If a submittal is rejected, what may be necessary beyond resubmitting?

• A. Maintain the original plans without any changes.
• B. Ignore the rejection.
• C. Request a different department handle the review.
• D. Update plans or specifications to achieve compliance.

Answer: (D)

When a submittal is rejected, changes are usually needed to meet the project specifications and applicable codes. The reviewer flags what doesn’t meet requirements—details, dimensions, material specs, installation methods, or performance criteria—and you use those notes to revise the plans or specifications accordingly.

The next step is to update the plans or specifications to address each comment, then resubmit with clear documentation showing what was changed and how it complies with each requirement. This often includes adding missing details, selecting approved products, aligning dimensions and installation methods, and including any required certifications or test data. By making these adjustments, the submittal demonstrates compliance and moves the review process forward.

Keeping the original plans unchanged won’t satisfy the reviewer and will lead to repeated rejections. Ignoring the rejection is simply not workable and wastes time. Asking a different department to handle the review doesn’t address the underlying noncompliance—the updates themselves are what achieve approval.