A submittal is a document, product data, shop drawing, sample, or certification that a contractor provides to the design team for review and approval before ordering or installing a specific material or piece of equipment, confirming that what’s about to be procured actually matches the project’s specified requirements.
Different specification sections call for different kinds of submittals depending on what’s being confirmed. Product data submittals are mostly manufacturer literature that shows a product’s specifications and performance characteristics. Shop drawings are more detailed, project-specific drawings showing exactly how a component will be fabricated or installed for this particular application. Physical samples are used to demonstrate the finish when the color and texture cannot be shown on the data sheet.
The review process for a submission typically follows this sequence: the contractor packages everything for review and sends the submission to the design team (which may include the architect and/or engineer). The design team reviews the submission against the job specifications and returns it as approved as is, approved as noted, or, if they think it should not be accepted, requires the contractor to resubmit. Most contracts outline the time for review; a design team continually deferring the time for review has a direct impact on the schedule, as procurement will not move forward on unapproved items.
