Our project is being submitted for a split review. The design credits have not yet been sent for review to USGBC. The project is entering the physical Construction Phase and as a result Contractor equipment submittals are being reviewed by the CxA. The CxA is reviewing submittals based on a specified set of design documents that the project team agreed would be part of the design credit submission. Since that set of design documents have been issued there have been some changes to equipment and the drawings have been revised to match this new equipment. As a result the contractor submittals dont always match the design documents the CxA is comparing them to.
How should I handle this?
TODD REED
Energy Program SpecialistPA DMVA
LEEDuser Expert
889 thumbs up
September 11, 2014 - 11:03 am
I would ensure that all the documentation uploaded on LEED online is consistent. For example, if the design documents submitted in PIF 4 contains different information then that provided for other credits, like EAp2, this will be called out. This is especially true with any mechanical schedules. You don't want the reviewer to be looking at the submission and wondering what was actually built. The other issue that can occur is when you submit the construction credits. Reviewers will back approved design credits to ensure things are what they are claimed to be. If you provide different info in the construction submission, they will call out the discrepancy.
I would hold off until these changes are complete. There is no LEED issue with the CxA reviewing submittals that don't match the drawings. It just makes the CxA's job harder.
Alfred Servodidio
Project ManagerJMV Consulting Engineering
September 11, 2014 - 12:05 pm
Thank you Todd.
How would you suggest we handle equipment substitutions going forward into the Construction phase. Any substitutions will be assured to adhere to LEED criteria however the substituted equipment will not match the design drawings. Should we send updated drawings along with the Construction Submission?
TODD REED
Energy Program SpecialistPA DMVA
LEEDuser Expert
889 thumbs up
September 11, 2014 - 12:35 pm
Changes in HVAC equipment will effect mostly EAp2. EAp2 is typically submitted in the construction phase since you want the energy model to be the same as the as built. Based on the amount of changes you have going on, it might be best to just defer all the d credits that are potentially effected by these changes until they are complete. Then in the construction, submit the corrected drawings with those credits. I don't think I would submit a set of drawings knowing that there would be drastic changes later on just to avoid all the resubmission of documents and writing narratives to explain all the changes.
Understand, that changes do happen during construction even after the design credits have been submitted. If a change effects a design credit, then you have to resubmit that credit.
I'm hoping I understand your situation in that you are having a large of amount of changes from the design documents. If that really is the case and you expecting all these substitutions, what is the rush to submit a design phase then construction. Just wait till everything is all worked out and correct and submit a combined submission.
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
September 15, 2014 - 7:08 pm
I am interpreting your question a little differently, Alfred. You seem to be describing the normal process of construction...as engineers we design systems based on equipment, luckily that is called the "basis of design", and that is what is scheduled and specified. But there are always alternate acceptable manufacturers, and sometimes contractors will propose more...which requires a specific substitution request.
If that is the situation, then there is really no change, just the manufacturer of the system components is different. Commissioning will cover any unique characteristics that might modify sequences, but that is rare.
Now, if the contractor has made a substitution request to change a system, like electric boilers instead of natural gas (I am having trouble coming up with a more subtle example), then that is a major change that affects so many things, including the energy modeling, that you would definitely need to re-submit several credits.