How to Review Shop Drawings Before Sending Them to the Consultant: Contractor Checklist
A contractor checklist for reviewing shop drawings before consultant submission — specs, schedules, accessories, electrical, BAS controls, and common resubmittal issues.
To review a shop drawing before consultant submission, compare the submitted product against the project specifications, drawings, schedules, and coordination requirements. Confirm the correct specification section, selected model number, performance data, accessories, electrical requirements, BAS controls, dimensions, installation clearances, and any deviations from the contract documents.
A good shop drawing review should answer one simple question:
Does this submittal clearly prove that the proposed product or system meets the project requirements?
If the answer is no, the submittal may come back with major comments or require resubmission.
Quick contractor shop drawing review checklist
A contractor should review shop drawings by checking:
- Correct specification section
- Equipment tag and model number
- Performance against schedules
- Required accessories and selected options
- Electrical requirements
- BAS and controls requirements
- Dimensions, weights, and service clearances
- Installation details
- Deviations from the contract documents
- Completeness of the submittal package
The goal is not just to confirm that the manufacturer makes the product. The goal is to confirm that the submitted product matches the specific project requirements.
What is a shop drawing review?
A shop drawing review is the process of checking a contractor''s submitted product data, drawings, diagrams, schedules, and installation information against the project requirements.
The consultant''s review is usually focused on general conformance with the contract documents. Before the consultant receives the submittal, the contractor or coordinator should complete their own review to catch missing information, incorrect selections, and coordination issues.
How do you review a shop drawing?
To review a shop drawing, start with the project specification and equipment schedule. Then compare the submitted product data against the required performance, materials, accessories, electrical requirements, controls requirements, dimensions, installation details, and project-specific notes.
A clean review should confirm:
- What product is being submitted
- Which model and options are selected
- Whether the product matches the specification
- Whether the performance matches the schedule
- Whether required accessories are included
- Whether electrical and BAS coordination is complete
- Whether the submittal is complete enough for consultant review
1. Confirm the correct specification section
Start by confirming that the shop drawing is being reviewed against the correct specification section.
For example, a VAV box submittal should be compared against the VAV box specification section, the air terminal schedule, the controls specification, and any relevant drawing notes.
Do not rely only on the product catalogue. The project specification is what defines the actual requirements.
2. Confirm the equipment tag and model number
Check that the submitted equipment tag matches the drawings and schedules.
Also confirm that the selected model number is clearly identified. Many submittals include full catalogues with multiple products, sizes, and options. If the selected model is not marked, the consultant may not be able to complete the review.
3. Compare performance against the schedule
For mechanical equipment, compare the submitted performance data against the equipment schedule and specification.
This may include:
- Airflow
- Water flow
- Capacity
- Pressure drop
- Static pressure
- Heating or cooling output
- Efficiency
- Sound data
- Motor horsepower
- Voltage and phase
- Operating weight
If the submitted performance does not match the schedule, the difference should be explained before the submittal is issued.
4. Check required accessories and options
Many shop drawings are returned because required accessories are missing or unclear.
Common missing accessories include:
- Disconnect switches
- Starters or VFDs
- Control valves
- Actuators
- Sensors
- Filters
- Drain pans
- Vibration isolation
- Flexible connectors
- Access doors
- Gauges and thermometers
- Factory-mounted controls
- BAS interface cards
A product can be mostly correct and still receive comments if the required accessories are not shown.
5. Check electrical coordination
Mechanical shop drawings often affect the electrical scope.
Confirm:
- Voltage
- Phase
- MCA
- MOCP
- Motor horsepower
- Disconnect requirements
- Starter or VFD requirements
- Emergency power requirements
- Control power requirements
If the electrical data does not match the electrical drawings or equipment schedule, the issue should be coordinated before submission.
6. Check BAS and controls requirements
For HVAC equipment, controls are one of the most common sources of review comments.
Confirm whether the submittal includes:
- Control diagrams
- BAS points
- Sensors
- Actuators
- Alarms
- Safeties
- Factory controls
- Field-installed controls
- Sequence of operation requirements
Comments such as "Coordinate with BAS" should be treated as review comments, not as separate approval statuses.
7. Check dimensions, access, and installation requirements
Confirm that the submitted product can actually be installed in the project condition.
Review:
- Overall dimensions
- Service clearances
- Maintenance access
- Ceiling space
- Shaft space
- Mechanical room access
- Roof curb dimensions
- Housekeeping pad requirements
- Connection locations
- Drain requirements
- Support and vibration isolation requirements
A technically acceptable product can still create problems if it does not fit or cannot be maintained.
