Deferred Submittal

A portion of the construction documents that is permitted to be submitted and reviewed after the building permit is issued, typically for specialized systems like structural steel, fire sprinklers, or curtain walls.

What is a Deferred Submittal?

A deferred submittal is an arrangement where specific portions of the construction documents are not included in the initial permit application but are instead submitted for review and approval after the building permit has been issued. This allows construction to begin on the main building while specialized components — which often require additional design time — are finalized.

Common Deferred Submittals

Typically deferred items include: structural steel shop drawings and connection details, fire sprinkler system design, fire alarm system design, elevator installation details, curtain wall and storefront systems, kitchen exhaust hood systems, and other specialty trade designs. The building department must approve each deferred submittal before the corresponding work can be installed.

Benefits and Requirements

Deferred submittals allow projects to start construction earlier by removing specialized systems from the critical path of the initial plan review. However, the initial permit application must clearly identify all deferred items, and the building department must agree to the deferral. The architect or engineer of record typically retains responsibility for ensuring that deferred submittal designs are consistent with the overall building design.

Coordination Challenges

Managing deferred submittals requires careful coordination between the general contractor, subcontractors, design professionals, and the building department. Late deferred submittals can delay construction if the corresponding work reaches the installation stage before the submittal is approved.