NBS and BCIS have partnered up to help support the industry in its drive for net-zero buildings with an early-stage specification library, where professionals can prep their decisions at the concept design stage.
The partnership will incorporate robust data sets from BCIS into NBS’ specification writing platform, Chorus, providing specifiers with a powerful set of insights to help them make design decisions that reflect budget and sustainability aspirations.
The platform will provide a smooth user experience and facilitate consistent sustainability discussions and decisions within project design teams.
Commenting on the collaboration, Dr Stephen Hamil, innovation director at NBS, said: “Our recent research at NBS has shown that specifiers are asking for better, more joined-up building information to help them make informed sustainability decisions at the project outset.
“At the moment, there isn’t one company in the industry that can provide designers and specifiers with the comprehensive information they need to build sustainably – that’s why this partnership marks an important milestone, giving specifiers an additional level of insight that previously was just not available.
“The partnership will also provide users with relative cost indicators from BCIS, which will allow specifiers to understand the relative financial cost in addition to the environmental cost impact of building elements.
“Architects and other specifiers have also made it clear that they want indicators to help with decision-making on cost and the potential future upkeep of buildings.
“Providing cost and sustainability data will allow for better decisions and enhanced collaboration across the design team, ultimately providing the built environment with the tools to build more sustainability.”
James Fiske, CEO of BCIS, added: “We know how critical decisions are at the start of a project in influencing lifetime cost and carbon emissions. We want to partner with an organisation that could help deliver our data to designers and specifiers and NBS was the perfect fit. The data we are going to provide through NBS will link with the more detailed data sets available to users of BCIS, allowing all members of the design team to discuss design and specification options on a consistent basis.
“Together, we can provide a solution to help design teams make informed specification decisions earlier in the design process that support the industry drive to net zero.”
