Submittals: An Overview of Their Importance in Construction
Submittals are a staple of the construction process. They typically consist of product data, shop drawings, or physical samples that show the contractor’s detailed plans for what they plan to install and how they plan to do it. Submittals are typically prepared by subcontractors, vendors or suppliers, not always the contractor themselves. The purpose of submittal review by the architect is twofold: to finalize details of certain portions of the work that are beyond the scope of the design intent drawings and for the contractor to submit drawings to the architect, demonstrating their understanding of the contract documents. The submittal schedule is the first item covered in the section of the contract documents that deals with submittals. The architect’s responsibilities related to submittals are covered in the contract documents. It’s important for the contractor to include adequate time for review by the architect as well as their consultants, if applicable.
