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NBS Engineering Services
NBS Engineering Services enables you to write concise, technically accurate and up to date specifications for building services projects.
NBS Engineering Services: Enables technical accuracy
With a subscription to NBS Engineering Services, you benefit from the work of our in house team of engineers, who are continually researching to provide the best technical guidance and clause options to people writing building services specifications.
NBS Engineering Services: It will keep you up-to-date
Clauses, guidance and product information are updated regularly. Customers receive updates on CD-ROM three times a year, and incremental updates are available to download online, so the information you are using is always up-to-date.
NBS Engineering Services: It will save you time
Clauses are pre-written so you don’t have to type much, and the guidance for each clause appears beside it on screen for speedy referral. You can add product information offered by NBS Plus with a single click, and many clauses have drop-down lists of commonly specified values enabling you to add them more quickly. A template library is also offered for writing project schedules where multiple items are to be specified.
NBS Engineering Services: It will maintain quality control
By using NBS Engineering Services you can be assured you are using the industry standard specification system that conforms to best practice. It provides extensive guidance to help you select and edit the right clauses for your project. In NBS Engineering Services you can set permissions, monitor progress and track revisions.
Up to date information
When you use NBS Engineering Services, the software will let you know if you are using the most up to date information. If updated material is available, it will prompt you to download it.
Pre-written clauses
NBS Engineering Services contains pre-written technical specification clauses and preliminaries for selection and editing to produce project specifications. Clauses are authored by our team of in-house engineers to be concise and robust. As the clauses are pre-written, very little typing is involved. Some clauses require additional information which you can either type in or complete with the use of drop-down lists of suggested solutions. Clauses are provided for both prescriptive and performance specification.
Guidance
General guidance with information on materials and design, including workmanship advice and tips on how to avoid pitfalls is provided for each work section. Extensive technical guidance is also provided to help you complete individual clauses.
Guidance provides access to technical information resources including websites and The Construction Information Service*.
Building product information
NBS Engineering Services contains building product information called NBS Plus. The manufacturers’ information has been written specifically for NBS clauses and is checked for currency at each update.
Office standards
If you regularly work on similar projects, there is a facility to create, manage and update your own office standard specifications.
Printing and issuing
Flexible formatting options mean that you can present your documents using your corporate style. They can then be printed or exported to PDF.
Intuitive user interface
NBS Engineering Services has been designed to be intuitive and simple to use. Specifications and NBS Libraries are organised on the left-hand side of the screen. The centre of the screen is used for editing work sections. The right-hand side of the screen displays Guidance, NBS Plus, Help, and links to other information resources.
* The Construction Information Service is a searchable database of full text documents from publishers such as BRE and BSI. It is available as an online subscription service from IHS, telephone 01344 404434, email marketing@ihsti.com or visit www.ihsti.com.
NBS Engineering Services is a subscription service. As part of the subscription you will receive updates on CD-ROM three times a year. Additional updates can be downloaded from the NBS website when available.
NBS Engineering Services is available in two levels of service:
Full Service
Includes Specialist, Core and Domestic libraries. This service is intended for those who require specialist technical specifications covering systems that are installed complex buildings. All procurement methods are supported, including contractor design and prescriptive specification.
Abridged Service
Includes Core and Domestic libraries. This service provides technical specifications covering the building services commonly installed in residential, light industrial and commercial projects. All procurement methods are supported, including contractor design and prescriptive specification.
NBS Engineering Services is a library of pre-written technical specifications offering clauses for both prescriptive and performance specification. Preliminaries and templates for the creation of project schedules are also included.
NBS Engineering Services is available in two levels of service. The Full Service contains Core, Domestic and Specialist libraries to support complex systems. The Abridged Service contains Core and Domestic libraries and is suitable for specifying commonly installed building services. Extensive NBS Guidance accompanies all content.
