the best tools for producing up-to-date, technically robust specifications. NBS Domestic Specification is the latest specification writing solution from NBS, designed to meet the needs of practices in the UK who require a master specification service for small domestic building projects. It has received extremely positive feedback from beta testers and was very well received when launched at the RIBA Guerrilla Tactics 2010 conference.

To write your first NBS Domestic Specification visit:
http://www.theNBS.com/Domestic

RIBA Guerrilla Tactics 2010 for Small Architecture Practices

This year's RIBA Guerrilla Tactics conference is partnered by NBS. The conference will take place on 17 - 18 November 2010 at 66 Portland Place, London.

The exciting news from NBS is that we will use this conference to launch our new NBS Domestic Specification product. NBS Domestic Specification is our first online specification product. As it works through any web browser it doesn't need you to install any software, you always use the latest data and it works on both a PC and a Mac.

Andrew Wilson, the NBS technical expert for small works and Alistair Findlay who has developed the software will be there for the conference and will launch the product as part of the CPD session "Best practice specification for domestic projects using online technologies".

Speakers at the conference include:

• Ruth Reed, RIBA President
• Kevin McCloud (from Channel 4's Grand Designs)
• Paul Fletcher, RIBA Client Design Advisor
• Angela Brady, RIBA President Elect
  

NBS at the Vectorworks 2011 Conference

I spoke at the Vectorworks 2011 Conference in London yesterday.

The presentation was in two parts. The first part gave a little bit of a history behind NBS and the benefits of using our master specification system. The second part of the presentation looked at using NBS project specification information within the Vectorworks Notes Manager system. A number of delegates spoke to me over lunch commenting on how they liked the development. The “Reconcile Notes” feature was particularly well received. The presentation can be downloaded by selecting the graphic below:

The Annotator component that allows the export of specifications to VW NotesManager is a free download from:
- http://www.thenbs.com/NBSTools/

Almost half of the Vectorworks community are Mac users. At the end of the presentation the new NBS Domestic Specification product was discussed in the Q&A session. NBS Domestic Specification works through a user’s web browser so it works equally well on both PC and Mac. Over lunch I felt there was a real buzz about this product and must have received over ten business cards from Mac users requesting more information about this development.

Preview of NBS Domestic Specification functionality:
- http://constructioncode.blogspot.com/2010/09/nbs-domestic-online-coming-soon.html

Scope of content of NBS Domestic Specification:
- http://constructioncode.blogspot.com/2010/09/nbs-domestic-specification-draft-scope.html

NBS Domestic Specification will be launched at the RIBA Guerrilla Tactics conference in November as part of the "Tools and Tactics" part of the CPD presentations:
- http://www.architecture.com/WhatsOn/Conferences/2010/GuerrillaTactics2010.aspx

NBS Domestic Specification – Draft Scope of Content

Following my earlier post on the upcoming online NBS Domestic Specification service, one or two of you have asked for more information about the content that will be included.

The list below is subject to change - it is currently under review.

In terms of the Contract Particulars you can choose from either

• JCT 2005 Minor Works Building Contract with Contractor's Design (MWD)
• JCT 2005 Minor Works Building Contract (MW)
• JCT Building Contract for a Home Owner/ Occupier who has appointed a Consultant to oversee the work (HO/C)
• JCT Building Contract for a Home Owner/Occupier who has not appointed a Consultant to oversee the work (HO/B)
• SBCC 2005 Minor Works Building Contract with Contractor's Design (MWD/Scot)
• SBCC 2005 Minor Works Building Contract (MW/Scot)

The choice of work sections is from the following, depending on the scope of your project:

• A9 General technical requirements
• D1 Site preparation
• E1 Concrete foundations and floors
• F1 Masonry walling
• G1 Packaged frames and structural steelwork
• G2 Structural timber and general carpentry
• H2 Board and sheet external cladding and soffits
• H6 Slate and tile pitched roof coverings and cladding
• J1 Flat roof coverings
• K1 Wood internal flooring, linings and trim
• L1 Windows, roof windows and patent glazing
• L2 Doors and frames
• L3 Stairs and guarding
• M1/2 Plastering, rendering and screeding
• M4/5 Sheet and tile internal finishes
• M6 Painting, staining and varnishing
• N1 Appliances and fittings
• Q1 Landscape
• R1 Above and below ground drainage
• S9 Hot and cold water systems
• T9 Heating systems
• U9 Ventilation systems
• V9 Electrical systems

