Specification Writing NBS Binder Disk service Training

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Specification Writing NBS Binder Disk service Training

Specification Writing NBS Binder Disk service Training
About:

This is a half day workshop to introduce all staff members at all levels of experience to NBS Binder/Disk service and how to go about creating a project specification from scratch.

This will be delivered during March-April 2016 to a London Architects Practice, to 50 staff over 5 sessions. It is available to other practices.

Contact BrianSpecMan if this is of interest to your Practice

Follow up workshops could be developed to explore adopting NBS Software and developing Office template Specification (see right column/after images)

Session 1 Scope

All about Specification and its context
Familiar with NBS Binders
NBS Work Section Parts
Worked Example
Populating insert brackets
Familiarity with NBS on disk and server
File Naming Convention
Worked example

Session 2 Scope

Editing A Preliminaries sections
Project Specification: (Office Standard Template) (Word DOT or DOTX)
Adding spec from other sources:
Turning BBA Certificates into Project specifications
Turning manufacturer’s literature into specifications
Turning manufacturer’s specifications into NBS Compatible
Including manufacturer’s specifications in Project Specifications
Turning previous project spec into new project spec
Improving on NBS
Different approach to NBS
Including Consultant’s brief in specifications

Other possible future sessions

Potential for Practice Specification Template to save time, money, avoiding errors
Office resources
Office Procedures
Creating new Work Sections
Developing Practice-Specification
Developing Practice-Template in NBS Software
NBS Building or NBS Create
Project Spec Template

Costs:

Half day: £350
Whole day: 2 sessions: £500

Specification Writing from NBS Binder Disk Service (CPD/Training)

Session 1 of 2

Ask relevant questions

I have been doing Specifications for 40 years
I make a living at it for 32 years as a spec consultant
I specified £2415m
I experienced many variations of procurement methods
Prescriptive, Performance and Employer’s Requirements
I have used NBS & PSA Specs & NBS Software
I created my own ASWS NGS and GBE Specs
I follow where BIM is taking Specification
Listen and hear what I cherry pick out of all of that
Or ask questions related to your current project needs
and I will give you the benefit of my experience

Session 1

All about Specification and its context
Familiar with NBS Binders
NBS Work Section Parts
Worked Example
Populating insert brackets
Familiarity with NBS on disk and server
File Naming Convention
Worked example

Session 1: Part 0: ¼ hour

All about Specification and its context
What is a spec and what should it do?
What it should not do and where other things should live
The Holy Trinity: Drawings, Spec & Bill of Quantities
Don’t undermine the spec with bad notes on drawings
CPI Coordinated Project Information
Drawing annotation and T Sheets
Risks associated with File > Save As
Save time but drive error into outputs
Potential for Office Template to save time avoiding errors

Session 1: Part 1: 1of4: (¼ hour)

Familiarity with NBS Binders
3 versions
Choosing the version (colours)
for the job (Project size, complexity, procurement method, contract type)
QS might advise (with caution)
Often closer to procurement method discussions
Many preliminaries and work sections

Session 1:Part 1:2of4: (¼ hour)

Choosing work sections for the job
A for Preliminaries (By QS?)
B for Performance and Framed, Modular, Podular and Panels, Conservatories
C for Existing Buildings
D-P for New Build
D for Ground works (by St Eng?)
D, E & G for Sub and Superstructure (by StEng?)
E for Concrete (by StEng?)
F for Masonry
G for Frames (by St Eng?)
H for External envelope (by FE?)
J for Proofing
K for Dry Interior finishes (ID?)
L for Secondary elements
M for Wet finishes inside and out
N for Furniture (by ID?)
P for Secondary and Proofing
Q for External Works (by LA?)
R-Y for Services (mostly by M&E Engineer)
R99 to Y99 for Domestic Services (sometimes by Architect)
Z Reference Sections

Session1:Part 1:3or4 (¼ hour)

Loose ends:
‘Difficult to know where to put it’ parts
Other parts not in NBS
Any examples?
CLTP do not have a home yet
GBE have a specification not published yet
Do not spread elements all around NBS work sections
Create a new one

Session 1:Part 1:4of4: (¼ hour)