The scope and contents of NBS Engineering Services are listed below:
Current at March 2008 (NBS Engineering Services Update 2008-1)
Preliminaries/general conditions for the following contracts
| ECC Short Contract |
| JCT 2005 Intermediate contract with contractor design |
| JCT 2005 Minor works contract with contractor design |
| JCT With Quantities Contractor's Designed Portion Supplement |
| JCT With Quantities Contractor's Designed Portion Sectional Completion Supplement |
| JCT Without Quantities Contractor’s Designed Portion supplement |
| JCT Without Quantities Composite Contractor’s Designed Portion and Sectional Completion supplement |
| JCT With Contractor’s Design |
| JCT With Contractor’s Design Sectional Completion |
| JCT Subcontract (IFC) NAM/T |
| SBCC Contractor’s Designed Portion with Quantities |
| SBCC Contractor’s Designed Portion Sectional Completion Edition with Quantities |
| SBCC Contractor’s Designed Portion without Quantities |
| SBCC Contractor’s Designed Portion Sectional Completion without Quantities |
| SBCC with Contractor’s Design |
| SBCC with Contractor’s Design Sectional Completion Edition |
| Work Packages |
Work Sections
C = Core, S = Specialist, D = Domestic
Complete buildings/ structures/ units |
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| C | B06 | Engineering services general description | ||
Existing site, buildings and services |
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| C | C12 | Underground services survey | ||
| C | C14 | Building services survey | ||
| C | C20 | Demolition | ||
Linings/ Sheathing/ Dry partitioning |
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| C | K45 | Suspended ceilings alterations | ||
| C | K46 | Raised access floor system alterations | ||
Windows/ Doors/ Stairs |
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| C | L35 | Fixed utilitarian access systems | ||
Furniture and equipment |
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| C | N13 | Sanitary appliances and fittings | ||
| C | N15 | Fire and safety signage systems | ||
Building fabric sundries |
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| C | P12 | Firestopping | ||
| C | P30 | Trenches, pipeways and pits for buried engineering services | ||
| C | P31 | Holes, chases, covers and supports for services | ||
| C | P32 | Services painting | ||
| C | P33 | Plinths and bund systems | ||
Disposal systems |
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| C | R10 | Above ground rainwater drainage systems | ||
| C | R11 | Above ground foul drainage systems | ||
| S | R12 | Below ground drainage systems | ||
| S | R16 | Groundwater pressure relief drainage | ||
| S | R17 | Soakaway, septic tank and sewage treatment units | ||
| S | R18 | Pumping stations and pressure pipelines | ||
Piped supply systems |
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| C | S10 | Hot and cold water supply systems | ||
| C | S12 | Water treatment equipment | ||
| S | S17 | Water reclamation systems | ||
| S | S18 | Swimming pool water treatment systems | ||
| S | S20 | Medical oxygen supply systems | ||
| S | S21 | Medical nitrous oxide supply systems | ||
| S | S22 | Medical compressed air supply systems | ||
| S | S23 | Medical vacuum supply systems | ||
| S | S24 | Medical entonox supply systems | ||
| S | S25 | Medical anaesthetic gas scavenging systems | ||
| S | S29 | Medical gas equipment | ||
| S | S30 | Compressed air supply systems | ||
| C | S32 | Natural gas supply systems | ||
| C | S33 | LPG supply | ||
| S | S34 | Laboratory gas supply systems | ||
| S | S35 | Biogas supply systems | ||
| S | S40 | Petrol and diesel supply systems | ||
| C | S41 | Fuel oil supply | ||
| S | S42 | Liquid biofuel supply systems | ||
| S | S51 | Steam and condensate systems | ||
| C | S60 | Fire hose reels | ||
| C | S61 | Dry riser systems | ||
| C | S62 | Wet risers | ||
| C | S63 | Sprinkler systems | ||
| S | S64 | Deluge systems | ||
