Division 25 Integrated Automation

Aesthetic Deviation in Division 25 Integrated Automation submittals

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

Short answer

A visible attribute (color, finish, texture, profile) differs from the spec or the architect-approved sample. Default grade in Division 25 Integrated Automation: Fix and Resubmit.

A visible attribute (color, finish, texture, profile) differs from the spec or the architect-approved sample. This guide covers how it shows up specifically in Division 25 Integrated Automation submittals.

What to look for in Division 25 Integrated Automation

Less common in automation but applies to:

  • Operator workstation monitor size, mounting style, and finish
  • Touchscreen panel bezels and colors in occupied spaces
  • Wall-mounted sensor and thermostat housing color and form factor
  • Graphics interface color schemes and branding if specified in the design documents
  • Controller panel door finish and labeling style in visible mechanical rooms

Common examples in Division 25 Integrated Automation submittals

Division 25 is mostly hidden infrastructure, so aesthetic review applies only to the parts a building occupant or owner actually sees - the operator-facing hardware and the field devices mounted in finished spaces.

  • Wall-mounted touchscreens and the operator workstation: confirm bezel color, monitor size, and mounting style (flush, surface, or desk) match the spec or the architect-approved sample, especially in a lobby or main entrance where the BAS front end is on display.
  • Room sensors and thermostats in occupied areas: check housing color, profile, and form factor against the approved sample - a stark white stat on a dark accent wall is the deviation that gets noticed at closeout.
  • Occupancy, CO2, and other wall sensor faceplates: verify finish matches adjacent device plates and the spec'd cover style, not just whatever ships standard from the manufacturer.
  • Control enclosures and panels mounted in view (not buried in a mechanical room): confirm door finish, color, and panel signage or nameplate engraving style match what was specified.
  • Exposed conduit and device plates feeding sensors in finished spaces: check finish and color where the drawings call out a specific look.
  • Graphics and operator UI: where the spec defines a color scheme or owner branding for the head-end displays, confirm the screenshots reflect it.

Keep this scoped: a thermostat in a mechanical room is a non-issue, but the same wrong color in a conference room is a punch-list item the owner will hold against you.

How severe is it?

Default grade: Fix and Resubmit. Owner-sensitive; the PM confirms against the approved sample before accepting.

Deviation Check assigns a default per category and escalates or de-escalates based on the spec, always showing its reasoning. See the Division 25 severity rules.

What the PM should do

Stamp the submittal Revise and Resubmit. Mark the deviation, return the relevant spec passage as a redline, and have the sub correct and re-send before fabrication or installation.

Back to the Division 25 Integrated Automation hub, browse all divisions, or start a review.

Frequently asked questions

Which Division 25 Integrated Automation field devices are subject to aesthetic review, and what attributes matter?

Only parts a building occupant or owner actually sees require aesthetic review. Wall-mounted sensors and thermostats in occupied areas are checked for housing color, profile, and form factor against the approved sample. Touchscreen panel bezels and colors in finished spaces, and operator workstation monitor size and mounting style, also require review. Controller panels buried in mechanical rooms are out of scope.

When does a wrong thermostat color in a Division 25 Integrated Automation submittal become a punch-list problem, and how is it resolved?

A sensor or thermostat in a mechanical room is a non-issue, but the same wrong color in a conference room or lobby is an item the owner will hold at closeout. The PM confirms against the architect-approved sample before accepting. Graphics and operator UI color schemes are also reviewed where the spec defines owner branding for the head-end displays. Resubmit with the correct product or an approved sample.

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