This video, titled "How Submittals IMPACT Material Deliveries In Construction!" by the channel Plan & Spec, provides a detailed educational overview of the submittal process in commercial construction.
Here is a quick review and summary of the key concepts covered in the video:
1. What are Submittals?
The video defines submittals as documents that a contractor submits to the architect or engineer of record before fabrication or installation begins. These are not contract documents themselves but are used to verify that the contractor understands the intent of the plans and specifications.
Examples include: Product data, material samples, shop drawings, warranties, and test reports.
Key Distinction: Smaller residential projects often skip this, but it is standard in commercial construction [01:36].
2. The Purpose: A "Back Check"
The primary goal of the submittal process is quality control and risk prevention. It acts as a "back check" to ensure the contractor is ordering the correct material [03:50].
Risk: If a contractor orders materials without approved submittals, they are financially liable if the material is incorrect (e.g., wrong color or type) and rejected by the architect [04:08].
3. The Submittal Lifecycle
The video outlines the chain of custody for these documents, often using a Submittal Log to track them [04:30].
The Chain: Supplier > Subcontractor > General Contractor (CM) > Architect/Engineer.
Review: The design team reviews the submittal and either approves it (allowing the material to be ordered) or rejects it (requiring the process to start over) [05:42].
4. Managing Risk & Schedule
A significant portion of the video focuses on how submittals affect the project schedule.
Lead Times: You must calculate backward from the mobilization date (when you need to be on-site).
The Math: The narrator gives an example of a piece of equipment with a 60-day delivery lead time. If the review process takes 10 days and preparation takes 5 days, the total time needed is 75 days. If the schedule only allows 30 days, the project is already set up for failure [06:38].
Delays: Delays can happen if the architect takes longer than their allotted time to review (e.g., taking 30 days instead of 10), pushing back material delivery [08:04].
5. Practical Example
The video concludes with a walk-through of a concrete mix design submittal. The narrator demonstrates how to cross-reference the specific specification section with the supplier's document to ensure all criteria are met before passing it on to the design team [09:37].
Verdict:
This is a highly practical resource for Construction Managers, Project Engineers, or anyone entering the commercial construction industry. It effectively connects the administrative task of paperwork to the physical reality of getting materials to the job site on time.
Check out the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNeEfIWlJ7M
Credit to: @planandspec on Youtube.
