[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-648634-105":59,"doc-detail-648634-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","be-aware-of-the-risks-associated-with-the-shop-drawing-submittal-process","Be Aware of the Risks Associated with the Shop Drawing & Submittal Process","","Shop drawing and submittal reviews frequently trigger construction disputes over responsibility for outcomes. The article explains that approval does not automatically shift risk to the owner: contractors remain obligated to meet plan and specification requirements. It cites AIA A201 Section 3.12.8, addressing deviations and errors or omissions. It also highlights design-responsibility “gap filling” risks, ambiguity between design and means-and-methods, potential warranty/code-based performance standards, and delay impacts requiring schedule analysis.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/be-aware-of-the-risks-associated-with-the-shop-drawing-submittal-process/648634/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/be-aware-of-the-risks-associated-with-the-shop-drawing-submittal-process/648634.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Noah","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-02","2026-10-23",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":24},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Why do shop drawing and submittal processes often lead to disputes?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"They create disagreements about whether risks and responsibilities belong to the contractor, subcontractor, or owner when outcomes are unsatisfactory or defective.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Does architect approval of a submittal transfer risk to the owner?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"No. The article states contractors remain responsible for performing to the plans and specifications requirements, even if the architect approves submittals.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What additional legal risks arise when contractors or subcontractors fill design gaps in submittals?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Gap-filling can shift design responsibility and increase risk for design professionals, since they may be effectively relying on unlicensed consultants preparing parts of the design.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},648634,1792794242,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":24,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":14,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":129,"read_time":24},8796095462418,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/80000253c1241d02b47?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1778826106357471780","101 North Pointe Blvd., Suite 200 Lancaster, PA 17601  \n(717) 290-1190  \n[woolfordlaw.com](woolfordlaw.com)  \n101 North Pointe Blvd., Suite 200 Lancaster, PA 17601  \n(717) 290-1190  \n[woolfordlaw.com](woolfordlaw.com)  \nTimothy Woolford, Esq.  \nBe Aware of the Risks Associated with the Shop Drawing & Submittal Process  \nThis article previously appeared in the MABXConstrux Magazine in its January 2013 edition. With the closing of the MABXin 2015, the link to the article became inactive so the article has been reformatted for this website.  \nShop drawing and submittal review is a frequent source of disputes on construction projects. The purpose of shop drawings and submittals is to enable the design professional to obtain a representation from the contractor as to how it plans to execute the aspects of the design for which submittals are required. Contractors often believe and assert that approval of a submittal or shop drawing transfers certain risks to the owner. If the contractor executes the work in accordance with the shop drawing or submittal, and the outcome proves to be unsatisfactory, the contractor often believes it is not responsible because its submittal was approved.  \nIn an attempt to defeat this argument, many contracts, including those issued by the AIA, state that regardless of shop drawing and submittal approval, the contractor remains responsible to perform to the requirements of the plans and specifications. Also, many design firms include language in their submittal review stamps to the same effect. Section 3.12.8 of the AIA A201 contract states that the contractor is not relieved from responsibility for deviations in the contract documents by the architect's approval of submittalsunless the architect has been given specific notice of the proposed deviation and gives written approval of it. It also provides that the contractor is not relieved of liability for errors or omissions in the submittals even if they are approved by the architect. There are many court decisions which have found work defective even though it was installed in accordance with approved shop drawings.  \nThis provision creates a dilemma for contractors who often rely upon the architect's review and approval. Contractors are well-advised to conspicuously identify any aspects in which the work contained in the shop drawing or submittal differs from the requirements of the contract documents. Arguments by contractors that deviations from requirements were patent or obvious, and that the architect should have seen the proposed change, have not been very successful.  \nAnother dilemma for contractors is that the shop drawing and submittal process can transfer design responsibilities to the contractor or subcontractor by forcing them to fill in gaps in the design. This poses risk for the design professional as well since the design professional remains responsible for the design and is effectively relying upon unlicensed consultants to prepare portions ofthe design. When design professionals are reviewing shop drawings that contain gap-filling design information, they are well-advised to conduct thereview carefully as they may be held responsible if a problem occurs.  \nThe contract is often unclear as to the nature of the work that is depicted through the shop drawings. Do the shop drawings contain design information, or only means and methods? The line between design and means and method isnot always clear and, if there are problems, there can be significant disputes regarding liability. Shop drawings often contain elements of both design and  \n1  \n101 North Pointe Blvd., Suite 200 Lancaster, PA 17601  \n(717) 290-1190  \n[woolfordlaw.com](woolfordlaw.com)  \nmeans and methods. When something goes wrong, experts are often necessary to assist in the determination process.  \nSome contracts include nothing more than warranty provisions or code compliance obligations that have the effect of imposing performance standardson the contractor or subcontrac","cbCaib34yd1e2cvh","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaib34yd1e2cvh","pdf",254422,"English","# Overview of Shop Drawing & Submittal Disputes\n## Approval Does Not Eliminate Contractor Responsibility\n## Contract Provisions and AIA A201 Section 3.12.8\n## Practical Contractor Dilemmas and Design Risk\n## Ambiguity: Design vs. Means and Methods\n## Warranty/Code Compliance and Stamping Requirements\n## Delays and Schedule Critical-Path Impacts\n## Managing Legal Risk and Seeking Counsel","[{\"question\":\"Why do shop drawing and submittal processes often lead to disputes?\",\"answer\":\"They create disagreements about whether risks and responsibilities belong to the contractor, subcontractor, or owner when outcomes are unsatisfactory or defective.\"},{\"question\":\"Does architect approval of a submittal transfer risk to the owner?\",\"answer\":\"No. The article states contractors remain responsible for performing to the plans and specifications requirements, even if the architect approves submittals.\"},{\"question\":\"What additional legal risks arise when contractors or subcontractors fill design gaps in submittals?\",\"answer\":\"Gap-filling can shift design responsibility and increase risk for design professionals, since they may be effectively relying on unlicensed consultants preparing parts of the design.\"}]","Be Aware of the Risks Associated with the Shop Drawing & Submittal Process | PDF"]