NBS is not the whole story
It’s a framework, checklist and encyclopaedia
Its robust and competent
Its not Green enough
It’s a National Master Spec that follows Master Spec rules
It does not fit every procurement method
Your version of it needs to do what is right for the project, not necessarily right for NBS.
It can be added to and modified
Take care and do it anyway
(Session 2 goes into more detail)

Session 1 Part 2: ½ hour

Familiarity with NBS Work section parts
Coloured (standard version: blue) Pages
Authoritative Bodies
Reference Documents
General Guidance Notes
White pages
Clauses
Clause Guidance Notes
Reference to authoritative guidance documents
Technical Library? TI? Barbour Expert?
Reference to manufacturers published information
Office Library (history) Project Library?, Internet, manufacturer’s rep

Session 1:Part 3:1 Hour

Worked Example: (Trainees bring their own selected project work section unedited)

Session 1: Part 3.1: 1of2 (¼ hour)

Getting started with NBS
Read the Coloured pages of work section, this is the encyclopaedia bit
Read the titles and scan all of White pages of work section start to finish so there are no surprises
Read clauses, read clause guidance notes, using guidance for help with editing

Session 1: Part 3.1: 2of2 (¼ hour)

Print expendable copy of work section
Check expendable and binder text is the same version
Start editing expendable copy with a 2B or softer pencil (so you can change your mind)
Go through and circle clause numbers of clauses to keep
Go through and strike out clauses to delete
Strike out whole clauses with horizontal line through first line and last line and diagonal line joining them
Cavalier diagonals are vague and easy to misinterpret if handed to a secretary to edit file
Go through and edit any clause that is relevant but not quite right
Strike out individual words with horizontal line and short vertical line to stop and start at both ends of the line.
Add a revision letter to the clause number to indicate a change has been carried out
If you change your mind write IN or OUT next to the number
Add any other generic information using the NBS Clause Guidance Notes
Complete the project information you know from your head or schedules
With your best writing if a secretary or team member is to transcribe
Get as close as you can to a complete spec without referring to manufacturers literature
Then do the literature

Session 1 Part 3.2: (¼ hour)

Populating insert brackets
(trainees go to project team space and collect information and populate a few clauses)
(including tea break at work spaces or meeting room)
Read and highlight manufacturers literature with ‘insert-populating information’
Transcribe information to expendable copy into insert brackets
Mark off the literature as the information is transferred
Consider any residual technical information for a revised NBS clause

Session 1: Part 3.3: ¼ Hour

Familiarity with NBS on disk
Engaging with NBS templates files on the server
Document files DOCX
(risk of damage/loss)
not template files DOTX
Choosing files
Setting up project folder and populating it with chosen files

Session 1: Part 3.4: ¼ Hour

File Naming Convention
Specification is a document just like a drawing
As are schedules
Treat them in the same way
Give them a file name in the file naming system used for drawings
(A3u) classification for specification or (Spec)
Drawing/Document number and file names:
any relationship?

Session 1: Part 4: (1 hour)

Worked Example (one trainee to edit spec from mark-up to office computer, shown on monitor)
Editing NBS Specifications in Word
Fast edit process
Print expendable, mark up, accept and delete then edit and recheck
What to include and what to delete
Editing Z Reference Sections
So little in them you could almost include unedited
Or you could improve them
Adding from sources
Populating the blanks
Sourcing information
Internet literature
Editing into a product spec
Print out, mark up, then edit
Internet specifications
Editing into a project spec
Merging into project specification
Manufacturer’s Rep
Briefing Rep
Receiving and reviewing specification
Editing into NBS Format
Extracting Database pages to Word table

Specification Writing from NBS Binder Disk Service (CPD/Training)

End of Session 1 of 2

Specification Writing from NBS Binder Disk Service (CPD/Training)

Start of Session 2 of 2

Ask relevant questions

I have been doing Specifications for 40 years
I made a living at it for 32 years as a spec consultant
I specified £2415m
I experienced many variations of procurement methods
Prescriptive, Performance and Employer’s Requirements
I have used NBS & PSA Specs & NBS Software
I created my own ASWS NGS and GBE Specs
I follow where BIM is taking Specification
Listen and hear what I cherry pick out of all of that
Or ask questions related to your current project needs
and I will give you the benefit of my experience

