Which statement correctly differentiates submittals from shop drawings?

• A. Submittals are internal cost estimates used for budgeting.
• B. Shop drawings are used for client approvals; submittals detail fabrication.
• C. Submittals are documents for client/architect approval; shop drawings detail fabrication/installation methods by the contractor.
• D. Submittals are unrelated to approvals; shop drawings are warranty documents.

Answer: (C)

Submittals are the documents the contractor sends to the architect or engineer for approval before any work proceeds. They include product data, samples, and other information that prove the proposed materials and methods meet the design intent. Shop drawings, on the other hand, are the contractor’s detailed drawings and calculations that show exactly how components will be fabricated and installed, including dimensions, tolerances, connections, and installation methods. They translate the design into buildable details and are used to plan and coordinate the actual construction.

That distinction is captured by the statement: submittals are documents for client/architect approval, while shop drawings detail fabrication and installation methods by the contractor. The other options mix up roles and purposes—for example, budgeting documents aren’t submittals, and ensuring client approvals isn’t the primary function of shop drawings, which focus on how to construct.