CSI Submittals & Shop Drawings 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A deferred submittal is best described as a submittal that is:
- Submitted late due to contractor negligence
- Approved in advance but held until later phases
- Intentionally postponed to a later phase with the design professional's prior approval (Correct answer)
- Rejected and deferred to the next project phase
Correct answer: Intentionally postponed to a later phase with the design professional's prior approval
Deferred submittals are those for which the contract allows submission after the initial submittal phase, typically for complex systems designed by the contractor's engineers.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes a 'delegated design' scenario in the context of submittals?
- The owner delegates final approval authority to the contractor
- The contractor's licensed engineer designs and seals elements such as formwork or curtain wall systems (Correct answer)
- The architect delegates the submittal review to the contractor
- The owner's representative approves shop drawings without architect involvement
Correct answer: The contractor's licensed engineer designs and seals elements such as formwork or curtain wall systems
In delegated design, the contractor engages a licensed engineer to design and seal specialty systems, and shop drawings bear that engineer's stamp.
Question 3: What is the purpose of transmittal documentation accompanying a submittal?
- To replace the need for a submittal log
- To provide a formal record of what was sent, when, and to whom (Correct answer)
- To grant conditional approval before review
- To certify field installation is complete
Correct answer: To provide a formal record of what was sent, when, and to whom
Submittal transmittal forms create an official paper trail documenting the sender, recipient, date, and contents of each submittal package.
Question 4: A specification section requires 'samples' as a submittal type. What is the primary purpose of a physical sample?
- To verify structural capacity of the material
- To allow the design professional to verify color, texture, and finish before ordering (Correct answer)
- To replace the need for shop drawings on that material
- To confirm compliance with fire testing standards
Correct answer: To allow the design professional to verify color, texture, and finish before ordering
Samples allow the architect or designer to verify aesthetic qualities—color, texture, sheen, pattern—that cannot be conveyed adequately on paper.
Question 5: Which action is the contractor prohibited from taking once a shop drawing is stamped 'approved as noted'?
- Proceeding with fabrication
- Incorporating the reviewer's noted corrections
- Ignoring the reviewer's notations and fabricating as originally drawn (Correct answer)
- Distributing copies to subcontractors
Correct answer: Ignoring the reviewer's notations and fabricating as originally drawn
'Approved as noted' means fabrication may proceed only if the reviewer's corrections are incorporated; ignoring those notes violates the terms of approval.
Question 6: What does the term 'submittal log revision number' track on a resubmitted shop drawing?
- The number of RFIs linked to the drawing
- The sequential version of the submittal so reviewers can confirm they have the latest revision (Correct answer)
- The number of working days remaining for review
- The drawing scale changes between revisions
Correct answer: The sequential version of the submittal so reviewers can confirm they have the latest revision
Revision numbers on submittal logs ensure all parties are reviewing the current version and that earlier superseded versions are clearly identified.
Question 7: When a specification states 'no substitutions will be accepted after the submittal deadline,' what contract risk does a late substitution request carry?
- The owner must accept the substitution if it is equal in quality
- The contractor bears sole responsibility for any resulting delays or cost overruns (Correct answer)
- The architect is required to review it within 30 days
- The substitution is automatically approved if no response is received
Correct answer: The contractor bears sole responsibility for any resulting delays or cost overruns
Late substitution requests made after the contractual deadline are typically at the contractor's risk, including costs and schedule impacts if denied.
CSI Submittals & Shop Drawings 3
A deferred submittal is best described as a submittal that is: