In a previous post, we gave you a broad overview of construction submittals and why they are so important. As such, we looked at what construction submittals are, what’s included in a submittal, different types of submittals, and their role in compliant construction.

More importantly, we also had a brief look at the submittal process, showing the basic steps that need to be followed. So, for this post, we’ll go a step further and go into the submittals process in more detail.

The Submittal Process

Preparation

The process starts when the general contractor identifies all the items that require submittals. As indicated in our previous post, this could include anything from product samples, shop drawings, as-built drawings, and material data.

During this preparation process, the general contractor and other stakeholders will also develop a submittal timeline that gives every reviewer enough time to assess, review, and approve all of the submittals. Here, they’ll also decide on appropriate submittal requirements. Once these timelines are set, contractors and subcontractors will then gather and submit the information based on these timelines.

Review

Once contractors and subcontractors have submitted the information as required, the next step in the submittal process is review. During the first phase of the review process, the general contractor will review the submittals received from contractors and subcontractors and, if necessary, request any clarifications or explanations in the respect of the submittals.

This will, for example, be the case where the submittal deviates from the original construction plans or material. The general contractor will also review the relevant construction methods, safety protocols, and techniques that will be used during construction. Once the general contractor is satisfied that the submittals are compliant, he will send them to the design team for review.

The design team consists of architects and engineers. During their review process, they will check whether the submittals comply with the design concept for the project which, in turn, ensures that the end result looks and functions as planned.

Understandably, this review process can take some time because every submittal submitted by every contractor needs to be reviewed in detail. If not, it could lead to mistakes and issues down the road.

Revision, Revision, and Approval

During the review process mentioned above, either the general contractor or the design team may reject any submittals and send them back to the subcontractors and contractors for any revisions necessary. Here, it’s not uncommon for submittals to go through multiple rounds of revisions and re-submissions.

Once submittals have gone through review and any revisions requested have been incorporated, they will be approved. This means that the quality and quantity of all materials and the subcontractor’s work have been authorized and approved. As such, after a submittal has been approved, it’s sent back to the contractor or subcontractor, which then signals to them that they can start working.

Submittal Best Practices

Because reviewing and approving submittals is a tedious process that takes some time and, if not done correctly, lead to delays, there are some best practices construction contractors and subcontractors should adhere to when preparing submittals. These include:

• Ensuring that the submittal contains all the information requested and that it is compliant with the requirements set by the general contractor.
• Submitting the submittals on time based on the schedule created by the general contractor and other stakeholders.
• Submitting all the information requested as one complete package instead of submitting different pieces of information separately.

Konrad Construction is Here to Help

We hope this post provided you with more detail around the process of submittals. To learn more about the process, or to get a quote for construction services, get in touch with Konrad Construction.

As a building contractor, we pride ourselves on being a committed and quality-driven construction company, offering a range of construction services. Whether you’re looking for new construction contractors or fixturing and carpentry, we’ve got you covered.