Deferred Submittals and Delegated Design: Contractor-Engineered Components, Performance Specifications, and Structural Connections

Covers deferred submittals and delegated design under A201-2017, including the architect's limited review scope under Section 4.2.7, contractor design services under Section 3.12.10, performance specifications vs. prescriptive specifications, contractor-engineered components (steel connections, curtain wall, precast), professional engineer stamp requirements, and the architect's liability limitations for delegated design elements.

ARE · Construction & Evaluation

Overview

In most construction projects, the architect and consultants design the building and the contractor builds it. But certain building components are routinely designed by the contractor or the contractor's engineer rather than the architect. This practice, known as delegated design, shifts design responsibility for specific elements from the architect to the contractor.

Delegated design occurs when the architect specifies performance criteria -- what the component must achieve -- rather than prescriptive requirements -- exactly how it must be built. The contractor then engages a professional engineer or specialty designer to develop the detailed design that meets the performance criteria. Common examples include structural steel connections, curtain wall systems, pre-engineered metal buildings, precast concrete panels, and fire suppression systems.

A deferred submittal is a design document that is not included in the original permit application but is submitted to the building official for review after the permit is issued. Deferred submittals are common for delegated design elements because the detailed engineering is completed by the contractor after the contract is awarded.

Under A201-2017, the architect's review of submittals is limited in scope. Section 4.2.7 states that the architect reviews submittals for the limited purpose of checking conformance with the information given and the design concept expressed in the contract documents. The architect does not verify the accuracy, completeness, or engineering adequacy of delegated design elements. Section 3.12.10 addresses contractor design services specifically, establishing that the contractor is responsible for the professional adequacy of its design work.

This division of responsibility is frequently tested on the CE exam because candidates must understand where the architect's review responsibility ends and the contractor's design responsibility begins.

Essential

Understanding delegated design requires knowledge of how performance specifications work, what the architect reviews and does not review, and who bears professional responsibility for the delegated elements. Performance Specifications vs. Prescriptive Specifications A prescriptive specification tells the contractor exactly what to use and how to install it. For example: "Provide 4-inch thick concrete masonry units, ASTM C90, Grade N, Type I, laid in running bond with Type S mortar." The architect has designed the assembly and the contractor executes it. A performance specification tells the contractor what the component must achieve, not how to build it. For example: "Provide a curtain wall system that achieves a U-value of 0.30 or less, air infiltration rate not exceeding 0.06 CFM per square foot at 6.24 psf, and water penetration resistance at 15 psf static pressure." The contractor is responsible for designing a system that meets these criteria.

Professional

Delegated design creates coordination challenges and professional liability questions that the architect must manage carefully throughout construction. Defining Clear Performance Criteria The quality of delegated design depends on the quality of the performance criteria the architect specifies. Vague or incomplete performance criteria force the contractor's engineer to make assumptions, which may not align with the architect's design intent. The architect should specify measurable performance requirements (thermal, structural, acoustic, fire resistance), interface conditions with adjacent building systems, dimensional constraints and tolerances, finish requirements and aesthetic criteria, and applicable codes and standards the design must meet. Incomplete performance criteria are a leading source of delegated design disputes. If the curtain wall specification does not address thermal movement, the contractor's engineer may design a system that performs differently than the architect expected. Coordinating Between the Engineer of Record and the Delegated Design Engineer Structural steel connections illustrate the coordination challenge.

TLDR

Delegated design shifts design responsibility to the contractor for specific components specified by performance criteria. Common examples: steel connections, curtain walls, precast panels, sprinklers. The contractor's licensed engineer designs the element and stamps the drawings. Under A201 Section 4.2.7, the architect reviews for conformance with design concept only -- not engineering accuracy. Section 3.12.10 says the contractor's design must be prepared by a licensed professional and the contractor can rely on the adequacy of the architect's performance criteria. Deferred submittals go to the building official after the permit is issued. The architect's approval of a specific item does not constitute approval of the full assembly. Define clear performance criteria. Coordinate delegated design submittals through the relevant consultant. Document that review is limited to conformance, not engineering adequacy.

ELI5

Imagine you are building a custom house and you tell a cabinet maker: "I need kitchen cabinets that hold 200 pounds per shelf, fit in a 12-foot wall, and have a white oak finish." You told them what you need, but you let them figure out how to build it. That is delegated design -- you set the rules, and they design the details. In construction, the architect does this for certain building parts. The architect writes performance specifications that say what the component must do -- how strong, how waterproof, how fire-resistant -- but does not draw every detail of how to build it. The contractor hires a specialized engineer who designs the actual component and stamps the drawings with a professional seal. The architect still reviews the contractor's design, but only to check that it matches the original intent.

Overview

Essential

Professional

TLDR

ELI5

AREConstruction & Evaluation

Deferred Submittals and Delegated Design: Contractor-Engineered Components, Performance Specifications, and Structural Connections

2 min read272 words

When the Contractor Designs: Deferred Submittals and Delegated Design

Want to track your progress and access more study tools?

Create a free account