| C | S65 | Fire hydrant systems | ||
| S | S66 | Water mist systems | ||
| S | S70 | Gaseous fire-extinguishing systems | ||
| S | S76 | Foam fire fighting systems | ||
| D | S90 | Hot and cold water supply systems - domestic | ||
| D | S91 | Gas supply systems - domestic | ||
| D | S92 | Sprinkler systems - domestic | ||
Mechanical heating, cooling and refrigeration systems |
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| C | T10 | Heating systems | ||
| C | T20 | Gas and oil fired boilers | ||
| S | T23 | Steam boilers and equipment | ||
| S | T24 | Solid fuel boilers | ||
| S | T25 | Combined heat and power units | ||
| S | T26 | Solar collectors | ||
| C | T30 | Heat emitters | ||
| C | T36 | Direct gas fired heating units | ||
| C | T40 | Heat pump systems | ||
| C | T41 | Variable refrigerant flow systems | ||
| C | T42 | Underfloor heating and cooling | ||
| C | T50 | Chilled water systems | ||
| C | T51 | Climatic ceiling and beam systems | ||
| C | T60 | Central refrigeration plant | ||
| S | T71 | Cold room systems | ||
| D | T90 | Heating systems – domestic | ||
Ventilation and air conditioning systems |
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| C | U10 | Ventilation systems | ||
| C | U12 | Kitchen extract equipment | ||
| S | U13 | Car park ventilation systems | ||
| S | U14 | Smoke extract and smoke control systems | ||
| S | U21 | Safety cabinet extract systems | ||
| S | U24 | Industrial fume extract systems | ||
| C | U30 | Air conditioning systems | ||
| S | U40 | Induction units | ||
| C | U41 | Fan-coil units | ||
| C | U42 | VAV units | ||
| C | U60 | Local air conditioning units | ||
| C | U80 | Air ductlines and ancillaries | ||
| C | U81 | Air handling units | ||
| C | U82 | Fans | ||
| C | U83 | Air filtration | ||
| C | U84 | Heating and cooling coils | ||
| C | U85 | Heat recovery | ||
| C | U86 | Air treatment | ||
| C | U87 | Silencers and acoustic treatment | ||
| C | U88 | Air terminal devices | ||
| D | U90 | Ventilation systems - domestic | ||
Electrical systems |
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| S | V10 | High voltage connection | ||
| C | V11 | Low voltage connection | ||
| S | V12 | Generator systems | ||
| S | V13 | Small scale wind generating systems | ||
| S | V14 | Photovoltaic systems | ||
| S | V20 | High voltage distribution systems | ||
| S | V21 | High voltage switchgear | ||
| S | V22 | Fluid immersed transformers | ||
| S | V23 | Dry-type transformers | ||
| S | V24 | High voltage cabling | ||
| C | V30 | Low voltage distribution systems | ||
| C | V31 | Low voltage switchgear | ||
| C | V32 | Low voltage cabling | ||
| S | V33 | Busbar trunking | ||
| C | V34 | Controls and starters | ||
| S | V36 | Automatic power factor correction equipment | ||
| S | V37 | Harmonic filtering equipment | ||
| C | V39 | Electrical inspection and testing | ||
| C | V40 | Small power systems | ||
| S | V44 | Uninterruptible power supplies | ||
| C | V50 | General lighting systems | ||
| S | V51 | Automatic lighting controls | ||
| C | V55 | Self contained emergency lighting and signage systems | ||
| C | V56 | Central battery emergency lighting and signage systems | ||
| S | V57 | Static inverter emergency lighting and signage | ||
| C | V59 | General luminaires and lamps | ||
| S | V60 | External lighting systems | ||
| S | V67 | Underwater lighting systems | ||
| C | V80 | Electrical identification | ||
| C | V81 | Earthing and bonding systems | ||
| D | V90 | Electrical systems - domestic | ||
Communications, security, safety and protection systems |
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| C | W11 | Public address systems | ||
| S | W16 | Induction loop systems | ||
| S | W17 | Infrared listening systems | ||
| S | W20 | Television and radio distribution systems | ||
| C | W30 | Telecommunications | ||
| S | W31 | Data distribution systems | ||
| C | W40 | Access control systems | ||
| C | W41 | Intruder detection and alarm systems | ||