Session 2 Scope

What is a specification (quick reminder of Session 1)
Editing A Preliminaries sections
Project Specification: (Office Standard Template) (Word DOT or DOTX)
Adding spec from other sources:
- Turning BBA Certificates into Project specifications
- Turning manufacturer’s literature into specifications
- Turning manufacturer’s specifications into NBS Compatible
- Including manufacturer’s specifications in Project Specifications
Turning previous project spec into new project spec
Improving on NBS
Different approaches to NBS
Including Consultant’s brief in specifications

Session 2: Part 0: (Session 1 Short ¼ hour)

All about Specification and its context
What is a spec and what should it do?
What it should not do and where other things should live
CPI Coordinated Project Information
The Holy Trinity: Drawings, Spec & Bill of Quantities (History in the world of BIM)
Don’t undermine the spec with notes on drawings
Drawing annotation and T Sheets
Q&A throughout to the benefit of trainees

Session 2: Part 1: ½ hour

Editing A Preliminaries sections
By Whom? QS (normally) or Architect (one man bands/small jobs)
QS often closer to the procurement issues and they often do them
Architect still responsible until permission to let QS is approved by Employer
Review them if you did not write them and comment
A20 Choosing Contract to suit Procurement
NBS Binders A Preliminaries A20 Contracts
A30-A37 Important bits from Architects point of view
Essential in many D&B, DMC, MC, CM if contractor is assembling package documents
Package interfaces: Design Responsibilities, Scope, sequence, locations, design trade interface boundary, tolerances, hand over/sign off accountability, etc.
www.Built2Spec-project.eu
A40-A44 Cost controls and payment procedures
From scratch
With or without Practice Preliminaries Template (GMW & TP Bennett)
Practice Preliminaries to issue to other party to incorporate each time
If you want progress photo every month from set position say so
If you have particular samples procedures (Foster and A4 samples library)
If you want jammy dodgers at site meetings say so

Session 2: Part 2.0: ¼ hour
Adding spec from other sources

Citing other authoritative national specifications
CWCT (Cladding), Steel, Concrete, Road, Rail,
FIRA (furniture), TRADA (timber), SGD (Landscape)
Consultant’s Spec or Brief
NBS Plus
From BBA Certificates (parts very useful)
See Example (ensures compliance with Certificate)
Manufacturer’s Product specs
Created by?: NBS, Manufacturer, NGS?
(make sure its been edited to project specific version)
Edited by?: NBS, Manufacturer, You, manufacturer then you
Manufacturer’s Project specs
(make sure it reflects your requirements
Choose any options still left in)
From Manufacturers Literature/Drawings (next slide)
Change from guidance to instruction
Make like NBS format (mostly)

Session 2: Part 2.1: ¼ hour

Converting BBA Certificate content into Specifications
Makes BBAC more useful that just a license to be specified by architects
Ensures compliance with certificate
Good for PII, Good in Court
If you turn it into instructions
Be selective but don’t miss anything useful
Design: CDP Performance Clauses
Prescription: Product & Accessories clause(s)
Installation: Workmanship clauses
See Prepared sample handout.
Any project examples?

Session 2: Part 2.2: ¼ hour

Turning manufacturer’s literature into specifications
File > Save as > Name or Copy > Paste > into Word > Save
(keep old unedited as a proof reading aid)
Print and mark up changes
Turn Guidance/Recommendation into Instruction
reorganising sentence content order
Strip out redundancy e.g. The Contractor Shall
Reformat to NBS layout (with some flexibility)
Edit work section in Word with track changes turned on
Big Project Spec files get unstable with track changes on
Ask manufacturer’s director to check and state ‘your reliance on response’

Session 2: Part 2.3: ¼ hour

Turning manufacturer’s specifications into project specification
Any Project examples
NBS Compatible format
E.g. U10 or U14 Colt Specs
finishing off details
eliminating risk of claims for extras
E.g. G22 CLTP not spread across many incorrect elemental sections

Session 2: Part 2.4: ¼ hour

Including manufacturer’s schedules into Project Specifications
If extracting from schedule to make specification
(not quantities and not prices)
E.g. P21 & N13 extracting from database export into Word table or text
NBS Format
Or adding whole as an Appendix
Any Project examples?

