Model Format for Building Services Specifications BG56 2016

BSRIA (the Building Services Research and Information Association) is a non-profit distributing, member-based association with a mission ‘to make buildings better.’

BSRIA guide, Model Format for Building Services Specifications (BG56/2016) was written by John Sands and published in March 2016. It is a joint venture with CIBSE (the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) and BESA (the Building Engineering Services Association).

Inaccurate specifications can cause confusion, produce errors in pricing and exacerbate problems in the commercial and contractual process. BG56/2016, the second edition of the guide 'Model Format for Building Services Specifications', is intended to improve the efficiency and understanding of all parties involved in preparing and using building services specifications.

It helps ensure specifications are written so that they are understandable by users, clearly describing what systems are to be provided and how they should be operated once installed. It provides a framework for the arrangement of sections and clauses within which an author can use their content with the least amount of change.

Section 2 describes traditional specification practices and Section 3 provides guidance about preparing more effective specifications. Section 4 describes a model specification format, and examples are provided in the appendices.

The guide also provides classification information, including tables for Uniclass 2015, the classification structure prescribed by the UK Government for use in Level 2 building information modelling (BIM) to help clarify its use in building services applications.

BG56 complements the 2014 publication, Design Framework for Building Services (BG6), and the two publications are available as a set, Model Specification and Design Framework Set of 2 guides (DFMS).

--BSRIA 09:10, 02 Apr 2016 (BST)