NBS for SpecifiersNBS for ManufacturersNBS ChorusNBS SourceUniclass 0345 456 9594 Sign in / Register

NBS Chorus

Intelligent construction specification, in the cloud. Work together on specs in real-time, across organisations and locations

Plans and features

A range of subscription options to make NBS Chorus work for you

Scope and Contents

NBS Chorus covers multi-discipline content, see all the content libraries available.

Small works

An NBS Chorus package created specifically for practices working on smaller works and projects

Designer New

Perfect for design teams to view and annotate NBS specifications within their own modelling environment

Preliminaries

A package created specifically for consultancies that write preliminaries

Book a demo

Sign in to NBS Chorus

Other services

NBS offers a range of tools and services for specification and collaboration

Construction Information Service (CIS)

A comprehensive online collection of construction related standards, regulations, technical advice and articles

NBS Schumann New

The new specification writing and consultancy service from NBS

Plug-ins

A range of tools to help you connect your specification information with Revit, Archicad & Vectorworks models

Digital Plan of Work

Digital plan of work and LOD resources

Reports

The latest findings from NBS tracking key insights into the Construction Industry

Product Information Report New

We surveyed almost 600 UK designers and specifiers about how they find the product information they need and their associated views.

Digital Construction Report

Incorporating The BIM report, the Digital Construction Report gains a broader understanding of digital transformation

Sustainable Futures Report

A valuable insight for all construction professionals, painting a picture of sustainability in the construction industry

Resources

Helpful tools, and downloads to help you make the most of NBS

Sample Specifications New

Download sample specifications and see what's possible with NBS Chorus

Financial Summary

Download a sample financial summary and see what's possible with NBS Chorus.

Sustainable Specification Guides New

A five-part sustainable specification guide serving as a living, sustainability-focused document.

Whitepaper

Thinking about moving NBS Chorus? Discover the benefits of moving to a digital specification platform.

PlatformResourcesSupportEventsAbout NBS for SpecifiersNBS for ManufacturersNBS ChorusNBS SourceUniclass 0345 456 9594 Sign in / Register

Platform

NBS Chorus Plans and features Scope and Contents Small works Designer New Preliminaries Book a demo Sign in to NBS Chorus NBS Source Browse by category Browse by manufacturer For manufacturers Go to NBS Source Uniclass Articles and updates Specifying with Uniclass Feedback and Support Find a code Other services Construction Information Service (CIS) NBS Schumann New Plug-ins Digital Plan of Work

Resources

Knowledge Case studies Authors Updates Reports Product Information Report New Digital Construction Report Sustainable Futures Report Resources Sample Specifications New Financial Summary Sustainable Specification Guides New Whitepaper

Support

Support NBS Academy New Downloads and updates

About

About NBS New Our team New Careers Partners Newsroom Sustainability

Platform

NBS Chorus Plans and features Scope and Contents Small works Designer New Preliminaries Book a demo Sign in to NBS Chorus NBS Source Browse by category Browse by manufacturer For manufacturers Go to NBS Source Uniclass Articles and updates Specifying with Uniclass Feedback and Support Find a code Other services Construction Information Service (CIS) NBS Schumann New Plug-ins Digital Plan of Work

Resources

Knowledge Case studies Authors Updates Reports Product Information Report New Digital Construction Report Sustainable Futures Report Resources Sample Specifications New Financial Summary Sustainable Specification Guides New Whitepaper

Support

Support NBS Academy New Downloads and updates

About

About NBS New Our team New Careers Partners Newsroom Sustainability

NBS Source

Find, Select, Specify

The construction product information you need, when you need it

Go to NBS Source
source-mac
Connected
Get started with NBS Source

Connected

NBS Source is a tool that creates a single source for product information. Unlike any other product library, NBS Source provides an additional level of enhanced product data, in a consistent, structured format that will integrate seamlessly into your project workflow. This new platform will save you hours of time chasing product information across the web, on phone calls and manual searches though product literature.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Source includes over 1,100 manufacturers and 33,000 products covering all aspects of construction, ready to use on your projects. From images, catalogues and data sheets, to digital objects and product specifications - Source has all the information you need about a product, no matter what stage of a project you are at. 

Enhanced Data

Enhanced Data

Our team of technical experts are currently working with our community of thousands of manufacturers to deliver their product information in a detailed and structured format. This enhanced data is listed to rigorous NBS standards, with consistent properties and values, performance criteria and certification. Alerts tell you how recently a manufacturer has checked a product to confirm its accuracy, and our permanent links make the products you specify easily traceable back to Source.

Integration

Integration

NBS Source connects directly with NBS Chorus, our cloud-based specification platform, and design tools including Autodesk Revit.  Meaning you can find and specify products at every stage of your project. Saving you time trawling through the web or print catalogues for the latest product information.

