NBS Source - The Future of Construction Product Information

NBS, the leading provider of connected construction information, today launches NBS Source, a cloud-based platform for construction product information that helps specifiers make more informed product decisions for their projects. For manufacturers, it is a powerful tool to present accurate product information to customers. Source will revolutionise construction specification.

• Unrivalled cloud-based digital library of construction product information which will revolutionise the way products are specified. Standardised presentation of data will make it easy to compare similar construction products.
• Dynamic product search using ‘natural language’ makes it faster to find the right product for any project.
• A powerful tool for manufacturers and specifiers to prepare for the changes to the regulatory framework with high-quality digital product data .
• Specifiers and manufacturers can collaborate on specifications in real-time.

With new building safety regulation expected later this year, NBS Source is launching at the ideal time for the industry. Soon, new regulation will have a direct impact on construction product manufacturers, and how legally they will be required to present product information. They will be expected to provide more detailed data, use standardised systems and adopt a transparent attitude to data sharing.

Beyond this, specifiers, contractors and clients will be required to keep detailed, robust records throughout a project’s entire duration. As a result, the industry’s attitude to the culture of ‘spec breaking’ is likely to dramatically change.

This new direction was highlighted at the NBS Construction Product Leaders’ Summit in February, where Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Transition Board to establish the new Building Safety Regulator, called on construction product manufacturers to refresh their standards and processes, moving towards digital solutions. She said, “Product testing, marketing, labelling and approval processes are flawed, unreliable and behind the times.”

NBS Source will accelerate decision making for specifiers and provide manufacturers with peace-of-mind their product data is being presented correctly. Manufacturers will have to provide consistent properties and values, as well as performance criteria and show third-party certification for their products.

The platform is underpinned by a powerful product search engine that uses ‘natural language processing’ to comb through thousands of product lines from building product and materials manufacturers, allowing specifiers to make highly targeted searches to find exactly the right options for their project needs.

At launch, Source includes all the information previously available in Product Selector, the NBS BIM library and NBS plus – over 22,000 products in total. NBS will be working with thousands of manufacturers to populate the library with new structured product data which will be compiled in a standardised format, making it easy for specifiers to compare products and make accurate, informed choices at any stage of a project.

If specifiers have queries, they can invite the manufacturer to collaborate on the specification, thus speeding up the process and improving accuracy.

NBS Source:

• Provides high-quality product data – With consistent properties and values, performance criteria, certifications and time-stamps, users can get detailed product information and see when manufacturers last updated their data.
• Easy to use and compare – Built around a dynamic natural-language search engine. Search by technical/non-technical terms and specific values, such as ’30 minute fire door’. Smart filters let users drill down and refine. It’s also easy to compare products side-by-side.
• Digital first – NBS Source contains all product information from images, catalogues and performance data to digital objects (BIM components) and product specifications.

Specifiers benefit from

• Free, easy-to-use, powerful, cloud-based search engine
• Tens of thousands of product listings
• High-quality product information presented in a consistent, easily comparable format
• The ability to drag and drop your choice into the specification
• A platform to invite manufacturers into your specification to collaborate
• Use at any project stage

Manufacturers benefit from

• Having their products in front of specifiers, during the moment of consideration, a powerful addition to the marketing toolkit
• Collaborating with designers in the specification in real time
• The NBS standardised approach to product information
• Assistance in meeting new regulatory requirements
• Alerts to remind manufacturers to check data accuracy and freshness

Richard Waterhouse, NBS, says, “The industry knows regulation is coming and we’ve been given a clear direction on what needs doing. Digital lies at the heart of this new approach, especially around information management and record keeping.”

“This starts with construction product manufacturers providing up-to-date, verifiable product information. That way, specifiers will be able to make better, more informed choices. Source will take the hassle out of doing this and it’s what the industry has been crying out for.”

He adds, “The ability for specifiers and manufacturers to collaborate directly is a seismic shift and this is a wonderful illustration of collaboration in action.

Robin Cordy, Marketing Director, NBS, says, “Construction is undergoing a seismic shift based upon two key things: increased connectivity and better quality data. The industry is utterly fragmented and it is too hard to reach many of the different constituencies. Source will offer specifiers better quality information, so they can quickly find, compare and choose products. Manufacturers will benefit as their products will be correctly chosen.”

Commenting on NBS Source, Colin Sinclair at Aqualisa says, “The idea of bringing it all together under one platform, actually making it easier for our products to be searched, seen and understood, is a gamechanger.”

He adds, “We’re pleased we’re on board with NBS already".

Patrick Crocock, Specifications Lead at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), says, “Specifying involves choosing products and materials to include within a project. Previously the process was overly complicated, and took up a lot of valuable resource.”

He adds, “Confusing or redundant data leads to mistakes, sometimes with devastating consequences. Specifiers want product data presented clearly, in a structured format to easily compare similar products and materials. Certificates and other related documentation need to be ‘easy to hand’. Knowing whether an item is still available, has been updated or has been replaced will make the specification process easier and safer.

“NBS Source is the ultimate product selector bringing all the elements that a specifier wants together in a single platform.”

Technical and further information

• Access Source everywhere, on the web, on your mobile, in Autodesk Revit and within NBS Chorus
• Unrivalled product data, in the cloud
• Product information is free to use
• Find out more here