The supplementary material that accompanies our subscription master specification system is very useful and probably our most frequently referred-to publication. We never hesitate to mine the specifications of old projects and dig through archive boxes to find submittals in cases where we remember something that worked for us before. However, we also know that if we don't confirm the information on the old submittal before we issue a new project bid, we'll look rather silly. We rely on manufacturers' Web sites to provide updates. Product Representatives These hard-working people were the last on the building team to move toward electronic delivery.
Old habits die hard.
But thank goodness they do. Otherwise, specifiers would seldom talk to human beings. Despite the electronic age, binders have not died, even though I predicted their death five years ago. Now I expect to retire with a roomful of them-though they have changed significantly from years past. One reason is that manufacturers are listening to specifiers' and consultants' content suggestions.