Check out NBS Chorus
Free to use

Free to use

All of the product data in NBS Source is free to use and adheres to NBS standards, with consistent properties and values, performance criteria and certification. Our new traffic light alert system will inform you how recently a manufacturer has checked and verified their products to confirm their accuracy, meaning you can specify with confidence.

Access anywhere

Access anywhere

You can access source on the web, on your mobile or tablet, within NBS chorus and Autodesk Revit. Whatever your workflow, NBS Source is fully accessible to suit your needs, making it even easier to create connected construction information.

Some of our manufacturers already in NBS Source:

3M logo
ASSA ABLOY
CEMEX LOGO
Dupont logo
DYSON
Formica logo
Hilti logo
Kingspan logo

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NBS Source?
NBS Source aims to help you find everything you need to make a decision in one place – product properties, certifications, associated literature, specification clauses and digital objects. With NBS Source, you will be able to add the products data straight into your NBS specification or design model in the click of a button, saving you countless hours of hunting down products on the web or in printed brochures.

It will also allow manufacturers to be much more efficient in maintaining their product information, for example by confirming product information is current and also archiving de-listed products and adding new products. This means that you will always have access to the most up-to-date product information. 
Why is NBS launching this now?
NBS Source is all about making the process of finding construction products better, by supporting specifiers in making the right product choices for their projects and helping manufacturers meet the drive for high-quality digital product data. By providing a platform with standardised product information we are helping the industry work towards delivering a ‘golden thread’ of information on their projects.

Specifiers have told us they want manufacturers to provide product information digitally, to a high standard, in an easily accessible way. Manufacturers have told us they want to better engage with specifiers during the process, to support project decisions and improve outcomes.

Specifiers also want to be able to bring in the manufacturer spec teams at a more detailed level, inviting them into the spec so they can easily get answers to their detailed questions and avoid the risk of specifying incorrectly. The combination of the NBS Source and NBS Chorus platforms allow this to happen for the first time.

Everyone wants a more unified approach, with well-structured digital product data which they can access wherever they need it, across the whole project timeline.
How can I access Source?
NBS Source is available in the places you need it, whether that’s in a web browser, on a mobile device, in your specification or in your design model. NBS Source can be accessed through the website: https://source.thenbs.com/

NBS Source currently works in parallel to NBS Chorus, our cloud-based specification platform, and design tools such as Autodesk Revit. However, in the near future, NBS Source will be fully integrated within both of these tools. 
What manufacturer and product data is in NBS Source?
Today there are over 33,000 products from over 1,100 manufacturers. This includes many thousands of pieces of product literature, digital objects and specification clauses.

We know that in addition to this, specifiers want highly detailed, structured technical product information, in a consistent format so they can easily make decisions and add them to their projects. This is exactly what we are creating with NBS Source – through our ‘enhanced data’.

NBS will work with all of our partner manufacturers to collect a complete set of extensive, high-quality product data, structured to industry standards, including all relevant performance criteria and certifications. This is known as our ‘enhanced data’ and will allow powerful search, comparison and other features. 

We have already started this authoring process and we will enhance all of this product data working with our manufacturer partners.

Designers and specifiers can support us in this journey by requesting that manufacturers not already within the NBS provide their product data through NBS Source. 
What is happening to the existing NBS products (NBS Plus, RIBA Product Selector and NBS BIM Library)?
These products have all served the industry well for many years, but are now being integrated into NBS Source, which will take their legacies and build on them for the future. 

The current websites for these products will continue to run alongside NBS Source for a period of time, before eventually being retired as NBS Source becomes established. When the websites are retired, all links will be redirected to Source, so that ultimately NBS Source will be the single platform. 
Why is it important for manufacturers to provide enhanced product data?
If the product data format is consistent, then decision making is easier. Specifiers have a duty to ensure that they choose the right products. Too frequently, they have found it harder than it needs to be to make an informed choice between products. Information presented varies between products and between manufacturers, and specifiers can’t easily tell if they are comparing similar products or not. This wastes valuable time and creates the risk of mis-specifying. 
Is NBS Source free?
All of the product data in NBS Source is free to view. To download content, this can be done by registering for an NBS ID. It is also free to create an NBS ID.
Is it ready to use?
Yes, NBS Source is live and ready to use, the product data is the same that is currently in our existing products. However, month-by-month as the NBS team work with our partner manufactures we will enhance the quality of this data further. 
What are permalinks?
These are short, permanent web hyperlinks that allow you to link to any organization, product, case study or literature item from the documentation you produce. For example, a hyperlink in an object within a 3D model or even a QR code on a physical product.

Sign up to our newsletter

For the latest updates on NBS Source and NBS Chorus, sign up to our newsletter. Alternatively, if there is a manufacturer you can't see in Source, but would like to, email manufacturers@thenbs.com

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