Small Firm Exchange

Quick question - over the last three years we've noticed a growing trend where vendors and manufacturers are pushing for our firm to continue reviewing shop drawings until the review stamp reads "Approved", and in some cases they're even asking us to revise our insurance‑company‑approved shop drawing stamp to read "Approved as Submitted."

For more than 25 years, our standard has been to stamp shop drawings "Approved as Noted." when we add mark-ups or change things that are not a change in scope that could be an acceptable cost change or reject something that is incorrect. Recently, however, we're seeing vendors and manufacturers attempt to shift responsibility by insisting that drawings be re‑reviewed as many times as needed and re‑released back to them stamped as "Approved as Submitted." so they are clear of risk or responsibility if they make a mistake.

I'm asking if others are seeing this as well, because we do not have the capacity-or the contractual basis-to absorb additional CA costs when vendors expect our staff to review the same shop drawings three and four times simply to relieve themselves of responsibility and not accept Approved as Noted - 

Of course they want to duck out on responsibility.  Their insurer probably told them to ask for the sign-off.

If your Division 01 Submittals section says how submittals will be handled, and lists the kinds of notations you will mark on submittals, and you don't say that 'approved as submitted' is in that list, they're asking you to bend the terms of the contract.  To which I wold say, "tough".

There also may be a part of your Owner-Architect Agreement which says how many times you will review submittals without additional compensation.  It might ruffle some feathers, but a memo to the Owner, copied to the Contractor, stating that you have reached the limit for one or many submittal items, and will be billing for extra services, may get the Owner to call the GC and say "if I have to pay them more for looking at things that you aren't getting right, I will deduct that from my payments to you".  Sparks may fly. You might want to give examples of what was not corrected or information which wasn't  supplied.