NBS launch the future of specification

NBS has announced the launch of its most innovative specification platform, NBS Chorus, the first cloud-based platform to be released from the UK-based business.

NBS Chorus is a collaborative specification platform supporting global design and construction, aimed at those professionals who need to produce high quality specifications efficiently.

The use of cloud technology ensures that those using the new platform have the latest software and global content at all times, improving collaboration and efficiencies across whole teams and minimising risk.

NBS CEO Richard Waterhouse said, “Some of the biggest issues for our customers when it comes to producing specifications are: unstructured content, barriers to collaboration and lack of connectivity between specifications and the rest of the project.

“NBS Chorus allows the whole team to work together as one. It connects the people you need wherever they are, provides the whole team with accurate global standards and classifications and connects this all together in a platform built for BIM on a global scale”

Launched at BiLT North America on August 9, the team at NBS see the new platform as a way to help the industry continue in its digital transformation.

“One of the key areas highlighted by the McKinsey Global Institute in its 2017 report, was that to improve productivity, the construction industry needed to ‘infuse digital technologies’ to get close to the $1.6 trillion global value the sector could reach if it could truly transform itself,’ continued Richard.

“NBS has always taken the initiative to do better for our customers and continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible within the industry. We see NBS Chorus as the future of specification and see true value for anyone who wants to come on this journey with us.”

A number of global practices have been involved in a private launch of NBS Chorus throughout 2018, including Mott MacDonald, Ryder Architecture and IBI Group.

“The ability to work within a cloud-based software platform allows Mott MacDonald to collaborate with external organisations undertaking projects worldwide using the capabilities of the collaborative software,” said Mark Bragg, Principal Mechanical Engineer at Mott MacDonald.

“This product will not only allow us to more effectively work between Studios, but also with other consultants. The ability to be able to review specifications not in isolation from the design / model, but as part of the design, will allow for more collaborative discussion with context,” said Nick Ainscough, BIM Development Lead at IBI Group.

Glenn Tate, Associate at Ryder Architecture, said: “By having project specifications from different design discipline in a single area, we hope that the collaboration this offers will remove the risk of gaps in the project specification and help to remove assumptions in design information that has multiple responsible parties.”

NBS Chorus delivers structured content written and maintained to UK or Canadian practice and standards. Content suitable for US and Australian practice and standards will follow.

With access to 24 hour support, NBS is reinforcing its message that it is ready to support global construction projects. Since announcing expansion across two continents in 2017, acquiring Canada-based Digicon and setting up in Australia, NBS has updated the NBS National BIM Library and BIM Object standard tools to include Canadian and Australian content.

NBS, who provide technical information, specification and BIM tools to construction industry professionals as well as services for building product manufacturers recently announced a £31.8m investment from LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group.

The investment will continue to deliver future product development and international growth plans.

If you’re interested in learning more about NBS Chorus, NBS is running a series of discovery events across the UK in September and October.

To register interest email/visit and to find out more visit https://www.thenbs.com/discover

To find out more about NBS Chorus, visit https://www.thenbs.com/services/our-tools/nbs-chorus