NBS

Knowledge level:

General Awareness

Material type: Course

Material type: Online Learning

An Introduction to Specification Writing

A specification is an essential document for all construction projects, helping to ensure that the constructed entity is of suitable quality and meets expected design requirements. This article has been prepared to introduce the purpose and use of specifications on construction projects. It will describe different types and ways of structuring specifications and will provide some good-practice guidelines for those developing specifications. The article will also discuss future aspects of specifications and how changes in the construction industry may affect the type and format of specifications. It will help you to understand the following topics:
- What is a specification
- Why write a specification
- Types of specification
- Developing quality specifications
- The future of specifications

RIBA Core Curriculum:

Knowledge level:

General Awareness

Material type: Article

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NBS Create eLearning

You are able to learn how to use NBS Create via an online eLearning course developed by our specialist training team.
This eLearning course allows you to learn at a time and pace convenient to you, it is accredited by the RIBA and on completion you will receive a CPD certificate.

The course is broken down into 17 modules, with each module focusing on a particular function or task. Each module includes a short demonstration, an interactive tutorial and a quiz allowing you to learn and check your understanding of the topics covered.

On completion of all 17 modules you will be able to:
- Understand the user interface
- Create a new job
- Enter job details
- Add content to a job
- Develop an Outline specification
- Use and edit the system outline clause
- Edit clauses
- Use and edit the system outline clause
- Link clauses
- Use documents and spaces in a job
- Add manufacturers and product information in a job
- Add and use Milestones
- Develop user-created clauses and guidance notes
- View and use reports
- Format, export and print documents in NBS Create

RIBA Core Curriculum:

Procurement and contracts

Knowledge level:

General Awareness

Material type: Online Learning

Using the NBS Plug-in for Autodesk Revit

This course is for Autodesk® Revit® users who would like to learn more about using the plug-in, to add NBS National BIM Library objects to a model, to link the model to an NBS specification and to associate objects with NBS specification clauses.

As well as receiving CPD accreditation on completion of the course, attendees will find time spent with an experienced NBS trainer a valuable asset to their development. A training manual will also be given to each attendee to take away with them at the end of the course.

On completion of the course you will be able to:

- Import generic and manufacturers' objects from the NBS National BIM Library into the model
- Understand how the NBS National BIM Library objects map to NBS Create systems and clauses
- Create an NBS Create outline specification from the model - Associate objects with systems and clauses in the specification
- Annotate objects with NBS references and descriptions in the model
- Run the Association Report and resolve any conflicts between the specification and model
- View specification clauses and NBS guidance from the model.

This is a three hour course designed to run from 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Note: We recommend this course for NBS Create users. If you are an NBS Building, NBS Landscape or NBS Scheduler user, please contact us for more information about this course.

RIBA Core Curriculum:

Knowledge level:

General Awareness

Material type: Course

Material type: Online Learning

Using NBS Create

This training course is aimed at specifiers who would like to learn how to use NBS Create to develop a range of specification documents.

As well as receiving CPD accreditation on completion of this course, attendees will find time spent with an experienced NBS trainer a valuable asset to their development. A product-specific training manual will also be given to attendees to take away with them at the end of the course.

On completion of the course you will be able to:

- Use and understand the content structure used in NBS Create
- Create and edit specification documents for different stages of the project timeline
- Use the NBS Guidance and the NBS Plus manufacturers’ information
- Add your own guidance to supplement the NBS Guidance
- Use NBS Create to develop consistent, well-structured specification documents
- Use Milestones to create reference and revision points for your project
- Use the Reports functionality to produce printable reports on items such as Contractor decisions required and manufacturers’ information
- Format, print and export the data in a range of formats including COBie.

This is a full day course designed to run from 09.30am to 4.30pm.

RIBA Core Curriculum:

Knowledge level:

General Awareness

Material type: Course

Material type: Online Learning

NBS Create Specification Management

This is an advanced course, aimed at specifiers who have completed the Using NBS Create course and would like to learn more about setting up Office Masters, updating jobs and managing licence settings.

The course is delivered by an experienced NBS trainer who will advise on good practice in the development of Office Master specification content, as well as guidance on the most effective ways of managing and using NBS Create software.

All delegates will receive CPD accreditation and the 'NBS Create Specification Management' training manual, on completion of the course.

On completion of the course you will be able to:

- Create Office Master clauses and systems from previously edited content
- Create new Office Master clauses and systems
- Edit, delete and publish Office Master content
- Generate the Update report in order to display out of date content
- Accept and reject NBS content updates in your job
- Manage user accounts and software permissions in the Licence Manager.

This is a three hour course designed to run from 09.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

RIBA Core Curriculum:

Knowledge level:

General Awareness

Material type: Course

Material type: Online Learning

Using NBS Building

This course is aimed at specifiers who would like to learn more about using NBS Building to produce specification documents.

As well as receiving CPD accreditation on completion of the course, attendees will find time spent with an experienced NBS trainer a valuable asset to their development. A product-specific training manual will also be given to attendees to take away with them at the end of the course.

On completion of the course you will be able to:

- Understand the structure of work sections based upon the Common Arrangement Work Sections (CAWS)
- Create and edit a specification and set of preliminaries using clause editing tools, the NBS Guidance and manufacturers’ information
- Track changes to your specification by using Revisions - Format, print and export the specification
- Define user access to specifications and preliminaries.

This is a full day course designed to run from 10am to 4pm.

RIBA Core Curriculum:

Legal, regulatory and statutory compliance

Procurement and contracts

Knowledge level:

Detailed Knowledge

Material type: Course

Material type: Online Learning