Division 13 Special Construction
Manufacturer or Product Substitution in Division 13 Special Construction submittals
Short answer
The submittal proposes a different manufacturer or product than the spec names, without an approved or-equal or substitution request. Default grade in Division 13 Special Construction: Blocker.
The submittal proposes a different manufacturer or product than the spec names, without an approved or-equal or substitution request. This guide covers how it shows up specifically in Division 13 Special Construction submittals.
What to look for in Division 13 Special Construction
Div 13 specs name specialty manufacturers for unique building systems. Look for:
- Clean room system manufacturer substitutions (Terra Universal, Cleanroom Systems)
- Pre-engineered metal building manufacturer substitutions (Nucor, BlueScope, Chief Industries, Metallic Building Company)
- Lightning protection manufacturer substitutions (Thompson Lightning, East Coast Lightning Equipment)
- Insulated panel manufacturer substitutions for cold storage and clean rooms (Metl-Span, Kingspan, CENTRIA)
- Radiation shielding manufacturer substitutions (MarShield, Nelco)
- Storm shelter and safe room manufacturer substitutions (US Safe Room, Survive-A-Storm)
- Seismic isolation bearing manufacturer substitutions (DIS/Dynamic Isolation Systems, Earthquake Protection Systems)
- Pool equipment manufacturer substitutions (Pentair, Hayward, Fluidra)
How severe is it?
Default grade: Blocker. Drops to a Note if the submittal attaches an or-equal approval letter from the architect of record.
Deviation Check assigns a default per category and escalates or de-escalates based on the spec, always showing its reasoning. See the Division 13 severity rules.
What the PM should do
Treat this as a hold. Do not approve the submittal until the sub resolves it, either by providing the specified product and documentation or by routing an approved substitution or or-equal request. Return the relevant spec passage to the sub as a redline.
Other deviation categories in Division 13
Frequently asked questions
What manufacturer substitutions should I flag in Division 13 Special Construction submittals?
Flag any substitution of a named specialty manufacturer without an approved or-equal letter from the architect of record. In Division 13, this includes pre-engineered metal building makers such as Nucor, BlueScope, Chief Industries, and Metallic Building Company; clean room system makers such as Terra Universal and Cleanroom Systems; and radiation shielding suppliers such as MarShield and Nelco. Each is named because the spec was written around their specific system.
How is a manufacturer substitution resolved in a Division 13 Special Construction submittal?
The deviation drops from Blocker to a Note only when the submittal includes an or-equal approval letter signed by the architect of record. Without that letter, the sub must resubmit using the specified manufacturer - or formally request a substitution through the substitution process. This applies equally to storm shelter makers such as US Safe Room and Survive-A-Storm and pool equipment suppliers such as Pentair, Hayward, and Fluidra.
View this page as Markdown for LLMs and note-taking.