Top 7 Benefits of Having Guide Specifications Prepared

1. Allows architects and engineers to clearly and correctly specify your products

2. Highlights technical features of your products

3. Differentiates your products from the competition

4. Minimizes potential for construction problems

5. Replaces ambiguous words and phrases with clear, precise, streamlined specification language

6. Specifies green properties of your products

7. Includes "Specifier Notes" - useful information to assist the specifier in:

Editing your guide specifications
Choosing among options to meet specific project requirements
Understanding unique or important features of your products

This list was prepared by Gary Schuman - a SCIP member and a specifier that writes specs for manufacturers. Email spec@garyschuman.com or call 800-965-SPEC for more information.

I want to add several additional benefits and thoughts:

The guide specification should be on your website able to be downloaded without registration and in a Word document, not a pdf. Make it easy to find your specs.
The specifier frequently visits the CSI-formatted specification on your website in preference to spending time elsewhere on the website as the spec is frequently the only place the web designer does not control. Here the specifier can determine what the test results are (eg E-84 flame spread) and the type of materials (eg 316 or 304 stainless and which gauge) and other important characteristics.
The spec will let the specifier know which CSI section is likely to be used in a specification. This also indicates that the manufacturer understands what a specification is and what a properly CSI-formatted spec looks like. I am frequently perplexed when looking to classify manufacturers to be included in 4specs. There is no clear indication of where the manufacturer intends their products to be specified.
The online specification can show your features and benefits as a comparison to the "Basis of Design" product to be accepted as a specified alternate or substitution.

Questions and suggestions are always appreciated.

Colin

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Colin Gilboy
Publisher - 4specs
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