SPECIFYING WITH UNICLASS

Uniclass and Specification

The construction industry builds the infrastructure that we depend on. We need to focus on the outcomes that people and nature need – a higher-quality, sustainable, resilient built environment is only possible if the information we need to make decisions is well-structured and interoperable.

Uniclass, a unified classification system which is owned, managed, and moderated by NBS, is used as a way of identifying and managing the vast amount of information that’s involved in a construction project. Well-structured information, developed during the project, can then be used when managing the asset through its life.

Uniclass is now a requirement for BIM projects in the UK. It is cited in the national foreword of BS EN ISO 12006-2 and the national annex of BS EN 19650-2. As more and more projects follow these standards, Uniclass has become the primary classification system included within many software platforms used within the construction and asset management industry. The NBS Digital Construction Survey 2021 showed that over half of BIM projects in the UK now use Uniclass as their primary classification system.

NBS is committed to maintaining and developing Uniclass as a free-to-use classification; the launch of the new Uniclass website, and integration of Uniclass into our platforms helps demonstrate our commitment to improving the quality of information in the construction industry.