In terms of the content of each work section, as an example, the clauses in the work section F1 Masonry walling include:

• System Outline
• Masonry walling
• 110 External cavity walling
• 115 External cavity dwarf walling
• 120 External solid walling
• 125 External masonry cladding
• 130 Internal cavity walls
• 135 Internal solid walls
• 140 Sleeper walls
• Work to existing walling
• 145 Junction with new walling
• 150 Openings in existing walling
• 155 Cavity tray and dpc insertion
• 160 Cavity insulation insertion to existing walling
• 165 Masonry walling removal
• 170 Repoint existing walling.
• Products
• Masonry units
• 302 Common bricks
• 304 Facing bricks
• 306 Reclaimed bricks
• 308 Aggregate concrete blocks
• 310 Aerated concrete blocks
• 312 Manufactured stone blocks
• 314 Natural stone rubble
• Mortars
• 316 Mortar
• Concrete
• 318 General concrete
• Wall ties
• 320 Plain wall ties
• 322 Insulation retaining wall ties
• 324 Remedial wall ties
• 326 Timber frame wall ties
• 328 Wall starters
• Cavity trays and dpcs
• 330 Flexible cavity trays
• 332 Gas retardant cavity trays
• 334 Preformed cavity trays
• 336 Preformed remedial cavity trays
• 338 Flexible dpcs
• 340 Flexible insulated dpcs
• 342 Chemical dpcs
• Cavity insulation and cavity closers
• 344 Full fill cavity insulation
• 346 Partial fill cavity insulation
• 348 Remedial cavity insulation
• 350 Plastics insulated cavity closers
• Ventilation components
• 352 Air bricks
• 354 Sub-floor ventilation ducts
• Lintels
• 356 Manufactured stone lintels
• 358 Precast concrete lintels
• 360 Proprietary metal lintels
• 362 Steel lintels
• Sills
• 364 Manufactured stone sills
• 366 Natural stone sills
• 368 Precast concrete sills
• Flashings built into masonry
• 370 Lead apron flashingsw
• 372 Lead cover flashings
• 374 Lead step and cover flashings
• Execution
• Masonry walling
• 610 Laying brickwork and blockwork
• 615 Laying rubble stonework
• 620 Laying concrete cavity fill
• 625 Bedding masonry wall ties
• 630 Fixing timber frame wall ties
• 635 Laying horizontal dpcs
• 640 Laying vertical dpcs
• 645 Laying cavity trays
• 650 Laying gas retardant cavity trays
• 655 Placing full fill cavity insulation
• 660 Placing partial fill cavity insulation
• 665 Forming perpend joint weep holes
• 670 Setting ventilation ducts in cavity walling
• 675 Laying leadwork
• Work to existing walling
• 680 Removing masonry units
• 685 Pocket bonding new walling to existing
• 690 Forming openings in existing masonry
• 695 Installing chemical dpc
• 700 Installing cavity insulation in existing walling
• 710 Repointing masonry walling

And an example of the typical clause content is below:

In terms of the named “NBS Domestic Specification”, this has been chosen because it has primarily designed with the expectation for use on small domestic projects. Clearly, if anyone thought this content is suitable for one of their simple, small scale, commercial refurbishment projects then they would be welcome to use the service for this.

And finally, here is a picture of an NBS specification product working on an Apple Mac :)

NBS Domestic Specification - Coming Soon As An Online Product

Two or three years ago RIBA Enterprises published NBS Domestic - a loose-leaf paper specification for use on small domestic projects. This has been very successful, but feedback from specifiers has been clear that this should be an electronic product.

I am very excited to be able to say that an electronic version of this is now only a few months away from launch and is now undergoing beta testing.

NBS Domestic Specification is an internet application and will therefore work on pretty much any platform... PC, Mac or even Apple IPad. I cannot say too much for now - but please find some teaser screenshots below and keep tuned to this blog for more information over the coming weeks!

Sign in to NBS Domestic within your web browser and click to create a new specification

(click image for larger view)

Select your contract particulars and work sections

Edit your NBS specification with synchronized guidance and drop down suggested values

Publish your finished specification to PDF