In an era where accountability and traceability are mandatory, the days of choosing products based on personal preference or short-term cost savings are over. Lynne Clapham-Carter, Specification Manager for Geberit, explores.
We’re operating in a construction industry which is under unprecedented levels of scrutiny. Driven by tighter regulation, heightened expectations and budgetary pressures, every decision matters. More than that, it must be traceable, and show compliance with rigorous standards.
One consequence of this shift is that the way in which products are specified – from piping systems to bathroom products – has fundamentally changed. Specification can no longer be a matter of personal preference, nor lowest initial cost. Instead, choices must be made with careful consideration, long-term planning, and based on comprehensive data to support buildings now and in the future.
Shifting specification choices
Of course, this shift has been largely accelerated by continued developments in regulation around safety and compliance. Fire safety, water efficiency, acoustics, durability and whole-life carbon have all been the subject of legislation or enhanced standards in recent years, requiring specifiers to increasingly evidence why a product is suitable for its intended application and how it meets current requirements. Choosing a product because it is simply ‘preferred’ or has been used before, is no longer sufficient. What matters is whether it performs reliably as part of a system, over the lifetime of a building.
In line with this, specifications are no longer static documents – they are living records to be documented and revisited long after a project is complete.
Earlier product choices
In complex building services, such as water systems and drainage installations, performance is rarely determined by a single component. Instead, it’s the interaction between system components – pipework, fittings, frames, controls, outlets and more – that dictates long-term reliability.
With this in mind, specifiers must be confident not only in the individual products they select, but also in how those products interact with other components, systems and installation methods.
All of this places a new emphasis on due diligence at the earliest stages of design. Product selection must be compliant with British and European Standards, Building Regulations, local authority requirements and client-specific performance criteria, but it must also factor in compatibility with other systems and parts. Specifiers must be able to demonstrate that a product was chosen because it met a defined performance need, not because it was familiar or competitively priced at the time, with complete traceability through every decision.
This systems approach to specification reduces risk and can prevent costly errors by ensuring compatibility between components, simplifying compliance and improving predictability of performance. It also helps to address common site issues and prevent long-term issues, such as mismatched tolerances, unclear responsibilities and inconsistent installation quality. When products are designed, tested and certified as part of an integrated system, specifiers can be confident that they will perform as intended, provided they are installed correctly.
This goes well beyond a box-ticking exercise. True compliance is about suitability for purpose over the full lifecycle of a building – it goes without saying that even if a product meets a minimum standard on paper, it’s still not suitable for the application if not compatible with other elements.
For manufacturers, this represents an opportunity – and a responsibility – to support specifiers with robust, transparent information. Clear system documentation, test data, installation guidance and third-party certification are no longer optional extras – they are essential tools that enable informed decision-making.
Considering whole-life value
Another consequence of this shifting mindset is that specifiers are increasingly looking beyond capital cost to consider whole-life value. Lifecycle, maintenance requirements, compliance with evolving standards and the manufacturer’s ability to provide long-term support are all considered in modern specification choices. Value is defined not by how little a product costs in the procurement process, but by how well it performs over time and how effectively it reduces risk for all parties involved.
Once again, manufacturers play a crucial role here by offering performance assurances backed by testing, warranties and a proven track record in the market. Products that are proven in the market (and with technical support to match) will drive confidence in specification and beyond.
Clear, performance-based data also helps – showcasing what the product can achieve, within a whole system. This goes beyond simply naming a brand you trust. Today’s specification choices must demonstrably meet the required criteria in order to make the cut. Comparison tools, Environmental Product Declarations, BIM objects and more are all commonplace now, helping to provide the evidence needed to ensure compatibility, ensure long-term value and foster better decision-making between design teams, contractors and clients.
A collaborative approach
Ultimately, getting the right product from the start is a collaborative effort. Specifiers, manufacturers and contractors all have a role to play in raising standards and reducing risk. Early engagement between design teams and manufacturers can help identify potential challenges, clarify compliance requirements and ensure that products are selected with a full understanding of their application.
As the industry continues to evolve, specification will only become more critical. Preference will always have a place, informed by experience and professional judgement, but it must now sit within a framework of evidence, compliance and accountability. By prioritising specification over preference, the industry can deliver buildings that are safer, more reliable and better suited to the demands placed upon them – both today and in the future.