Product Selection & Substitution Flashcards
7 cards from real CSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Product Selection & Substitution flashcards as text
A contractor's substitution saves $15,000 but requires redesign work by the engineer. Who is typically responsible for redesign costs?
Answer: The contractor, because the substitution creates the need for redesign
When a contractor-proposed substitution necessitates design changes, the contractor bears the cost of any required redesign as part of the substitution's true cost.
In a closed specification listing three acceptable manufacturers, a fourth manufacturer's representative requests to be added. The proper process is:
Answer: The representative submits a pre-bid substitution request to the architect for evaluation before bid date
A manufacturer seeking to be added to a closed specification must submit a pre-bid substitution request to the architect, who can issue an addendum if the product is approved.
Which statement best describes the purpose of a 'substitution request form' as recommended by CSI?
Answer: It provides a standardized format ensuring all required information is submitted for fair evaluation
A standardized substitution request form ensures consistency, completeness, and fairness by requiring all necessary comparative data for every request evaluated.
A specified product carries a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. A proposed substitution offers only a 5-year warranty. How should this difference be handled?
Answer: Consider it a non-equivalent difference that the contractor must remedy or disclose clearly
Warranty terms are part of specification requirements, and a shorter warranty represents a difference in the overall value and risk profile that must be addressed before approval.
On a public school project, the board of education requires that all substitutions be approved by their facilities department in addition to the architect. This requirement should appear in:
Answer: Division 01 – General Requirements of the project specifications
Owner-specific approval requirements for substitutions are a contractual matter and must be stated in Division 01 – General Requirements so all parties are informed before bidding.
A substitution is approved after contract award. Which document formally incorporates the substitution into the contract documents?
Answer: Change Order or Construction Change Directive
Post-award substitutions that affect contract requirements are incorporated through a Change Order or Construction Change Directive, which formally amends the contract.
Which best describes the 'comparable product' concept under CSI substitution principles?
Answer: A product that performs the same function but may differ in some non-essential characteristics
A comparable product performs the same function and meets the project's essential requirements but may differ in non-essential ways, unlike a true 'equal' which must match in all respects.