GBE GBS Robust Specification Clauses G#1087 N#1105

The Barbour Report 2000. Influencing Product Decisions

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS (cherry picked here)

• The incidence of including brands in specifications is higher than anecdotal evidence suggests. Around four in ten Specifiers have a policy of including brands.
• In over 7 in 10 specifications examined, a brand or brands were stated – typically with ‘or similar approved’.
• When stating a brand, half of Specifiers are benchmarking the quality which they expect the Contractor to achieve; only four in ten expect to see their choice used.
• Brands are more likely to be stated where product performance is critical and where appearance is important..
• Clients and Sub-contractors are consulted during specification preparation. 85% of Clients have standard specifications and half of these contain product brands. Sub-contractors have design input to 40% of specifications.
• 8 in 10 Contractors believe they have more influence on brand specification now than they did three years ago. This influence lies largely in suggesting product alternatives.
• Two-thirds of specifications received by Contractors have brands in them. Contractors try to change over 60% and succeed with two-thirds of their attempts.
• The change process is a consultative one, involving discussions with the original Specifier and the Client.
• Alternatives are predominantly proposed for cost reasons, but not necessarily for the lowest price.
• Alternative products must match performance criteria to be accepted. To secure specifications, manufacturers must ensure that product characteristics are not easily replicated in cheaper form without identifiable loss of performance or quality.
• There are differences in opinion between Specifiers and Contractors on responsibility for product recommendation and decision-making.

• Factors influencing Clients’ product decisions
• In order of importance, the key criteria affecting product selection are:
  • health and safety,
  • lifecycle costs,
  • initial price,
  • sustainability
  • relationship with the supplier.
• Around one-third expect the following to become even more important:
  • sustainability,
  • health and safety
  • lifecycle costs.
• 40% would like to see the sustainability of products improved.