CSI, in alignment with standard general conditions (such as AIA A201 and EJCDC documents, which CDT relies on), defines submittals as including three primary types:
Shop drawings – Drawings, diagrams, schedules, and other data specifically prepared by the contractor, subcontractors, or suppliers to illustrate how a portion of the work will be fabricated, assembled, or installed.
Product data – Manufacturer’s printed information such as catalog cuts, performance charts, instructions, and brochures.
Samples – Physical examples that illustrate materials or workmanship.
Key points from these definitions:
Shop drawings are not contract documents. They do not change the requirements of the drawings and specifications; instead, they show how the contractor proposes to meet those requirements.
Standard conditions explicitly state that the contract documents are not modified by submittals, even when reviewed by the architect/engineer.
The contractor must review shop drawings first; they are then submitted to the architect/engineer for review for conformance with design intent, but this does not make them contract documents.
Now, compare to the options:
A. They are contract documents.This is explicitly incorrect. Shop drawings are submittals and do not have the status of contract documents.
B. They illustrate some portion of the work.This is the standard CSI-aligned definition: shop drawings are created to illustrate portions of the work (fabrication, installation, layout, connections, etc.). This is correct.
C. They are reviewed only by the architect/engineer.Incorrect. The contractor is required to review and approve shop drawings before submitting them; the architect/engineer then reviews them. Sometimes others (e.g., consultants, certifying authorities) may also review them.
D. They include performance charts, instructions, and brochures.This describes product data, not shop drawings. Product data submittals often are manufacturer literature with performance charts, brochures, and instructions.
Therefore, the correct choice, consistent with CSI definitions and standard general conditions, is Option B – They illustrate some portion of the work.
CSI references (by name only, no links):
CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – “Submittals: shop drawings, product data, and samples”
CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – “Construction Phase – Submittal Procedures and Responsibilities”
