July 2005 Newsletter

The 4specs Survey of Our Users

4specs recently completed a survey about our user's Internet research methods. We had 113 responses. The results are remarkable. Over 60% of the product research by the respondents is done using the Internet. (released July 2005)

You can see the complete results online in a one page summary:
https://www.4specs.com/survey_results.pdf

The 113 respondents were responsible for 2,716 projects worth $25.6 billion.

101 said they were a specifier as a primary role.
82 were Certified Construction Specifiers (CCS) - out of about 1,500 total current CCS's
47 were SCIP members (Independent Specifiers) - out of about 160 SCIP members

The product research for these 113 currently relies on:

61.1% - Internet
18.4% - Manufacturer's Binders
9.9% - Rep Visits
4.9% - Sweets (Print)
less than 1% - FirstSource (Print)
less than 1% - ARCAT (Print)

Of the 113 respondents:

85 used 4specs as a primary starting spot on the Internet
50 used Google and other search engines as a primary starting spot on the Internet

Of the 113 respondents:

80 used 4specs daily or 2-3x per week
82 used Google and other search engines daily or 2-3x per week

Of the 113 respondents:

70 used arcat.com seldom/never
73 used sweets.com seldom/never
74 used FirstSourceonl.com seldom/never

85 respondents selected 4specs as one of their primary starting places or 2-3x per week or daily. These 85 respondents were responsible for 2,114 projects with a value of $19.5 billion.

As this was not a randomized study, the results cannot be taken as typical for all architects or even for full-time specifiers. I think that the survey results will represent typical usage in 5 years for specifiers and production architects on larger projects.

Methodology used on Survey:

1. We posted an announcement on the 4specs homepage and sent one email to registered members of the 4specs Discussion Forum and one email to SCIP members, eliminating duplicate emails. We asked that their response be faxed to us and their name provided.
2. The responses were faxed (or emailed as a pdf) to us and in 95% of the cases their name was provided. There was enough information on the 5% to show the response was unique.

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Colin Gilboy
Publisher - 4specs
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