The Australian Institute of Architects will soon launch an online resource designed to help reinforce safety and sustainability in product specifications.
The products and materials library will enhance architects’ ability to specify materials that have sustainability certifications and modern slavery registrations. The library will include links to specification documents and BIM files.
“Our new Products and Materials Library will be a game-changer for practices of all sizes,” said Institute CEO Julia Cambage. “Solving the searchability issues lacking in existing libraries will save Institute members a significant amount of time.
“This is a tool designed by industry for industry that collates all the information architects need in the design development phase to speed up their search prior to specification.
“The library will also streamline the process architects need to go through when safely specifying products and materials.”
The online platform includes hundreds of products and materials including flooring, finishes, fixtures, building materials, lighting, smart technology, windows and doors.
The compliance of building products and materials became the focus of regulators and industry reform after several high-profile incidents involving the use of non-compliant materials.
The Institute’s platform makes all listed products categorized and searcheable by a number of certifications and standards registrations including ISO, GECA, Climate Active, CodeMark, Product Stewardship and Modern Slavery Register.
“This is a highly sophisticated tool that will build better connections between suppliers and specifiers,” said project lead Amanda Jennings. “The library provides an unprecedented level of product exposure and brand awareness to an engaged and highly relevant audience of specifiers.
“It is a much more effective mechanism that allows architects to create their own lists of preferred products, fixtures and materials from the library.”
The platform will be launched in October 2021.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