| C | W44 | Closed circuit television systems | ||
| C | W50 | Fire detection and alarm systems | ||
| S | W51 | Voice alarm systems | ||
| C | W53 | Assistance call systems | ||
| S | W55 | Nurse call systems | ||
| S | W57 | Gas detection and alarm systems | ||
| S | W58 | Water leak detection and alarm systems | ||
| C | W60 | Lightning protection systems | ||
| S | W73 | Swimming pool timing and scoring systems | ||
| D | W90 | Communications and security systems - domestic | ||
Transport systems |
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| C | X10 | Lift Systems | ||
| C | X12 | Vertical platform lift systems | ||
| C | X13 | Stairlifts | ||
| S | X15 | Escalator and moving walk systems | ||
General engineering services |
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| C | Y10 | Pipelines | ||
| C | Y11 | Pipeline ancillaries | ||
| C | Y12 | Mechanical cleaning and chemical treatment | ||
| C | Y20 | Pumps | ||
| C | Y21 | Tanks and cisterns | ||
| C | Y22 | Heat exhangers | ||
| C | Y24 | Trace heating tapes | ||
| C | Y30 | Mechanical thermal insulation | ||
| C | Y31 | Vibration isolation mountings | ||
| C | Y32 | Mechanical plant and equipment identification | ||
| C | Y35 | Flues and chimneys | ||
| C | Y40 | Mechanical engineering services control and management systems | ||
| S | Y41 | Building monitoring and management systems | ||
| C | Y50 | Mechanical commissioning | ||
| C | Y60 | Conduit and trunking | ||
| C | Y63 | Cable supports | ||
| C | Y65 | Electrical accessories | ||
| S | Y67 | Transient over-voltage surge suppression devices | ||
Building fabric reference specifications |
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| C | Z11 | Purpose made metalwork | ||
| C | Z20 | Fixings and adhesives | ||
| C | Z22 | Sealants | ||
Schedules
Electrical: |
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| S | Amenity lighting performance schedule | ||
| C | Circuit schedule (single phase) | ||
| C | Circuit schedule (three phase) | ||
| C | Electrical accessory finishes schedule | ||
| C | Lighting performance schedule | ||
| C | Luminaire schedule | ||
| S | Patch cord schedule | ||
| S | Roadway lighting performance schedule | ||
| C | Small power schedule | ||
| S | Telecommunications outlet schedule | ||
| C | Three phase power units | ||
| S | Voice alarm system schedule | ||
Mechanical: |
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| C | Air curtain schedule | ||
| C | Air handling unit schedule | ||
| C | Design temperature schedule | ||
| C | Fan coil unit schedule | ||
| C | Fan convector schedule | ||
| C | Fan schedule | ||
| C | Filter schedule | ||
| C | Floor heating and cooling system schedule | ||
| C | Gas fired cabinet direct heater schedule | ||
| C | Gas fired cabinet indirect heater schedule | ||
| C | Gas fired radiant luminous heater schedule | ||
| C | Gas fired radiant tube heater schedule | ||
| C | Gas fired unit heater schedule | ||
| C | Grille and diffuser schedule | ||
| C | Heat recovery schedule | ||
| C | Heating and cooling coil schedule | ||
| C | Humidifier schedule | ||
| S | Induction unit schedule | ||
| C | Local air conditioning unit schedule | ||
| C | Louvre schedule | ||
| C | Mechanical thermal insulation schedule | ||
| C | Natural convector schedule | ||
| C | Pipeline insulation thickness schedule | ||
| C | Public address system schedule | ||
| C | Pump schedule | ||
| C | Radiator schedule | ||
| C | Room heater schedule | ||
| C | Silencer schedule | ||
| C | Tank and cistern schedule | ||
| C | Thermal storage heater schedule | ||
| C | Towel rail schedule | ||
| C | Trench heating schedule | ||
| C | Unit heater schedule | ||
| C | Valve schedule | ||
| C | Variable air volume unit schedule | ||
NBS Software Licensing
NBS software can be licensed for use on standalone PCs, or for use on a network. When running on a standalone PC the software will be licence locked for use only on that machine.
