Welcome to NBS

NBS Training

 

Forthcoming
NBS Building
public training dates:

8 February 2012
10am – 4pm
London
£345+VAT

More Training

Support

 

If you already subscribe to NBS Building you can access:

Fact

 

Poor specifications are the underlying cause for over 25% of architects' PI insurance claims, with failure to enforce specifications responsible for much of the rest (e.g. workmanship, supervision & inspection).
RIBA Journal 1994

NBS Building

NBS Building

NBS Building enables you to write concise, technically accurate and up-to-date specifications for building projects.

 

NBS Building: Enables technical accuracy

With a subscription to NBS Building, you benefit from the work of our in house team of technical authors, who are continually researching to provide the best technical guidance and clause options to people writing specifications. 

NBS Building: It will keep you up-to-date

Clauses, guidance and product information are updated regularly. Customers receive updates on CD-ROM three times a year, and incremental updates are available to download online, so the information you are using is always up-to-date.

NBS Building: It will save you time

Clauses are pre-written so you don’t have to type much, and the guidance for each clause appears beside it on screen for speedy referral. You can add building product specification information with a single click, and many clauses have drop-down lists of commonly specified values enabling you to add them more quickly.

NBS Building: It will maintain quality control

By using NBS Building you can be assured you are using the industry standard specification system that conforms to best practice. It provides extensive guidance to help you select and edit the right clauses for your project. In NBS Building you can set permissions, monitor progress and track revisions.

NBS Building: Giving you more than just software

Our multi-discipline team of qualified and experienced construction professionals are at your disposal to answer technical queries and offer guidance; anything from which contract to use and how to achieve BREEAM outstanding ratings, to where to specify surveying and monitoring of invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed. Our software support specialists are on hand when you need them too – all part of your NBS subscription.

EnquireOnline

Up-to-date information

When you use NBS Building, the software will let you know if you are using the most up-to-date information. If updated material is available, it will prompt you to download it.

Pre-written clauses

NBS Building contains pre-written technical specification clauses and preliminaries for selection and editing to produce project specifications. Clauses are authored by our team of in-house architects and surveyors to be concise and robust and are arranged in accordance with the Common Arrangement of Work Sections.

As the clauses are pre-written, very little typing is involved. Some clauses require additional information which you can either type in or complete with the use of drop-down lists of suggested solutions. Clauses are provided for both prescriptive and performance specification.

Guidance

General guidance with information on materials and design, including workmanship advice and tips on how to avoid pitfalls is provided for each work section. Extensive technical guidance is also provided to help you complete individual clauses.

Guidance provides access to technical information resources including websites and The Construction Information Service*.

Building product specification

NBS Building contains building product information to help create accurate and detailed building specifications. Product specification clauses for manufacturers’ products are written for use in place of the generic NBS clauses and are approved by the manufacturer.

Office standards

If you regularly work on similar projects, there is a facility to create, manage and update your own office standard specifications.

Printing and issuing

Flexible formatting options mean that you can present your documents using your corporate style. They can then be printed or exported to PDF.

Collaboration across the design team

NBS Building now includes the NBS Tools feature. One of the key benefits of NBS Tools is the ability to annotate your CAD models, schedules and bills of quantities using clause references from NBS specifications or construction references from NBS schedules of work.

NBS Tools is also available as a free download for non NBS subscribers to allow collaboration between colleagues on a project team regardless of who has an NBS licence.

Intuitive user interface

NBS Building has been designed to be intuitive and simple to use. Specifications and NBS Libraries are organised on the left-hand side of the screen. The centre of the screen is used for editing work sections. The right-hand side of the screen displays Guidance, NBS Plus, Help, and links to other information resources.

* The Construction Information Service is a searchable database of full text documents from publishers such as BRE and BSI. It is available as an online subscription service from IHS, telephone 01344 404434, email marketing@ihsti.com or visit www.ihsti.com.

BackToTop



NBS Building is a subscription service. As part of the subscription you will receive updates on CD-ROM three times a year. Additional updates can be downloaded from the NBS website when available.