8. Identify deviations from the contract documents
Any deviation from the project documents should be clearly identified.
Examples of deviations include:
- Alternate manufacturer
- Different material
- Different capacity
- Different control arrangement
- Different electrical requirement
- Different installation method
- Omitted accessory
- Substitution from the specified product
Hidden deviations often lead to consultant comments or resubmittals.
9. Confirm the submittal is complete
Before sending the shop drawing to the consultant, confirm that the package includes enough information for review.
A complete submittal may include:
- Product data sheets
- Selected model number
- Performance data
- Dimensional drawings
- Wiring diagrams
- Control diagrams
- Installation instructions
- Accessories
- Warranty information
- Startup requirements
- Maintenance requirements
Incomplete submittals are one of the easiest reasons for a consultant to return the package.
Common reasons shop drawings are returned
Shop drawings are commonly returned because:
- The selected model is not clearly marked
- Required accessories are missing
- Performance does not match the schedule
- Electrical data does not match the drawings
- BAS controls are not coordinated
- Installation details are not project-specific
- The submittal includes too much irrelevant catalogue information
- Deviations are not clearly identified
- The package is incomplete
Most resubmittals are not caused by one major issue. They are usually caused by missing details, unclear selections, or incomplete coordination.
Mechanical shop drawing review example
VAV box submittal
- VAV tag
- Airflow range
- Inlet size
- Reheat coil capacity
- Liner type
- Control type
- Actuator
- Flow sensor
- BAS compatibility
- Sound data
- Access requirements
- Thermostat or sensor requirements
- Sequence of operation
Fan submittal
- Airflow
- Static pressure
- Fan curve
- Fan RPM
- Motor horsepower
- Voltage and phase
- Efficiency
- Sound data
- VFD compatibility
- Backdraft damper
- Vibration isolation
- Flexible connectors
- Access requirements
Can AI help review shop drawings?
AI can help with first-pass shop drawing reviews by comparing the submitted product data against the project specification and identifying missing information, possible deviations, and coordination comments.
AI should not replace the consultant''s formal review, but it can help contractors and coordinators submit cleaner packages by catching issues earlier.
Shopdrawing.AI allows users to upload a project specification and shop drawing, then generate a first-pass review report in minutes.
It can help identify:
- Missing specification requirements
- Unclear model selections
- Missing accessories
- Possible performance mismatches
- Electrical coordination comments
- BAS coordination comments
- Incomplete product data
- Items that may require consultant review
Final check before submission
Before sending a shop drawing to the consultant, ask:
Does this submittal clearly show what is being provided, how it meets the specification, and what needs to be coordinated?
If not, the submittal should be cleaned up before formal submission.
A better first-pass review can reduce resubmittals, avoid delays, and help the consultant complete their review faster.
You can also use our AI shop drawing review tool to compare a shop drawing against the applicable project specification.
FAQ
What is the purpose of a shop drawing review?
The purpose of a shop drawing review is to confirm that the submitted product, equipment, or system generally conforms to the project specifications, drawings, schedules, and coordination requirements.
Who reviews shop drawings before the consultant?
The contractor, subcontractor, vendor, or project coordinator should review shop drawings before sending them to the consultant. This helps catch missing information, incorrect selections, and coordination issues before formal review.
What should be included in a shop drawing submittal?
A shop drawing submittal should include the selected model, product data, performance information, dimensions, accessories, electrical data, controls information, installation details, and any deviations from the contract documents.
Why do shop drawings get returned as Revise and Resubmit?
Shop drawings are often returned as Revise and Resubmit when they are incomplete, do not match the specification, are missing required accessories, have unclear model selections, or do not provide enough information for the consultant to confirm compliance.
Can AI review shop drawings?
AI can help perform a first-pass review by comparing shop drawings against the project specification and identifying missing information, possible deviations, and coordination comments. AI should support, not replace, the contractor''s and consultant''s professional review.
How can contractors reduce shop drawing resubmissions?
Contractors can reduce resubmissions by reviewing the submittal against the correct specification section, confirming scheduled performance, marking selected models, including required accessories, coordinating electrical and BAS requirements, and clearly identifying deviations before submission.
Requirements vary by project, jurisdiction, consultant and authority having jurisdiction. Always verify against the current project specifications, drawings, addenda, change documents and applicable codes.