Introduction
Using NBS Chorus, NBS produced sample specifications for several procurement types. This page details the process of creating the specs for the NBS Lakeside Restaurant building, which was initially designed by HOK.
Download the specifications
The NBS Lakeside Restaurant story
Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director hosted a webinar with Craig Brown, Specification Consultant from SpecStudio to talk through the process that was followed to create the specifications for a lakeside restaurant. During the session, they discussed:
- How the specifications were planned and developed
- The approach that was developed for cross-referencing the specifications from the model, drawings and schedules
- The different types of specification developed depending on design responsibilities
- How Chorus was used to work with manufacturers to collaboratively develop the specifications
- The difference between the Uniclass and CAWS classification structures
The webinar focuses mainly on the specifications structured to the Uniclass classification system and may be watched below. We also have a follow up article that looks more at the specifications structured to the CAWS classification system.
Webinar
Types of specification
Depending on design responsibilities different levels of information are required within a specification. Three types of specification where developed as part of this project:
- Descriptive - The Design Team describes the Design Intent only that allows a Specialist Subcontractor to complete the Detailed Design of this system. These are indicated using (D) notation in the specification name. In the sample specifications, the board suspended ceiling system is a good example of this. Extensive use is made of the NBS system performance clauses and this is aligned with clear requirements for design submittals and verification of performance. No preference is stated for manufacturer products, but proposed samples are required. Extensive execution clauses are included as are system completion requirements for O&M and final verification of the execution.
- Descriptive + - The Design Team describes the Design Intent only and selects a preferred manufacturer, which allows a Specialist Subcontractor to complete the Detailed Design of this system. These are indicated using (D+) notation in the specification name. In the sample specifications, the zinc sheet roof covering system is a good example of this. Extensive use is made of the NBS system performance clauses and this is aligned with clear requirements for design submittals and verification of performance. The D+ specification is different from a pure D specification in that specific manufacturer products are required – in this case a particular zinc roofing strip from the manufacturer Rheinzink. Extensive execution clauses are included as are system completion requirements for O&M and final verification of the execution. Care needs taken with these types of specification to ensure that the required performance is achievable when specifying both overall performance and a specific manufacturer product.
- Prescriptive - Complete, instructive information used to manufacture and construct the system, produced by the Design Team. These are indicated using the (P) notation in the specification name. In the sample specifications, the wall tiling system is a good example of this. No performance requirements are specified. Products from the manufacturers Royal Mosa and Ardex are specified. Extensive execution clauses are included as are system completion requirements for cleaning and spare products for future maintenance.
Read this article for a detailed technical article looking at the different types of specification and the level of information requirements.
Manufacturer content
A number of manufacturers from NBS Source were used within the sample specifications. These manufacturers were selected randomly after advertising the opportunity to all NBS Source manufacturers that were relevant to this type of building.
Coordinated project information
Sample drawings and schedules generated from the model are also included in the download. These illustrated how the NBS clauses can be referenced by associating the objects and the specification clauses using the NBS plug-in. Once associated, then the shared properties can be used in annotations in the drawings and schedules.
The above video shows objects in the model that have been associated with corresponding clauses in the project specification. It can be seen that by clicking on these objects, the correct specification opens within the NBS plug-in. Depending on permissions, the designer can then edit or comment on the specification.
The video below shows that the annotation process is quicker and more accurate in the NBS plug-in. Annotations can easily be made that include classification and type information directly from the clauses in the project specification.
