Division 14 Conveying Equipment

Manufacturer or Product Substitution in Division 14 Conveying Equipment submittals

By Deviation Check Editorial Team. Last reviewed June 1, 2026.

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 14 Conveying Equipment: 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 14 Conveying Equipment submittals.

What to look for in Division 14 Conveying Equipment

Div 14 specs typically name a single elevator or escalator manufacturer. Substitutions carry significant coordination risk because hoistway dimensions, pit depths, overhead clearances, and structural loads are manufacturer-specific. Look for:

  • Elevator manufacturer substitutions (Otis, KONE, Schindler, thyssenkrupp, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitec)
  • LULA/accessibility lift manufacturer substitutions (Savaria, Garaventa, Symmetry, Federal Elevator)
  • Wheelchair lift manufacturer substitutions (Garaventa, Savaria, National Wheel-O-Vator, Ascension)
  • Escalator manufacturer substitutions (Otis, KONE, Schindler, thyssenkrupp, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitec)
  • Controller/drive system substitutions (proprietary OEM vs third-party - Virginia Controls, MCE, etc.)
  • Cab interior vendor substitutions (Eklund's, G&R Custom Elevator Cabs, Snap Cab, Tyler Elevator)
  • Door operator substitutions (GAL Manufacturing, Wittur, proprietary OEM)

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 14 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.

Back to the Division 14 Conveying Equipment hub, browse all divisions, or start a review.

Frequently asked questions

What substitution risks should a project manager flag in Division 14 Conveying Equipment elevator submittals?

Any switch from the named manufacturer - Otis, KONE, Schindler, thyssenkrupp, Mitsubishi Electric, or Fujitec - is a Blocker until an or-equal approval letter from the architect of record is attached. The risk goes beyond brand preference: hoistway dimensions, pit depths, overhead clearances, and structural loads are all manufacturer-specific, so a substitution can cascade into civil, structural, and electrical rework.

How does a controller or drive system substitution in a Division 14 Conveying Equipment submittal get resolved?

The sub must submit a formal or-equal request supported by technical equivalency data comparing the proposed controller - for example, Virginia Controls or MCE against the specified OEM unit - across all performance and coordination parameters. Without an approval letter from the architect of record, the deviation stays a Blocker regardless of functional similarity. Cab interior vendor and door operator substitutions follow the same path.

View this page as Markdown for LLMs and note-taking.