Shop drawings are one kind of submittal. "Submittal" is the umbrella term for everything a contractor sends the consultant during the work for review or for the record: shop drawings, product data (cut sheets), samples, certificates, test reports and closeout documents. Shop drawings are the project-specific drawings showing how a component will be made and installed. Most other submittals are standard information about products and materials. Both are required by the specifications, both are logged and tracked, and neither changes the contract.
For steel and rebar, the shop drawings are the biggest item in the package, but they are rarely the only one. This post sets out what counts as a submittal, how shop drawings differ from product data and cut sheets, what typically goes in a structural steel and a rebar submittal, and how the review stamps work.
Types of submittals
Canadian specifications are usually organized in MasterFormat, with submittal requirements in Division 01 (Section 01 33 00, Submittal Procedures, in most specs) and specific items listed in each trade section. The common types:
| Submittal | What it is | Prepared for this project? |
|---|---|---|
| Shop drawings | Drawings showing how a component will be fabricated and installed | Yes |
| Product data | Manufacturer's data sheets, catalogue pages, installation instructions | No, standard information marked up |
| Samples | Physical examples of finishes, colours or materials | Sometimes |
| Mock-ups | Full-size assemblies built on site for approval | Yes |
| Certificates | Mill test reports, welding certification, product certifications | No, but tied to the material supplied |
| Test and inspection reports | Results from testing agencies or field inspections | Yes |
| Design data and calculations | Connection design or delegated design, often sealed | Yes |
| Closeout submittals | As-builts, warranties, operation and maintenance information | Yes |
Specifications often split these into action submittals, which need a review response before the work proceeds (shop drawings, product data, samples), and informational submittals, which are filed for the record (certificates, test reports, qualifications). Closeout submittals come at the end. Your specification's Division 01 says which applies to what.
Shop drawings vs product data vs cut sheets
These three get confused because they often travel in the same transmittal.
Shop drawings are made for the project. A steel assembly drawing for beam B12, a placing drawing for the level 2 slab, a stair layout. They carry project dimensions, piece marks and bar marks, and they can be wrong in ways that cost money, so the review is detailed.
Product data is the manufacturer's published information about a standard product: a data sheet for a grout, an adhesive anchor's technical guide, a paint system's product sheet. It is submitted to show the product meets the specification. Good practice is to mark up the data to show exactly which model, size, finish and options are being supplied, and to strike out what does not apply.
Cut sheets are individual pages of product data. The name comes from cutting a page out of a printed catalogue. "Submit cut sheets" means submit product data for each product.
The practical difference: shop drawings get checked against the design drawings for fit and intent, while product data gets checked against the specification for compliance.
What goes in a structural steel submittal
The specification governs, but a structural steel package commonly includes:
- Anchor bolt and embedment drawings, usually first, because the concrete trade needs them early.
- Erection drawings showing piece marks, elevations and connections.
- Shop (assembly) drawings for each piece.
- Connection design calculations, where connection design is delegated to the fabricator's engineer, typically sealed. Our post on whether shop drawings need an engineer's stamp explains when a seal applies.
- Welding certification, showing the fabricator's CWB certification to CSA W47.1, and welding procedure documents where specified.
- Mill test certificates for the steel, often as an informational submittal.
- Coating product data for primer, paint or galvanizing.
- Bolt and fastener data where high-strength bolts are used.
Our guide to reviewing steel shop drawings covers what the design team checks on the drawings themselves.
What goes in a rebar submittal
A reinforcing steel package is usually simpler:
- Placing drawings and bar lists for each element or pour, the action part of the submittal.
- Mill test reports for the bar, showing the standard and grade (CSA G30.18 400W, for example).
- Product data for mechanical couplers, where couplers are used.
- Coating documents for coated bar, which are more involved; see our post on epoxy-coated rebar submittals.
- GFRP bar data and certification where fibreglass bar is specified; our post on the CSA S807 and S806 standards explains what those cover.
The RSIC Manual of Standard Practice describes the usual flow for rebar: the fabricator forwards placing drawings and bar lists to the general contractor for approval, any drawing needing changes is resubmitted the same way, and the general contractor bears the responsibility if it asks for material to be shipped from unapproved drawings.
How review stamps work
When a submittal comes back, the consultant's stamp gives one of a few responses. Wording varies by firm, but the common ones are:
- Reviewed (or no exceptions taken). Proceed.
- Reviewed as noted (or make corrections noted). Proceed, incorporating the comments. Many specifications do not require a resubmission for this.
- Revise and resubmit. Do not fabricate; correct and send again.
- Rejected (or not reviewed). The submittal does not meet the requirements or was not required.
The stamp usually includes a statement limiting the review to general conformance with the design concept. That is not legal boilerplate to skip: it means the contractor still owns dimensions, quantities, fit, fabrication methods and coordination with other trades. Our post on shop drawings vs construction drawings explains why a reviewed shop drawing does not change the contract.
Why submittals get sent back
Most rejected or returned submittals fall into a few patterns:
- Not checked by the contractor first. Many specifications require the general contractor to review and stamp each submittal before it goes to the consultant.
- Missing information, such as no grades, no finish, no reference to the drawing revision, or product data not marked up.
- Deviations not flagged. A substitution hidden in the drawing instead of called out.
- Wrong drawing revision. Detailed from an older set than the current IFC drawings.
- Incomplete packages. Calculations or certificates sent separately from the drawings they support.
Keep a submittal log
Every submittal should be numbered and tracked: what was sent, when, to whom, the response, and the resubmission. A simple log keeps shop drawing reviews from silently holding up fabrication. Our post on the shop drawing process from IFC to fabrication includes a log layout you can set up in a spreadsheet.
Shop drawings and submittals for your steel and rebar
We produce shop drawings in-house for the structural steel and rebar we fabricate, and engineering services are available for projects that need them. Our shop welding is certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau. Tell us what your specification requires in the submittal package when you request a quote. Send your drawings for a free take-off and quote, or see our services.
Frequently asked questions
Are shop drawings submittals?
Yes. Shop drawings are one type of submittal. Submittal is the umbrella term for everything the contractor sends the consultant for review or for the record, including shop drawings, product data, samples, certificates and test reports.
Are shop drawings and submittals the same thing?
No. Every shop drawing is a submittal, but not every submittal is a shop drawing. A manufacturer's data sheet for anchor adhesive or a mill test report is a submittal but not a shop drawing, because it is standard information rather than a drawing prepared for this project.
What is the difference between shop drawings and product data?
Shop drawings are prepared specifically for the project and show how a component will be made and installed. Product data is the manufacturer's standard published information about a product, such as data sheets, catalogue pages and installation instructions, marked up to show the options being supplied.
What is a cut sheet in construction?
A cut sheet is a page of a manufacturer's product data, originally cut from a catalogue, showing the specifications of one product. Cut sheets are submitted as product data so the consultant can confirm the product meets the specification.
