CSI CDT: Product Research and Sourcing

Product Research and Sourcing tests how you identify candidate products, verify their claims, compare them on defensible criteria, and document them so the project can actually buy and install them. Expect questions on test standards and listings, sustainability documentation, commercial factors, and the disciplined comparison of substitutions.

Evaluation criteria

• Performance: physical properties, durability, maintenance burden, acoustics, fire performance, and the test methods behind each claim.
• Standards and listings: ASTM material and test specifications, ANSI, NFPA, UL listings, and ISO. Cite the standard number and edition; an undated reference is unenforceable.
• Sustainability: environmental product declarations (ISO 14025 / EN 15804), health product declarations, recycled content, embodied carbon, FSC certification, VOC and emissions programs, and green-building credit documentation. Ask for the underlying report, not a marketing bullet.
• Commercial: cost in place, lead time, availability, warranty terms, service network, and whether the product is single-source or broadly available.

Sourcing process

1. Define requirements from design intent, code, and owner project requirements.
2. Shortlist candidates and request technical data, samples, and references.
3. Score candidates against a written criteria matrix rather than preference.
4. Document the outcome as a basis-of-design with salient characteristics, submittal requirements, and warranty.
5. Verify with a mockup or first-article inspection before full procurement.

Worked example

A façade joint needs a sealant. The designer compares two products on price alone. Better reasoning: establish that the joint moves roughly 20 percent, so the sealant must be classified under ASTM C920 at Class 25; substrates are aluminum and glass, so adhesion and non-staining behavior matter; the joint is vertical, so a non-sag grade is required. The specification lands on ASTM C920 Type S, Grade NS, Class 25, Use NT, with adhesion testing on the actual substrates and a compatibility check against adjacent materials. Price is then compared among products that meet the criteria - not before.

Traps that cost marks

Comparing only unit price; accepting manufacturer claims without test data; pairing products that are chemically incompatible; ignoring lead time against the construction schedule; and proposing a substitution without the data and timing that Division 01 requires.