Session 2: Part 2.5: ¾ hour
(Option 1)

Worked Example:
(Trainees bring their own selected project work section unedited)
Working in small groups if you will find that useful
Either working in training room or at own workstations
Highlight literature/BBAC/Spec with specification information
Print expendable copy of NBS work section
Copy specification information to insert brackets
(substantially?) complete work section
Get as close as you can to a complete set of information for spec referring to manufacturers literature, website, BBA certs, spec.
Search for missing information
Contact manufacturer for missing information
Last 10 minutes come back with questions
I will endeavour to guide you to other answers or solutions

Session 2 Part 2.5: ¾ hour
(Option 2)

Project Specification:
(Office Standard Template) (Word DOT or DOTX)
To maintain consistency
To assemble work sections as single document
To automate content using fields
To automate editing
using Auto functions in Word
Practice Template Consistency
Layout & Margins
Logos
Orderliness v wasted paper
Format: no emphasis so that all are equally important
Project Template Consistency
Ditto
Assemble single document
Insert files
Page breaks v return return return
Adding Headers and Footers in Word
Adding fields for Auto replace
Editing fields in Properties
Adding Automatic Content
Apply Styles
to work section titles
Generating Content List
To System Product Accessories clause titles
Generating T Sheet List
Adding Auto text for fast accurate editing
Autotext Library files

Session 2: Part 3: ½ hour

Turning previous project spec into new project spec
Find the closest match project and other extras from other projects or back to NBS
File > save as > name (before editing)
Save function in Word has 3 functions: Incorrect use can wreck a days work (or more)
Autosave (if on), Save as you work, Save on closing
Close files overnight and over lunchtime (server back ups can be blocked/files damaged)
Track changes can get unstable on a whole building specification (large file)
Find and replace to tidy format, poor typing skills using ^t ^p ^m whitespace, etc.
Find and replace (with great care), grammer, spelling,
Spell checker needs educating (office wide function?, be careful, but editing is possible)
Proof against NBS Raw text, adding back missing clauses
Expendable Mark up, strip out and then merge
What to include and what to delete
Fast edit process (see Session 1)
Edit Cover, Header, Footer, Content page, Revision page (See Template session 2 or 3)
Use Word ‘Fields’ to speed find and replace (Office Spec Template Session 2 or 3)
Editing Preliminaries each time (See earlier slide Session 2)
Office Procedures (for associates to address with management)
Checklist development
Checklist deployment
Checklist training.
Office Template with all this built in

Session 2: Part 4: ¼ hour
Improving on NBS

Different Procurement methods and suitable preliminaries
CA, EA, MC, D&BC, Design team, Design Campion, etc.
Missing
Preliminaries: A56 Advance Procurement, A55 Dayworks
Work sections: Environmental Methods of construction
Clauses: Performance, Environmental
Adding work sections
NGS GBS Preliminaries (A38, A39, A90, A91, A93, A94, A95)
NGS GBS Work sections (P14, Z11.0.1.2.3.4 Z31, Z34)
NGS GBS Clauses (Performance, Environmental, Competency)
NGS GBS Appendix (DofC, DoEM. DoRR, EaCD, MR, EWC, MEW, TBS, ASR, PDA, SPDQ, SPAQ, etc.)

Session 2: Part 4: ¼ hour
Different approaches to NBS

D&B Design team Performance Spec only
(Brief + NGS A90 + Some/Much Prescriptive)
or NBS Create (B) ambition See next slide.
D&B Contractors team: Prescriptive specification
in response to Design team Performance spec (just prescriptive?)
1 Volume: (used in D&B )
Performance, Assemblies, Products & Accessories only,
no Workmanship (reliant upon BRegs, CofP, Standards, EC & EN)
But contractors are known to say if its not in the spec its not happening
2 Volumes: (appreciated by recipients)
V1 Performance, Assemblies, Products & Accessories
V2 Workmanship (its there in case anything goes wrong)
Schedule of Work & Spec (NBS Scheduler)

Lessons learned from
NBS Create used elsewhere

B01 Building General Description
(More than NBS A13 Description of the Works)
(=Outline specification?)
B02 Building General Performance
(≅GBE A90: Performance Specification)
B03 Elemental System Performance
B04 Elemental Assembly Specification
(=Schedule of elemental assemblies/components)
(can x-ref to individual trade work sections/clauses)
B05 Engineering Services General Description
B06 Engineering Services System Performance

Specification Writing from NBS Binder Disk Service (CPD/Training)

End of Session 2 of 2

Specification Writing NBS Binder Disk service Training
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