NB
Specification

NBS Chorus

The UK industry standard for writing and managing building specifications

★★★★★★★★★★
(1)

NBS Chorus is a cloud-based specification writing platform built around structured content libraries maintained to current British Standards and building regulations. It is used by over 1,300 UK architectural and engineering practices and is the closest thing the profession has to an industry-standard specification tool. When a standard or regulation changes, NBS pushes an update notification: a genuine advantage for practices without the capacity to track amendments themselves.

The platform integrates with Revit, ArchiCAD, and Vectorworks, allowing specification work to run alongside BIM modelling rather than in a separate silo. Real-time collaboration means multiple team members can work on the same specification simultaneously with full version tracking. A Small Works edition launched in 2024 offers a more accessible entry point for smaller practices working on less technically complex projects.

NBS is owned by Byggfakta Group (a Swedish construction data company) following acquisition in 2021. The content library covers architecture, landscape, structures, services, and small works: all structured to the Uniclass 2015 classification system. The platform holds over one million authored specification clauses and has been used to select products from manufacturers over 35,000 times.

The dominant criticism in 2025–26 is pricing: licences have risen over 400% since 2015, with some UK practices quoted £7,350–£9,000 per licence: a cost that falls equally on sole practitioners and 200-person firms. The true total cost including staff time is estimated at three to five times the licence fee.

Strengths

  • UK industry standard: widely recognised by contractors, engineers, and building control
  • Content library maintained to current British Standards and building regulations: updates pushed automatically
  • BIM integration with Revit, ArchiCAD, and Vectorworks
  • Real-time collaboration with version tracking across the team
  • Small Works edition available for simpler, smaller projects
  • Uniclass 2015 structured content: compatible with NRM and RIBA Plan of Work

Limitations

  • Significant price increases: licences up 400% since 2015; some practices quoted u00a37,350u2013u00a39,000 per licence
  • No small practice discount: sole practitioner pays same rate as a large firm
  • Steep learning curve: effective use takes months of regular practice
  • Specification still requires manual cross-referencing against drawings and schedules
  • Owned by a data company (Byggfakta) since 2021: some concern about future pricing direction
Studio Size All studio sizes — Small Works edition for 1–10 people, full Chorus for 10+ people
Studio Type Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Structural Engineering — any UK practice producing technical specifications
Project Types Residential, Commercial, Education, Healthcare, Civic — any project type requiring a formal NBS specification
Pricing NBS Chorus: from approx £1,495 + VAT per licence (2020 base); 2025 renewal quotes reported at £3,000–£9,000 depending on tier and negotiation. Chorus Pro and Premium tiers add organisation-wide search and master specification management at higher cost. NBS Chorus for Small Works: lower entry price, details on request. No free tier. Annual subscription.

Rate this tool

Log in to rate this tool.