NBS Building is offered in three levels of service:

Full Service:

  1. Includes Standard, Intermediate and Minor Works libraries
  2. For projects of any size. The Standard work sections include performance based clauses which are suitable for Design and Build contracts as well as traditional procurement. They are accompanied by extensive guidance notes.

Abridged Service:

  1. Includes Intermediate and Minor Works libraries
  2. For small or medium-sized projects. Scope is comprehensive but sections have been edited to suit the scale of work envisaged. There are few performance based clauses and guidance is less extensive.

Minor Works Service:

  1. Includes Minor Works library only
  2. For small scale works where brevity is important. There are fewer sections, and both clauses and guidance have been edited for small projects.

Also available: NBS Binders and Discs

NBS Building is also available in three levels of service as the NBS Building Binders and Discs service.

BackToTop



NBS Libraries

Different NBS Building libraries provide preliminaries, work sections and guidance suited to certain types of work. The libraries are: Standard, Intermediate, and Minor Works, and are offered in the following combinations:

NBS Building Full Service: Standard, Intermediate and Minor Works

For projects of any size. The Standard work sections include performance based clauses, which are suitable for design and build contracts as well as traditional procurement. They are also accompanied by extensive guidance notes.

NBS Building Abridged Service: Intermediate and Minor Works

For more simple, medium sized projects. Scope is comprehensive but sections have been edited to suit the scale of work envisaged, and guidance is less extensive.

NBS Building Minor Works Service: Minor Works

For small scale works where brevity is important. There are fewer sections, which are edited for small jobs.

Scope and contents of NBS Building

The scope and contents of each NBS library follows. The content of each individual work section will vary from one library to another, depending on the projects for which the libraries are designed. The table below shows the contract groups included within the preliminaries of each service.

Current NBS Building scope and contents at November 2011
(NBS Update 2011-3)

S = Standard, I = Intermediate, M = Minor Works

Main Contract Preliminaries for use with the following contracts

S I M   The project generally
         
S       JCT 2011 Standard Building Contract with Quantities
S       JCT 2005 Standard Building Contract with Quantities
S       JCT 2011 Standard Building Contract without Quantities
S       JCT 2005 Standard Building Contract without Quantities
S       JCT 2011 Standard Building Contract with Approximate Quantities
S       JCT 2005 Standard Building Contract with Approximate Quantities
S       JCT 2005 Major Project Construction Contract
  I     JCT 2006 Prime Cost Building Contract (PCC)
  I     JCT 2011 Intermediate Building Contract
  I     JCT 2005 Intermediate Building Contract
  I     JCT 2011 Intermediate Building Contract with Contractor’s Design
  I     JCT 2005 Intermediate Building Contract with Contractor’s Design
S       JCT 2011 Design and Build Contract
S       JCT 2005 Design and Build Contract
    M   JCT 2011 Minor Works Building Contract
    M   JCT 2005 Minor Works Building Contract
    M   JCT 2011 Minor Works Building Contract with contractor’s design
    M   JCT 2005 Minor Works Building Contract with contractor’s design
    M   JCT Agreement for Housing Grant Works HG(A)
  I     Preliminaries for JCT named subcontract IC/Sub/NAM
    M   JCT 2007 Framework Agreement
S       JCT 2007 Constructing Excellence Contract
         
S       SBCC 2005 Standard Building Contract With Quantities
S       SBCC 2005 Standard Building Contract Without Quantities
S       SBCC 2005 Standard Building Contract With Approximate Quantities
S       SBCC 2005 Design and Build Contract
    M   SBCC 2005 Minor Works Contract
    M   SBCC 2005 Minor works Contract with contractor’s design
    M   Scottish Housing Grant Agreement
         
    M   NEC3 Engineering and construction short contract (ECSC)
S       ECC3 Priced contract with activity schedule
S       ECC3 Priced contract with bill of quantities
S       ECC3 Target contract with activity schedule
S       ECC3 Target contract with bill of quantities
S       ECC3 Cost reimbursable contract
         
