I have an issue that is on the cusp of turning into a nasty situation. For some reason (probably to set up a claim for extra $) the contractor on one of my projects is refusing to submit LEED documention concurrent with the other data required in the product submittals. Thus far I've been Approving as Noted submittals that I could check on myself and have been adding a 'friendly reminder' with the submittals that we need to see this information. However, I'm hesistant to approve interior submittals that will impact multiple points if a non-compliant product is installed.
Our specifications clearly state that the contractor has to submit LEED documentation as indicated with each product AND in the closeout submittal. the contractor is insisting that the specifications only require them to produce a closeout submittal.
This is ridiculous-how on earth are we supposed to insure that the proper products are being installed or that we are meeting our goals if you aren't reviewing LEED requirements at the same time as the rest of the product data? I can't even believe they are fighting us on this...we aren't asking for something special-this is the way every single construction project I've done CA on has operated. Also, we have had a couple of LEED certification failures because of this very issue-looking for LEED credits at the end of the project doesn't work.
Complicating this situation further is that there is an entity between the design team and the contractor that doesn't really understand LEED at all and has outright refused to back us up in defending the specifications.
Tell me-am I being unreasonable? Maybe my understanding of the process is different than the industry standard. Somebody help me out!
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Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1299 thumbs up
June 14, 2013 - 3:54 pm
If the specifications say both pieces of documentation have to be submitted, then why are you reviewing an incomplete submittal? Even if this was unusual (which it is not), the contractor still signed a contract which includes the specifications. Time to engage with the project manager and the owner.
Elle Brown
28 thumbs up
June 14, 2013 - 4:12 pm
I was doing that at first-but then I was instructed by someone more senior than myself not to reject or send back the submittals 'only' for LEED issues. I had hoped after discussing this issue earlier that the contractor would get on board but it has only gotten worse and they are getting hostile about it.
I suspect that the contractor (or at least the person we are dealing with) has never done LEED before and that they only hired the LEED consultant to put together the notebook on the back end and not to be involved with sustainable issues on a regular basis. If they really were 'compiling info and giving it to the consultant instead' then this shouldn't even be an issue-they could just email us the information we are asking for.
This is a government project...the government is the owner and the project manager. This is one the first in house projects to be designed for actual LEED certification. The site project manager is limited in understanding of LEED and have let the contractor get away with this crap because they don't really understand the level of effort and coordination that is required for the LEED certification process. They kind of ignored our concerns and and just now realizing that they have a problem on their hands.
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1299 thumbs up
June 17, 2013 - 8:26 am
If you have a government project then you really could have serious issues. It is time to engage with your firm's leadership and your firm's project manager. I don't know your contract, who holds it and what it says. But document, document, document and shove this mess upstream. Personally, i would get your firm's agreement and restart rejecting just for 'LEED issues' until this is resolved. Good Luck.