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Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 98
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 07:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I'm starting this purely for my own amusement, but this has spent all day in the office, so here goes:
What's your most amusing "substitution request"? We used to get substitutions that were at least the same sort of product as we specified.... but now:

We recently specified a 1-1/2" wide molded neoprene expansion joint (the kind you cast into a concrete joint) and the contractor submitted: polyurethane sealant. He's serious, too -- we have the submittals, and multiple phone calls.

(and no... we didn't approve it..)
Anonymous
 
Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 09:49 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

We had a contractor submit a substitution request after the builder had installed 6 floors of sheet rock by a non-specified manufacturer without a shop drawing submittal. After the builder had installed the sheet rock before the building was dried-in and ended up getting mold growing on the sheet rock. After the building department red-tagged the contractor for sheet rock installation for mold and loss of fire-rating integrety. Anything else, oh yeah, after the contractor installed the sheet rock with horizontal joints, even though the installed brand did not have a fire rating test for horizontal joints. The contactor's substitution request indicated no reason for the request and no dollar difference. Can you say... get your you know what out of a wringer?
Ellis C. Whitby, AIA, PE, CSI
Intermediate Member
Username: ecwhitby

Post Number: 5
Registered: 03-2003
Posted on Monday, July 12, 2004 - 06:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Personally, I've never had a substitution request with quite as much chutzpa a "Anonymous" relays, but I have hopes. On second thought, most of the contractors I deal with are more “sophisticated” and try to slide less egregious changes through. There are always exceptions.

I have had many substitution requests submitted as “RFIs”: for example: a request to use fiber glass insulation in lieu of mineral fiber; fiber glass insulation in lieu of rigid insulation; even rolled-on mastic coatings as below grade wall waterproofing in lieu of reinforced modified bitumen sheets.

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