    M   ICE Minor Works
S       RIAI Agreement and Schedule of Conditions of Building Contract for use with quantities
S       RIAI Agreement and Conditions of Contract for Building Work GDLA 82 for use with quantities
  I     RIAI Agreement and Schedule of Conditions of Building Contract for use without quantities
  I     RIAI Agreement and Conditions of Contract for Building Work GDLA 82 for use without quantities
  I     RIAI White Contract
    M   RIAI Agreement and Schedule of Conditions of Building Contract – SF 88
S       Irish DoF Public Works Contract for Building Works Designed by the Employer
S       Irish DoF Public Works Contract for Building Works Designed by the Contractor
  I     Irish DoF Public Works Contract for Minor Civil Engineering and Building Works Designed by the Employer
    M   Irish DoF Short Public Works Contract for Civil Engineering and Building Works Designed by the Employer
         
S       Preliminaries for use with domestic subcontract
  I     National Federation of Demolition Contractors Standard Form (NFDC)
  I     Preliminaries/ general conditions for investigations/ survey contract
S       General specification requirements for work package
         

Work sections

Complete buildings/ structures/ units

S     B11 Prefabricated building units
  I M B12 Conservatories
S     B13 Modular buildings
S     B14 Prefabricated panelled constructions
S     B15 Prefabricated framed constructions
S I   B50 General structural requirements
  I   B91 Buildings in the landscape

Demolition/ Alteration/Renovation

S I   C10 Site survey
S I   C11 Site investigation
S I M C20 Demolition
S I   C30 Shoring/ Facade retention
S I   C40 Cleaning masonry/ concrete
S I   C41 Repairing/ Renovating/ Conserving masonry
S I   C42 Repairing/ Renovating/ Conserving concrete
S I M C45 Damp proof course renewal/ insertion
S I M C46 Cavity wall tie renewal/ insertion
S I   C51 Repairing/ Renovating/ Conserving timber
S I M C52 Fungus/ Beetle eradication
S I M C90 Alterations – spot items (Guidance only)

Groundwork

S I MD20 Excavating and filling
  I M

D21

Ground gas collection and venting systems

S I   D30 Piling
S     D40 Embedded retaining walls
S I   D41 Crib walls/ Gabions/ Drystack masonry
S I   D45 Soil nailing
S I M D50 Underpinning

In situ concrete/ Large precast concrete

S I   E05 In situ concrete construction generally
S I M E10 Mixing/ Casting/ Curing in situ concrete
S I   E11 Sprayed in situ concrete
S I M E20 Formwork for in situ concrete
S I M E30 Reinforcement for in situ concrete
S I   E40 Designed joints in in situ concrete
S I M E41 Worked finishes to in situ concrete
S I   E42 Accessories cast into in situ concrete (Guidance only)
S I M E60 Precast/ Composite concrete floors/ roof decks

Masonry

S I M F10 Brick/ Block walling
S I M F11 Glass block walling
S I M F20 Natural stone rubble walling
S I   F21 Natural stone/ ashlar walling/ dressings
S I   F22 Cast stone ashlar walling/ dressings
S I M F30 Accessories/ Sundry items for brick/ block/ stone walling
S I M F31 Precast concrete sills/ lintels/ copings/ features
S I   F42 Straw bale walling systems

Structural/ Carcassing metal/ timber

S I M G10 Structural steel framing
S I M G12 Isolated structural metal members
S I M G20 Carpentry/ Timber framing/ First fixing
S I   G30 Metal profiled sheet decking

Cladding/ Covering

S I M H10 Patent glazing
S I   H11 Curtain walling
S I   H13 Structural glass assemblies
S I   H14 Precast concrete and glass lens/ paver rooflights/ floor lights/ pavement lights/ security panels
S I M H20 Rigid sheet cladding
S I M H21 Timber weatherboarding
  I M H22 Plastics weatherboarding
S I M H30 Fibre cement profiled sheet cladding/ covering
S I M H31 Metal profiled/ flat sheet cladding/ covering
S I   H32 Plastics profiled sheet cladding/ covering
S     H40 Glassfibre reinforced concrete panel cladding/ components
S I   H41 Glassfibre reinforced plastics cladding/ features
S I   H42 Precast concrete panel cladding/ lining/ features
S I M H43 Metal panel cladding/ features
S I   H51 Natural stone slab cladding/ lining/ features
S I M H60 Plain roof tiling
S I M H61 Fibre cement slating
S I M H62 Natural slating
S I M H64 Wood shingle and shake roofing
S I M H65 Single lap roof tiling
S I M H67 Metal single lap roof tiling
S I M H71 Lead sheet coverings/ flashings
S I M H72 Aluminium strip/ sheet coverings/ flashings
S I M H73 Copper strip/ sheet coverings/ flashings
S I M H74 Zinc strip/ sheet coverings/ flashings
S I M H75 Stainless steel strip/ sheet coverings/ flashings
S I   H90 Tensile fabric coverings
  I   H91 Thatch roofing
S     H92 Rainscreen cladding

Waterproofing

S I   J10 Cementitious mortar tanking/ damp proofing
S     J20 Mastic asphalt tanking/ damp proofing
S I M J21 Mastic asphalt roofing/ insulation/ finishes
S I M J30 Liquid applied tanking/ damp proofing
S I M J31 Liquid applied waterproof roof coatings
S I M J40 Flexible sheet waterproofing/ damp proofing
S I M J41 Reinforced bitumen membrane roof coverings
S I M J42 Single layer polymeric sheet roof coverings
S     J44 Sheet linings for pools/ lakes/ waterways

Linings/ Sheathing/ Dry partitioning

S I M K10 Plasterboard dry linings/ partitions/ ceilings
S I M K11 Rigid sheet flooring/ sheathing/ decking/ sarking / linings/ casings
S I   K13 Rigid sheet fine linings and panelling
S I M K20 Timber board flooring/ sarking/ linings/ casings
S I M K21 Wood strip/board fine flooring/ linings
S I M K30 Panel partitions
S I M K32 Panel cubicles
S I M K40 Demountable suspended ceilings
S I   K41 Raised access floors
  I M K45 Suspended ceilings alterations
  I   K46 Raised access floor system alterations

Windows/ Doors/ Stairs

S I M L10 Windows/ Rooflights/ Screens/ Louvres
S I M L20 Doors/ Shutters/ Hatches
S I M L30 Stairs/ Ladders/ Walkways/ Handrails/ Balustrades
S     L35 Fixed utilitarian access systems
S I M L40 General glazing

Surface finishes

S I M M10 Cement based levelling/ wearing screeds
S I   M11 Mastic asphalt flooring/ floor underlays
S I M M12 Resin flooring
S I M M13 Calcium sulfate based levelling screeds
S I M M20 Plastered/ Rendered/ Roughcast coatings
S I M M21 Insulation with rendered finish
S I   M22 Sprayed monolithic coatings
S I   M30 Metal lathing/ anchored mesh reinforcement for plastered/ rendered coatings
S I M M40 Stone/ Concrete/ Quarry/ Ceramic tiling/ Mosaic
S I   M41 Terrazzo tiling/ In situ terrazzo
S I M M42 Wood block/ Composition block/ Mosaic parquet flooring
S I M M50 Rubber/ Plastics/ Cork/ Lino/ Carpet tiling/ sheeting
S I   M51 Edge fixed carpeting
S I M M52 Decorative papers/ fabrics
S I M M60 Painting/ Clear finishing
S I   M61 Intumescent coatings for fire protection of steelwork

Furniture/ Equipment

S I M N10 General fixtures/ furnishings/ equipment
S I M N11 Domestic kitchen fittings, furnishings and equipment
S I

 

N12 Catering equipment, furnishings and equipment
S I M N13 Sanitary appliances and fittings
S I   N14 General signage systems
S I   N15 Fire and safety signage systems
S     N16 Bird and vermin control systems
S I M N17 Portable fire fighting systems
S I M N25 Permanent access and safety equipment
  I   N91 External signage and interpretation

Building fabric sundries

S I M P10 Sundry insulation/ proofing work
S I M P11 Foamed/ Fibre/ Bead cavity wall insulation
S I M P12 Fire stopping systems
S I M P20 Unframed isolated trims/ skirtings/ sundry items
S I M P21 Door/ Window ironmongery
S I M P30 Trenches, pipeways and pits for buried engineering services
S I M P31 Holes, chases, covers and supports for services

