Submittal Review Checklist

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Author Message Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 577 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, November 05, 2014 - 08:45 pm:    I have a client who is trying to train interns how to review submittals and is looking for a checklist of some sorts that might provide a framework and starting point. Does anyone have anything like this? Mark Gilligan SE, Senior Member Username: mark_gilligan Post Number: 699 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Wednesday, November 05, 2014 - 10:41 pm:    Would be concerned about delegating this review to interns. Will admit that there are some administrative functions that an intern could handle but the technical review of the submittals should be performed by somebody knowledgeable regarding the technical issues and preferably somebody who was aware of the project design decisions impacted by the submittal. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 807 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2014 - 12:08 am:    The specifications should be a good place to start! If written in short, simple statements of criteria, it should be easy to use those statements as a checklist. ASTM C578, Type IV: Check. Color: White. Check. Experience: 5 years. Check. Not so easy when the criteria are needles hidden in a haystack of words. We all have to start somewhere; presumably, the training is part of staff education. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1207 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2014 - 12:29 am:    I recall Ralph Liebing, RIP was working on a submittal checklist, perhaps someone could reach out to his former office or another specwriter with ties to Ralph's work. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 843 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2014 - 10:11 am:    I agree with Sheldon for two reasons. First, the specs identify what the contractor needs to comply with. No checklist can 'know' what is required as these requirements are project specific and can change often for the same product types. Second, if the interns read the spec they will receive a great amount of training and knowledge and maybe even an appreciation of what to do, or to not do as the case may be. Guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2014 - 12:55 pm:    I agree with Sheldon and Ken. Let the interns loose on the specifications (with supervision of course). Back during my intern days I learned to appreciate specifications while reviewing submittals. Now I'm specifying full time. If you don't give them a chance to actually get into the specifications and just look at a checklist instead, they'll never learn the importance of the specs until much later in their careers (if they even learn it then ... but that's another topic altogether). Helaine K. Robinson CSI CCS CCCA SCIP Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 402 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2014 - 01:15 pm:    Most of what I am seeing online is civil and the rest is MEP. 214–15 Submittal review checklist ​ Risk Management for Design Professionals Kaplan Financial Series Author William Ramroth Edition illustrated Publisher Kaplan Publishing, 2007 ISBN 1427754764, 9781427754769 Length 304 pages Subjects Architecture › Professional Practice Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 808 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2014 - 05:20 pm:    Ken & guest: Submittal review is a great place to learn! James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 154 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 08:11 am:    I believe it was Archimedes who told the king, "There is no royal road to geometry." I don't recall if he was beheaded, imprisoned, or otherwise punished for his proclamation but he was correct. So too is it for learning to be a PROPER architect who is versed in submittal review and contract administration. Check lists are fine as far as they go but I have to give a BIG +1 to Sheldon, Ken, and Guest. Whip out that protractor to do geometry and whip out that Project Manual when reviewing submittals. :-) Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 545 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 10:14 am:    What Guest noted is important--"Let the interns loose on the specifications (with supervision of course)." The supervision, or as Sheldon noted, staff education and training, is vital. It is necessary, but not sufficient, for interns just to ease into the value of specifications via submittal review. They need to understand the reasons that specifications decisions were made, and how those decisions integrate with and can enforce design intent. Understanding the "why" will prepare them to make better design decisions for themselves in the future. And ultimately that is the point of education.