Spec to Sourced: AI-Powered Division 8 Matching and "Or Equal" Substitution

Division 8 specifications describe how an opening must perform. Fire rating, STC, positive pressure, electrified hardware, ADA they rarely name a product. Turning that spec into listed products, a price, and an approved submittal is where contract hardware distributors, spec writers, and sales reps lose hours, and where a specified product that cannot ship forces a defensible "or equal." In this session we follow one real hospital corridor opening from spec to sourced, using an AI Interface to search 200,000+ products by the attributes that decide an opening, find a qualified substitute when the basis of design back-orders, and pull the manufacturer-published listings that make a substitution request hold on review. It runs live: bring your toughest opening and we will source it on screen.

Learning Objectives and Key Takeaways

At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Search and compare Division 8 openings by the performance attributes that decide a spec, including fire rating, STC, positive pressure (UL 10C), electrified hardware, and ADA.
• Identify a qualified "or equal" when a specified product is discontinued or back-ordered, and document the salient features that support the substitution.
• Assemble submittal-ready product data tied to UL, Intertek/WHI, NFRC, ASTM, and ANSI/BHMA listings so architect and AHC review moves faster.
• Use AI-driven search to cut the hours spent sourcing complex openings across fragmented catalogs.

Presenters: Vardhan Mehta and Derrick Crowell - Acelab Material Hub

Date: September 2, 2026 1-2:00pm EST

Free for members, $49.00 for non-members –