Paving/ Planting/ Fencing/ Site furniture

S I M Q10 Kerbs/ Edgings/ Channels/ Paving accessories
S I M Q20 Granular sub-bases to roads/ pavings
S I

 

Q21 In situ concrete roads/ pavings/ bases
S I M Q22 Coated macadam/ Asphalt roads/ pavings
S I M Q23 Gravel/ Hoggin/ Woodchip roads/ pavings
S I M Q24 Interlocking brick/ block roads/ pavings
S I M Q25 Slab/ Brick/ Sett/ Cobble pavings
S     Q26 Special surfacings/ pavings for sport/ general amenity
S I M Q28 Topsoil and growing media
S I   Q30 Seeding/ Turfing
S I   Q31 External planting
S     Q32 Internal and artificial planting
S     Q35 Landscape maintenance
S     Q37 Green roofs
S I M Q40 Fencing
S I   Q41 Barriers/ Guardrails
S I M Q50 Site/ Street furniture/ equipment
S     Q52 Play and sports equipment
S I Q55 External decks, boardwalks and pergolas

Disposal systems

S I M R10 Rainwater drainage systems
S I M R11 Above ground foul drainage systems
S I M R12 Below ground drainage systems
S I   R13 Land drainage
S I   R16 Groundwater pressure relief drainage
S I   R17 Soakaway, septic tank and sewage treatment units
S     R18 Pumping stations and pressure pipelines

Piped supply systems

  I   S14 Irrigation
S     S15 Fountains/ Water features
  I   S17 Water reclamation systems
  I M S90 Hot and cold water supply systems - domestic
  I M S91 Natural gas supply systems - domestic
  I M S92 Sprinkler systems - domestic

Mechanical heating/ Cooling/ Refrigeration systems

  I M T90 Heating systems - domestic

Ventilation/ Air conditioning systems

  I M U90 General ventilation - domestic

Electrical supply/ power/ lighting systems

  I M V90 Electrical installation systems – domestic
  I   V91 Electrical systems - landscape

Communications/ Security/ Control systems

  I M W53 Assistance call systems
  I M W90 Communications and security systems - domestic

Transport systems

  I   X12 Vertical platform lift systems
  I   X13 Inclined stairlift systems

Building fabric reference specification

S I M Z10 Purpose made joinery
S I M Z11 Purpose made metalwork
S I M Z12 Preservative/ Fire retardant treatment
S I M Z20 Fixings and adhesives
S I M Z21 Mortars
S I M Z22 Sealants
S I   Z31 Powder coatings
S I   Z33 Anodizing

BackToTop


NBS Software Licensing

NBS software can be licensed for use on standalone PCs, or for use on a network. When running on a standalone PC the software will be licence locked for use only on that machine.

For network installations, the software will be licence locked to the server PC. Other PCs on the network may access the licence on the server for concurrent use, up to the number of licences subscribed to.

System requirements

For a full description of the system needed to run this software, please read the NBS system requirements.

BackToTop



Product enquiry form

 

If you would like us to provide you with further details on NBS Building, please complete the contact form below:

Name*

Position
Organisation*
Address*
City*
Postcode*
Telephone*
Fax
Email*
Website
Type of organisation (architectural practice, consulting engineers, local authority etc)
Where did you find out about NBS products?
Please use the following box to provide further information about your enquiry:

* Required field

If you would like information on additional NBS products or would like someone to call you back with a quote, please provide some further information:

RIBA Enterprises, of which NBS is a part, may like to email you from time to time with details of products and services that may be of interest to you, is this okay? 
 

If you would prefer not to receive this information by mail or telephone, please tick here.

  

Client Testimonials

 

" We have used NBS Building since we formed our company in 2002. Over the past five years the software and its excellent technical support have helped us maintain the high quality of specification writing that we require in our profession. "

Cressida Toon, Partner, Sonnemann Toon Architects

View Demo

 

PlayDemo

Next steps

 

Contact NBS

Call us:
0845 456 9594
 

Email us:
info@theNBS.com