National database for maintaining and publishing information on construction products

Improve productivity – in your own work and in your customers’ everyday life

No more collecting and sending product information to multiple places, such as different construction sites, which streamlines your operations and allows you to serve your customers more efficiently. In addition, you improve productivity in the construction industry by enabling your product data to flow between systems.

• All of Finland’s largest construction companies use the database content on their sites to efficiently complete mandatory tasks: 1) verification of product compliance, 2)chemical inventory, 3) project handover documentation

Increased visibility and sales

Your customers are more satisfied when they receive your product information directly through their systems, and the largest construction companies even require product data to be available in the Tuotetieto service.

You gain visibility targeted at construction industry professionals:

• In the Tuotetieto management service used by all of Finland’s largest construction companies, which improves site productivity by utilizing the content of the Tuotetieto database. The service enables reliable documentation of products used in construction projects. Currently, there are over 1,000 active construction sites in the service, with a total of approximately 53,000 contracts, and over 5,000 users with access.
• In Rakennustieto’s own services, which compile instruction and regulation cards as well as Tuotetieto product cards. Approximately 140,000 page views per month and over 75,000 professionals per month (including architects, designers, procurement units of contractors, property managers, members of housing associations, municipalities, and cities). Product cards appear in search results (highlighted in yellow). We will provide more information about the product card service during the database presentation.
• On the haku.tuotetieto.fi website, which designers and builders use for product search, comparison, and selection (Tuotetieto video). haku.tuotetieto.fi is an open publication channel where users can search for information using keywords or the Talo 2000 classification system and, if needed, share it further. Articles and product pages can include links to all documents, such as videos, installation instructions, reference data, images, BIM/CAD files, product specifications, safety data sheets, performance declarations, and of course environmental data such as the M1 classification and EPD data from our environmental services.

Via interfaces for different users, such as retailers, construction companies, and various service developers.

Improved occupational safety

Occupational safety on construction sites improves when chemical safety data sheets are easily and quickly available on workers’ mobile phones through our service package.

The Product Information Database saves time and money in construction and infrastructure projects by streamlining comprehensive product data management.

• Contractors document the products used in a project with the Product Information Management Service (formerly RT Contractor Product Information).
• Products available in the Product Information Database can be automatically added to construction project material lists.
• The service enables verification of product compliance by utilizing the documents available in the system.
• It includes structured safety data sheets, from which an up-to-date chemical inventory is generated.
• The products added to a construction project are automatically compiled into handover documentation for the client and facility management.
• Finland’s largest construction companies use the Product Information Management Service because it improves site-level product and chemical management. Users include YIT, Skanska, NCC, SRV, Lujatalo, Fira, and Bonava.

The service leverages the Product Information Database, where safety data sheets, compliance documentation, and other manufacturer product documents are already linked to the products.

Product information flows into use from the national Product Information Database

The traditional approach to collecting product data is that each construction site requests product information (such as declarations of performance DoP) separately from each product supplier or subcontractor.

The Product Information Management Service, however, improves efficiency across the entire construction industry by enabling product data to flow from the national Product Information Database for use on all construction sites in Finland.

• The Product Information Management Service is a tool for managing product data in construction projects, and it is widely used by Finnish construction companies.
• Only products found in the Product Information Database are automatically available for contractors to use.
• From the products in the database, an up-to-date chemical inventory can be generated automatically.
• The service is used for statutory verification of product compliance.
• Product data is automatically compiled into construction project handover documentation.

Products are visible in the Tuotetieto search service at haku.tuotetieto.fi.

• The service is intended for searching, comparing, and selecting construction products.
• Designers use the service to find suitable products for their projects.
• Contractors use the service to find suitable products or alternative products to those specified by designers.
• Construction sites use the service to find replacement products for specified items, as well as installation and usage instructions and other documentation.

Products in the Product Information Database are linked to Rakennustieto’s reference libraries, which are widely used by designers.

• Rakennustieto services include all construction guidance cards (such as RT cards and RYL standards), which are used throughout all phases of construction, from procurement and design to construction, commissioning, and building operation.
• The linkage between reference libraries and products is done through the TALO2000 classification system. Each product in the Product Information Database is assigned a TALO2000 class.

Products in the database are accessible via an API.

• Any service provider can agree to join the Product Information API and retrieve product data for use in their own services.
• Through the API, product data can also be utilized by retail sector operators.
• The API is currently in use. For example, one of the world’s largest construction companies uses the Product Information Database in its procurement system.

The Product Information Database saves time.

In the Product Information Database, product data is available to all construction industry professionals via haku.tuotetieto.fi, the Product Information Management Service, and Product Information APIs, meaning product data does not need to be delivered separately anywhere.

The Product Information Database streamlines the daily work of contractors.

In the Product Information Management Service, there are hundreds of active projects managed by construction companies, which receive product data and documentation directly from the Product Information Database.

• When product suppliers have joined the Product Information Database, construction sites do not need to contact each individual supplier to obtain the required statutory documents.

Rakennustieto services, haku.tuotetieto.fi and APIs:

• When products are stored in the Product Information Database, they are automatically published across all Rakennustieto distribution channels. This ensures that construction professionals have access to the necessary product information throughout all stages of a building’s lifecycle.
• The more comprehensively product data is stored in the Product Information Database, the better it can be utilized by different stakeholders. In this case, the use of the Product Information Database significantly reduces the need to manually deliver product information to different parties.

What does the service include?

The service includes distribution of product data from the Product Information Database to all Rakennustieto publishing channels: haku.tuotetieto.fi, the Product Information Management Service, and via Product Information APIs to third parties, as well as linking to the RT reference library in the Tietoväylä service and highlighting the supplier in the Tuotetieto newsletter.

If the customer has an EPD environmental product declaration, we process and structure its data on the customer’s behalf. In practice, this means extracting carbon footprint and carbon handprint data for different modules, reference service life, applied standard, PCR, and verification information from the EPD.

We also import product data provided by the customer in Excel into the Product Information Database. The data is delivered using a ready-made template.

• A wide range of product data needed by contractors and the retail sector can be stored in the database. For a single product, approximately 250 different data fields can be recorded.
• The stored data includes, among other things, product name, identifiers, logistics information, and documentation such as DoP (Declaration of Performance), SDS (safety data sheets), EPD, M1 classification, installation, use and maintenance instructions, BIM and CAD objects, and product images.

The service also includes updates of product data to the database when information changes or new products are launched.

The service also includes tailored training on the Tuotetieto service ecosystem and data entry into the Product Information Database, as well as user support when needed via email, phone, or remote meetings.

There is also an optional paid service to publish an RT product card, which further increases product visibility in the RT information network.

• RT product card price: 731 euros per page per year.
• The RT product card is not sold separately; it is a service linked to joining the Product Information Database.

If product data is transferred via API instead of Excel, feasibility is always assessed case by case. API implementation involves a separate setup fee.