Construction education
What is a submittal in construction?
A submittal is how you get the engineer or owner to sign off on a material, method, or product before it gets built into the work. It's the approval process that keeps the wrong concrete mix or the wrong pipe from going in the ground.
Common types of submittals
- Shop drawings — Fabricator-prepared drawings showing exactly how a specific item will be built — steel connections, precast sections, drainage structures. Must be reviewed and approved before fabrication starts.
- Product data and cut sheets — Manufacturer documentation showing specifications, certifications, and installation requirements for materials and equipment. Submitted before procurement.
- Mix designs — Concrete mix proportions, gradations, water-cement ratios, and test data. Required before any pour on most public and commercial projects.
- Samples — Physical material samples submitted for color, texture, or quality review — finishes, pavers, exposed aggregate, and similar items where visual approval matters.
- Inspection and test reports — Certifications, test results, and compliance documentation submitted as work is completed to confirm what was installed meets the spec.
Why submittal tracking matters
Submittals have lead times. A rejected concrete mix design three weeks before a scheduled pour can stop a project. A shop drawing that goes in for review and never comes back delays fabrication. Tracking submittals by status — submitted, under review, approved, rejected, resubmitted — tells you where your long-lead items are and whether any are about to cause a schedule problem.
Frequently asked questions
What is a submittal in construction?
A submittal is documentation — shop drawings, product data, samples, or mix designs — that a contractor submits to the engineer or owner for review and approval before the corresponding material or method is incorporated into the work.
Who reviews submittals?
Usually the engineer of record or architect reviews submittals for conformance with the specs. The general contractor reviews for coordination before sending them up. On public projects, an agency representative or inspector may also review. The owner may have final approval rights on significant items.
What is a shop drawing?
A shop drawing is a submittal prepared by a fabricator or sub showing exactly how they plan to build or supply a specific item — steel connections, precast panels, custom drainage structures, and so on. The engineer reviews it to confirm it meets the design intent before fabrication starts.
What happens if a submittal is rejected?
The contractor must revise and resubmit. Depending on how far into procurement or fabrication work had already progressed, a rejection can cause material lead time delays and schedule impacts. Tracking submittal status closely prevents surprises.
Can a submittal lead to a change order?
Yes. If the engineer's review results in a change from the original spec — a different material, a revised detail, an added requirement — a change order may follow. The submittal log becomes supporting documentation for that cost event.