For network installations, the software will be licence locked to the server PC. Other PCs on the network may access the licence on the server for concurrent use, up to the number of licences subscribed to.
System requirements
NBS software requires the following components in order to run:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) or Higher
- Microsoft .NET framework 2.0
Both are supplied on the software CD. All products require a CD-ROM drive for
initial installation of the software.
In addition the software will run on the following platforms:
- Windows Vista (All Editions) 32-bit and 64-bit
- Windows 2000 (SP4)
- Windows XP Professional (SP2)
- Windows XP Home (SP2)
- Windows 2000 Server and above (for Server PCs)
Full instructions for installation are contained in the Getting Started Guide and help files provided in the software. Our software support team also provide assistance, and you can contact them on 0845 456 9594 (+44 191 232 9594 from outside the UK) and at support@theNBS.com.
Please note that the speed of running any software application depends upon several factors. The following specification is an approximate guide only.
Recommended minimum requirements for all NBS software:
- Processor: Pentium III 750 MHz
- Memory: 256 MB
- Free disk space: 700Mb ~ 1Gb
- Screen resolution: 1024 x 768 in 16 bit colour.
Microsoft Windows Vista
On 30th January 2007 Microsoft formally launched Windows Vista, to supersede Windows XP.
Windows Vista is available in five different editions, each in both 32bit and 64bit versions:
- Windows Vista Ultimate
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- Windows Vista Home Basic
- Windows Vista Business
- Windows Vista Enterprise
If you are considering the operating system, NBS can confirm that we continue to develop the product range in order to be compatible with Windows Vista.
For the latest information please see NBS software Vista compatibility.
Apple Macintosh
We have successfully tested our products on Apple Macintosh computers with Windows emulation software (see specification below). We cannot guarantee, however, that customers' experiences will be the same in all instances.
- Mac G4, 867 MHz, 640 MB RAM
- Mac OS X 10.2.8
- Virtual PC 6.1 & 7.1
- Windows 2000 SP4 / Windows XP Service Pack 1 (256 Mb allocated to PC) + VPC additions
- 1024*768 HiColour
We have recently tested the compatibility of NBS software with Apple Boot Camp. The specification of the machine tested on is as follows:
- iMac 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo
- 17-inch widescreen LCD with 1440x900 resolution
- 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo with 2MB shared L2 cache
- 512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
- 160GB Serial ATA hard drive
- Slot-load 8x double-layer SuperDrive
- ATI Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB GDDR3 memory
- Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
Please Note: In order to run NBS software using Apple Boot Camp users will require a bona fide full version of Microsoft Windows: XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2, Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate. (No upgrade or multi-disc versions).
NBS have tested the Specification Family portfolio software (NBS Building, NBS Landscape, NBS Engineering Services), NBS Contract Administrator and NBS Scheduler successfully for standalone and network installations and the platform appears to be very stable.
Although the software has been successfully tested on this platform we cannot guarantee that the software will react the same with another specification Mac. Therefore, we cannot guarantee performance of our software when using Windows on a Mac. Support will be limited for any customers using our software on Mac as we will not be able to determine that the encountered problems are due to our software or the system used.
Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME and NT4
Microsoft has retired support for:
- Windows 95
- Windows 98
- Windows 98SE
- Windows ME
- Windows NT4
Microsoft state that these operating systems are outdated and can expose customers to security risks. NBS recommend that customers who are still running the above upgrade to a newer, more secure Microsoft operating system, such as Windows XP (SP2), as soon as possible.
Microsoft has announced that the above operating systems will no longer be supported. Whilst the current versions of the NBS product range will continue to run on these operating systems (except Windows 95 and 98), NBS will no longer support the development of future versions of the product range on these operating systems.
Fact
NBS Engineering Services contains a wealth of guidance on sustainability, including work sections on combined heat and power systems, heat pump systems, photovoltaic systems, water reclamation, solar collectors, and small scale wind generating systems.
Client Testimonials
Specification writing makes me lose the will to live - it's now much better with NBS Engineering Services.
John Withers, Derbyshire County Council
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