SureSpec web site hosts written specifications

COLUMBUS, Ohio- As its second anniversary nears next April, SureSpec.info founder and president John Larkin is in the process of enabling the company’s web site to host the written specification’s of architectural and engineering firms. SureSpec was launched as a provider of fire product specification information. The company has grown to add information on security, suppression and special hazard products as well as include new features on the site such as the ability to view up to three items side by side. “It saves them a lot of time as it is all on one site,” said Larkin on why the new feature will be a benefit to users. “The main advantage we have is the information is constantly updated.” Using the site, A&E’s can reduce the frequency of referencing outdated product specification sheets. Server work for the written specification feature is now underway, and it is expected to be up and running by early 2005. “What happens is you get an electrical engineer who is not only in charge of putting the fire spec together,” said Larkin on why he increased the focus of the company. “But he’s also in charge of putting together the security part of the specification.” About eight months after SureSpec went live, the company expanded beyond fire products and into the security market because of a strong demand from its partners. There are approximately 25 fire and security manufacturers that are working with the company, including Gentex, Rutherford Controls and Simplex. Larkin, who is a general manager of a distributor in the area that he wishes not to name, developed the site in his spare time to tackle the inefficiencies he saw in the field, such as the lack of up-to-date information. Larkin said he started SureSpec.info “as a way of helping engineers and architects managed their A&E catalogs better than what they had been doing.”