Submittal
What Is a Submittal?
In construction, submittals are documents, information, or samples that address outstanding questions and plan details for a construction project. Subcontractors typically send submittals to a general contractor and the primary stakeholders to expand upon the initial project plans, which are missing details that are difficult or impossible to determine early in the construction planning process. Submittals can include samples, details about equipment, materials pricing, product specifications, shop drawings, or other documentation that need to be reviewed and approved by other project stakeholders.
The Submittal Process in Construction Projects
At the start of a well-organized project, it is common for a general contractor to create a submittal schedule or registry—a list of known unknowns or anticipated submittals needed to complete the project. Once subcontractors and other stakeholders of the project are defined, the relevant submittals are assigned to them, and they can begin to address gaps in the project plan and coordinate with the rest of the project team through submittals.
Because it is difficult to anticipate all unknowns at the beginning of a project, additional submittals are often required as the project progresses. Subcontractors may proactively send submittals to the general contractor before they are requested—usually if they foresee upcoming modifications or steps where more information will be needed to move the project forward.
As submittals come in and provide the missing information, the general contractor and design team will review them and update the project plans.
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Sometimes, a submittal brings new information to light that changes some of the important project details. If a submittal impacts cost, scheduling, or the scope of work, a change order could be necessary.
Examples of Submittals
“Submittal” is a broad term that refers to the submission of information needed for the construction project. However, these submittals could be a number of different items. Here are a variety of examples of what might be included in a submittal:
Design and Planning Items
- Product information
- Product manuals
- Materials samples
- Engineering calculations
- Prints
- Shop drawings
- Test results
Certification and Licensing Documentation
- Certificates of insurance
- Contractor certifications
- Contractor bonds
- Building Permits
Close-out Items
- Warranties
- As-built drawings
- Operations and maintenance manuals
- Certificate of completion
Submittal Software
For large projects, the submittal process is typically managed using construction project management software. Systems such as Procore and Autodesk have built-in workflows for requesting, sending, and managing submittals.
Smaller projects and teams typically leverage submittals as well but may not have budget or need for the advanced systems mentioned above. For these smaller projects and companies, lighter software systems, like Bluebeam are typically more appropriate for managing submittals.
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