NBS launches industry guide for specification writing

NBS has launched The Best Practice Guide to Specification Writing, a free framework designed to standardise and improve specification writing across the sector.

Developed in collaboration with industry professionals, the guide addresses common pain points, with the aim to improve consistency and quality in specifications across practices and on contractor-led projects.

The development of the guide was shaped by industry focus groups where experts highlighted widespread inconsistencies in specification writing and the need for clearer classification and change management processes. 

NBS says the guide is designed to empower industry professionals to write robust specifications, from those starting their careers to more experienced spec writers to reflecting on how they approach specifications.

Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director at NBS and author of the guide, said:

This is a framework for writing specifications that applies across the industry. Whether you draft specifications in software, Word or on the back of a napkin, the principles remain the same. The goal is to create a standardised approach, ensuring a consistent methodology across practices and clients.

As a project progresses, it's not just about publishing a spec and simply incrementing the revision number. It's about highlighting precisely what clauses have changed and what those changes are. In addition, bringing as many of the specification decisions forward and ensuring full compliance is the safest route in the current regulatory climate.

The guide is available to download here.