What is a Submittal in Construction? Learn How Submittals Work and Why You Need to Focus on Them

Those who aren’t familiar with the construction world should know about Submittals. In construction, submittals are a form of document containing samples sent for review by the contractor to the design team or the general contractor during the pre-construction phase.

Submittals are an important part of the general construction process and are required in all types of projects. In this guide, we have provided a basic overview of what is a construction submittal is and its importance. Read to know what you should know about submittals and learn how they work. 

What is a Submittal?

Submittals are written documents containing samples, designs, and other kinds of information related to construction work. These documents are needed in the pre-construction phase to demonstrate proposed plans to members of the team so everyone is on the same page. 

A submittal can be a design, written document, list of resources, application, or anything that serves to ensure compliance with the project requirements and special needs. 

These are essential for the completion of the project and are used for quality control and to ensure that all requirements are met. There are different types of submittals and all are required to complete a project. If you want to become a successful contractor, you should understand all types of submittals and their use.

Types of Submittals

These are the multiple types of submittals that you should know about:

• Design Drawings: Design drawings show a visual representation of the project. It is used to show what the project is supposed to look like and give an idea about what the workers are supposed to do. It states the designer’s vision to all the parties involved so they can follow without ease. 

• Product Data: Product data provides detailed information about the resources and products required for the completion of the project. This is used to ensure that the construction team knows what material they need during the construction and can successfully complete the project. 

• Samples: Samples in construction refer to the physical samples of the materials required in the project. These samples are sent with the purpose of quality control to other members of the team. Once the quality of materials is confirmed, the construction team can proceed with the process and start working on it. 

• Reports: Reports in the form of contractors’ compliance with the project are also needed to complete the project. Reports are usually documents demonstrating that the contractor intends to complete the project in full. Reports such as these are needed in large projects. It also showcases how the contractor is planning to complete the project. 

• Mock-Ups: Similar to samples, mock-ups show the physical samples of a specific part of the project, like ceilings, walls, plumbing, etc, to show how the final project will appear. Mock-ups are needed to solve difficult parts of the construction process. 

Submittals are vital for the completion of the project, and it is important that they are provided in the right way so the project can be successfully completed. The next section discusses the importance of submittals in construction.

Importance of Submittals in Construction

Submittals are crucial for the completion of the construction project. Showing all the important parts needed to complete a project, submittals ensure that everything that is needed is secured for the construction. 

Here are some reasons why submittals are important:

• Ensures Compliance: Submittals ensure that all materials have been acquired for the project and that the construction team is ready to comply with the process. 

• Quality Control for Materials: Sending out materials for reviewing ensures all materials are of the right quality and can be used for the construction. It reduced the risk of error later on and also helps tackle internal corruption.

• Ensures Proper Communication Between Workers: With submittals in place, each section of the construction team stays connected with each other to make sure all plans are set in place for the completion of the project. Establishing communication allows the project to proceed way more smoothly.

• Cost Control: Submittals help to confirm the cost of the materials involved and significantly reduce the total cost by reducing extra costs. By figuring out the construction budget, contractors can better plan their budget.

• Avoid Mistakes and Rework: The main purpose behind submittals is to prevent mistakes that would have happened during the construction. By mapping out every bit of detail and designing the project, submittals help in avoiding mistakes and rework. 

• Establishes Proper Management: Submittals help establish proper management for the whole project and ensure proper order for each part of the construction. Submittals also help in tracking material quantity/quality, and make sure that everything is done accordingly. 

Submittals work as the backbone of the construction process and are the only reason why projects go so well. Without submittals, each project would be riddled with errors, take way more time to complete, and cost even more. 

What is a Revision in Construction Submittals?

Revisions in submittals refer to changes or updates made to a submittal after it has been sent to the architect. Revisions occur when submittals fail to meet the requirements of the project. 

Revisions are a normal part of construction projects and are often seen as feedback rather than errors. These revisions further help in improving the submittals and ensure that projects are completed in an even better way than before. 

Depending on the state of the submittal, revisions can be short or be a complete overhaul of the proposal. Revisions help in making sure that submittal is in high quality and does the job it is intended to do. 

Revisions are just as important to submittals as submittals are to the project. These help fill the gap left by submittals and make even more upgrades to the project.

How Does the Construction Submittal Process Go?

Existing in the world of construction requires meticulous planning and quality control, and submittals help ensure that. Submittals are created by the contractor and provided to the design team, architect, and other members as a vital checkpoint. 

The construction submittal process is a critical workflow where, during the pre-production stages, the contractor starts the chain and creates a submittal for reviewing. After creating a document containing all the important information about the project, it is submitted to whoever needs it. It is then reviewed by the teams involved in the project, and the only thing left to do is wait for their reply. 

Depending on the response, the contractor will make changes to create the best version of the submittals. Once the submittal is approved, the project can finally go into the construction phase. 

Final Thoughts

Whether it is shop drawings, product data, material costs, or samples, all have their own way of preparing the team for the construction process and verifying each important detail. 

Understanding submittals is not just about sending documents and designs to show what to create, it is about preparing the team for the work ahead, ensure all materials are of the highest quality, keep the budget in check, reduce risks and ensure that each important aspect of the process is perfectly aligned with the project’s vision. 

If you are new to the world of construction should get to know about submittal and learn how it is processed. In this guide, we have attempted to give you a crash course on submittals and explain how they are processed. Next, you should keep learning about different aspects of submittals and see how to handle them. 

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