What Is Submittal in Construction?
Definition
A submittal is a document, sample, or product data that a contractor sends to the architect or engineer for review and approval before the material or equipment is fabricated, purchased, or installed. Submittals verify that the proposed products meet the design intent and specification requirements.
Submittals are a core part of the construction quality control process. They can include shop drawings, product data sheets, material samples, color selections, certificates, test reports, and manufacturer literature. The contractor prepares and forwards submittals to the design team, who reviews them and returns them with a status such as approved, approved as noted, revise and resubmit, or rejected.
The submittal process begins during the pre-construction phase and continues throughout the project. A submittal schedule is typically created early in the project to coordinate which items need to be submitted, when they are due, and how long the review cycle will take. This schedule is critical for procurement because many materials have long lead times.
Each submittal is logged with a unique number, a description, the specification section it relates to, and its current status. On large commercial projects, the submittal log can contain hundreds of entries spanning every trade on the job.
Why It Matters
Submittals protect the owner by ensuring that installed materials match the design intent. They also protect the contractor by securing written approval before purchasing expensive materials. A missed or delayed submittal can push back fabrication and delivery schedules, creating downstream delays that affect the entire project timeline.
How HomeFloorPlan Helps
With HomeFloorPlan, you can attach submittal documents directly to the relevant drawing sheet and tag them by trade. The approval workflow is built into the comment thread, so reviewers can approve, reject, or request revisions without leaving the plan view. Everyone on the project can see the current status at a glance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a submittal and a shop drawing?
A shop drawing is one type of submittal. Submittals is the broader category that includes shop drawings, product data, samples, certificates, and test reports. Shop drawings specifically are detailed fabrication drawings produced by the contractor or manufacturer.
Who reviews submittals in construction?
The architect or engineer of record reviews submittals to confirm that proposed products and materials meet the design intent and specification requirements. The general contractor typically coordinates the submittal process between subcontractors and the design team.