Project teams rely on Airspecs to keep submittal reviews on track—prioritizing long-lead items, avoiding architect overload, and flagging issues early. The result: smoother coordination, fewer delays, and more time spent building.
February 4, 2025
Submittals are a critical QA/QC tool that directly impact schedule, risk, and quality. Once your submittal log is created and trade partners are aligned on their responsibilities, the next challenge begins: managing the review process without slowing down the job.
It’s easy to maintain strong collaboration with the design team during precon—but maintaining that momentum through the build phase is where most teams falter. One common misstep? Overloading the design team with a flood of submittals all at once.
Many GCs fall into the trap of holding back on reviews and then submitting dozens—or even hundreds—at once, expecting a quick turnaround. Even when the contract stipulates a 14-day review period, that timeframe becomes unrealistic when the design team is suddenly asked to approve every door handle, fixture, and paint swatch before concrete has even been poured.
Here’s how to avoid the dreaded “submittal dump” and keep the process smooth from day one:
There’s no need to wait until every trade is under contract. As soon as submittals begin coming in, start routing them through internal review and on to the design team. Early momentum is key.
Focus on early-phase scopes and long-lead items first. These directly affect scheduling and procurement and are typically top-of-mind for the design team. Later-phase submittals can wait their turn—but don’t neglect them entirely.
Rather than delivering submittals in bursts, aim for a consistent cadence throughout the project. A predictable workload helps design reviewers stay efficient and prevents bottlenecks from forming.
Your team is the first line of defense. If a submittal clearly doesn’t align with the spec, don’t pass it up the chain. Send it back to the trade partner for revision. If it looks good or needs clarification, then escalate it to the design team. Avoid wasting their time on easily preventable rejections.
Using tools like Airspecs can help streamline this entire process by tracking deadlines, routing reviews, and maintaining accountability. Submittals flagged as high priority—especially those tied to schedule-critical scopes—can be surfaced early and monitored closely.
The goal is to complete the bulk of your submittal reviews early in the construction phase. This builds confidence across the team, catches potential design coordination issues early, and keeps trade partners moving without surprises.
Once approvals are in hand, don’t lose momentum—Aircloseout ensures you can shift seamlessly to turnover by helping your team wrap up documentation for each trade before they leave site. That’s how modern teams protect their profit margins and close with confidence.
Submittal review doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right pacing, prioritization, and internal checks, you can keep the process efficient and collaborative—setting your entire project up for smoother execution and faster closeout.