A commercial pedestal sink bid lives or dies on specificity. A vague spec gets a low quote and a wrong basin; a precise spec gets a defensible quote and the right one. This article is a template you can paste into a request for quotation (RFQ) or a bid package, with notes on why each line is there.
The spec-sheet template
PROJECT: ___________________________
BASIN TYPE: [ ] Full pedestal [ ] Half-pedestal [ ] Wall-hung
MATERIAL: Solid surface (artificial stone), non-ceramic sanitary ware
STANDARD: JC/T 2116-2012
WATER ABSORPTION: 0.1% (test report required)
BARCOL HARDNESS: 46 (typical)
FINISH: [ ] Matte [ ] Gloss [ ] Fluted (by model)
COLOR: [ ] Stock finish [ ] Custom ref: ________ (+ colour uplift)
OVERFLOW: [ ] Yes [ ] No (drains must match)
DRAIN OPENING: 45 mm
MOUNTING: Wall anchors into structural backing; column to finished floor
QUANTITY: ________ units (request MOQ / tier sheet)
LEAD TIME: Confirm from order to crated goods (typical 2–4 weeks)
CERTIFICATION: cUPC / CE — in progress, test report available
SUPPLY TERMS: [ ] FOB [ ] DDP [ ] Third-party inspection accepted pre-ship
Why each line is there
Basin type decides footprint and compliance. Full pedestal gives the smallest floor print but no accessible knee clearance; wall-hung is the ADA-compliant option. Name it — do not let the supplier default it.
Material and standard should name solid surface and JC/T 2116-2012 explicitly. "Stone-like" or "ceramic" are not the same product and should not appear in a solid surface bid.
Water absorption with a test report is the one number most worth demanding. A claim without the report is a sentence, not a spec. We provide independent testing at 0.1%.
Finish and color control the look and the reorder match. Name matte or gloss, smooth or fluted, and either a stock finish or a custom reference. A custom color is a pigment change on an existing mould with a per-project colour uplift — not a new product.
Overflow and drain decide the hardware. Many pedestal basins have no overflow; the drain must be overflow-free to seal correctly. Confirm both before ordering drains.
Certification status must be stated exactly. We do not hold cUPC or CE; the correct line is "in progress, test report available." A bid that implies a certificate we do not have is a liability for both sides.
Supply terms set who pays for what and who can verify. FOB puts freight in the buyer's control; EXW prices the goods at our dock, and door-to-door DDP (duties included) is available on request. Third-party inspection accepted pre-shipment is the clause that turns trust into checkable evidence.
What to attach to the RFQ
- A drawing or photo of the rough-in (drain center, wall backing).
- The room type and expected traffic (hotel guest room, restaurant, powder room).
- The quantity and the target delivery window.
- Any accessibility requirement (drives basin type).
The more of this you attach, the tighter the quote. A supplier quoting blind will pad the number to cover the unknowns you did not share.
Red flags in a returned bid
- No material standard named, or "ceramic" used for a solid surface line.
- Water absorption claimed with no report referenced.
- Certification stated as held when it is in progress.
- Lead time given as a single number with no condition (real production depends on model and order size).
Any of these means the bid is not yet comparable to yours. Ask for the missing line before you score it.
Bottom line
A good commercial spec sheet is boring on purpose: named type, named standard, named finish, honest certification, and verifiable supply terms. Paste the template, fill the blanks, and most bid-comparison problems disappear before the quotes come back.