Using CIS
CIS is a full-text database covering all aspects of the building, engineering, design and construction process. Updates take place throughout the day so all information is totally up to the minute and accurate. Service features
All UK Building Regulations and Approved documents.
Many British Standards and Eurocodes.
Management supplement.
All HSE publications.
Construction news briefing service.
E-journals - Architects Journal (The AJ), Construction news, New Civil Engineer
CIS Construction Information Service
www.lcb.ac.uk
Logging-in to the service
Go to www.lcb.ac.uk
Click on “College Information” and then on “Library”. Click on “Visit Construction Information Service here”
Click on the blue hyperlink for “CIS Construction Information Service”
Use the drop down arrow to select “Leeds College of Building” then click on “Go” [1]
Enter your College username and password [2] (next page)
Select either CIS or Specify-it (trade literature database) and click on “View product” [3] (next page)
1
2
2
Search the full CIS database
3
Search for trade literature

Alternatively type this url directly into the address bar of your browser and then follow the instructions given above. http://www.ihsti.com/logon/federatedaccess/wayf.aspx
3
The main search screen
Rotating pictures link to services on sustainability, new legislation and a construction industry briefing
Quick links, including to the Building Regulations
Enter your search terms here
View recently uploaded documents 4
Searching the database
1 2
3
1.
Choose to search either “All content”, “New legislation” or “Sustainability”
2.
The search box. Enter Keywords relating to the information you are searching for here. If you don’t immediately find what you are looking for remember to try other words that might also be used to describe what you are looking for. For example if you search for “ladder” you might also want to search for the words: steps, scaffolding, work at height and platform.
3.
“Terms together” is the equivalent of doing a “phrase search” where words are linked together by using quotation marks. This helps to narrow down the number of results you will get. All terms in any order will widen the number of results that you get.
5
Searching the database
The service will offer you suggestions as you type
Keep typing if the suggestions offered do not match your information need.
5
1 3
4
2
1.
Shows the total number of results for your search.
2.
These are filters that you can use to narrow your search. E.g. Only show building regulations relating to asbestos
3.
A thumbnail image of the front page of each document is displayed.
4.
Choose the order which results are ranked in. The default is “Relevance” but you can also choose Publisher A-Z and year.
5.
Choose how your results are displayed. You can alternate between List view or Classic view.
6
Displaying search results
List view
Thumbnail picture of the front page of the document
Short description of the content
Date of publication, series and publisher name
Classic view
Document title
Date of publication, series and publisher name
Shows if document is available in full-text
7
Displaying search results—Using filters Source—Choose to view results from the main CIS database, or those which relate to the building regulations or results from “Specify-it” which are listed under the heading “Suppliers”. Supplier information may include CAD drawings. To view these you must have AutoCAD installed on your PC. Publisher name—Documents from over 500 publishers are included in the database and are regularly updated.
Published—Narrow down your search by date. Series—Many different series headings are used to group together similar documents within CIS. If your search yields a high number of results try scrolling through the series titles. You might be able to identify a group which is relevant to your search and this will help to narrow down the number of results that you get. Added to service—This heading relates to the date on which a document was added to the service. For example you might want very up-todate information and so choose to view only documents that were added in the last 14 days. Subject—Use the different subject headings to identify groups of documents which are most relevant to your search.
8
Working with documents
To open a document click on the title and then select “Download document”.
Use these buttons to either fill the screen with one page or to scroll though pages continuously.
Use these buttons to decrease or increase magnification.
Click on the binoculars to open up the search tool. Search for words or phrases within the document.
The legal bit This service is made available to current students and staff at Leeds College of Building for educational purposes only. You may not print out multiple copies of documents and any information that you use should always be clearly referenced. Please ask in the Library for information about how to do this. Some documents are protected and will not allow you to copy and paste.
9
Problems using this service?
Contact the Library:
0113 222 6098
Library@lcb.ac.uk
Scan this image using a QR code reader app on your Smartphone and go straight to the login page for CIS Alternatively type in this url to go to the login page http://www.ihsti.com/logon/federatedaccess/wayf.aspx 10
QR codes link to short films in YouTube
Why you should use CIS
http://youtu.be/-sfjdgRyZtM
Learn how to log-in to CIS
http://youtu.be/5mUaAdMLTWw
CIS search tips
http://youtu.be/Y2hDg3Vza5w
11