Knowledge

A wide range of interesting articles that help you make informed decisions and deliver the best projects for your clients authored by our team of NBS subject specialists and construction industry contributors.

Sustainability

Sustainable Futures UK Report 2026

Explore the current state of sustainability in the UK construction industry based on the results from a comprehensive survey conducted by NBS.

Must Reads

  • RIBA CPD

    RIBA CPD for Architects: Understanding Flooring Specification and Detailing

    For architects and specifiers, flooring details can have a significant impact on the safety, accessibility, durability and overall performance of a building. Yet the technical considerations ...

  • Sponsored

    Designing sustainability into construction – proof over promises in sustainable construction

    With tightening regulations and growing client demand, the construction industry is under increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable progress against carbon reduction targets. For specifiers, that ...

  • Construction Products

    Dulux Trade launches new solution for high-humidity spaces

    Because of how they are used, kitchens and bathrooms experience more moisture, more contact, and more ongoing maintenance. Standard emulsions are not designed for this level of use. Over time, ...

Uniclass 2015 - August 2018 update

The August issue is the latest in the Uniclass 2015 updating programme. The Uniclass 2015 tables were last updated in April 2018. Between updates, we liaise regularly with a growing number of ...

Design and SpecificationStandards and Regulations
NBS-LCA

Reduce embodied carbon from the start

Measure, compare and reduce upfront embodied carbon using trusted UK data and pre-built assemblies.

Go back to school with these TED talks on design and innovation

You may not have had a Power Rangers lunch box in a while but that's no excuse not to keep learning. To help out, we've compiled some of the best TED talks on the construction industry, innovation ...

Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation

What is a digital twin?

Forbes describes digital twins as ‘a virtual model of a process, product or service’ - they enable teams to monitor, trial and experiment on a digital version of something physical. As a result, ...

Smart cities

Collaborative specification writing in the cloud

The digital transition in the construction industry utilizes technology, enabling us to work smarter together. Within ten years, full-scale digitalization could help the industry save an estimated ...

Digital Transformation

Working together as one - NBS platform developments in 2018

So far, many platform developments have been delivered in 2018: It’s a busy and exciting year for NBS. We want to thank our customers for their active contributions in driving these developments, ...

Digital Transformation

Ten benefits of a Master Specification System over Microsoft Word

Prior to the 1990s, construction specifications were written using a typewriter. In the 1990s, personal computers became affordable for businesses, and specification writing moved from the typewriter ...

Digital Transformation

Subscribe

NBS - The Global Journey

Update: Since this article was first written, all the content from the NBS National BIM Library has moved across to NBS Source. ...

Digital Transformation

It's all about the information

Different approaches When a team first comes together to design a project, each member brings a different approach to the preparation of the documentation required. Many design consultants allot far ...

Digital Transformation

Download our infographic: The Seven Cs of Specification

Across the world, at universities, aspiring architects and engineers receive hours and hours of training in how to design and prepare drawings, but in general receive little support or instruction on ...

Design and SpecificationConstruction Products

Product Identification - the missing link of BIM

Some projects begin with a simple question. In this case, it was ‘Once we have a BIM, how are we going to know which construction products are in it?’

Digital TransformationConstruction Products

Platforms: Bridging the gap between construction and manufacturing

When the Latham Report, ‘Constructing the Team’, was published in 1994, Michael Latham noted that ‘There is scope for improvements through greater standardisation of components and design details and ...

Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation

NBS Innovation Panel

Our customers drive the NBS Product developments in many ways: from customer satisfaction surveys, advisory panels to our agile Innovation process. A recent NBS Customer Satisfaction Survey had the ...

Digital Transformation