Mechanical submittals.
Mechanical submittals cover the Division 23 HVAC work the job installs: the major equipment, the terminal units, the ductwork and its accessories, the air distribution, the controls, and the testing and balancing that proves it all works. Major equipment goes first, because rooftop units and air handlers carry long lead times. The checks that matter most are capacity and airflow against the schedule, and the electrical data against the circuit that feeds each unit.
What's usually in scope
Each spec section's SUBMITTALS article sets what you owe, so build the list from the project manual. On a typical commercial job it includes:
- 1Major equipment. Rooftop units and air handlers (23 74 13), split systems (23 81 26), and exhaust fans (23 34 23).
- 2Terminal units and air distribution. VAV and fan-powered terminal units (23 36 00), and diffusers, registers and grilles (23 37 13).
- 3Ductwork and accessories. Metal ducts (23 31 13), dampers including fire and smoke dampers (23 33 13), and duct insulation (23 07 13).
- 4Controls and balancing. Building automation and controls (23 09 00), and testing, adjusting and balancing (23 05 93).
Section numbers follow MasterFormat; your project manual may number or split them differently.
Why major equipment goes first
Rooftop units, air handlers and other built-to-order equipment have lead times that start at approval. A unit that comes back revise and resubmit pushes the delivery date, and often the roof's crane day with it. Get the equipment package out early, and use the submittal log template to work the date back from when the unit has to be on site.
What to check on equipment
- 1Capacity. Cooling and heating capacity at the conditions the schedule names, not the catalog's standard rating.
- 2Airflow and static. Supply airflow and external static pressure against the schedule, with the fan and motor it takes to deliver them.
- 3Electrical data. Voltage, phase, minimum circuit ampacity and maximum overcurrent protection against the panel schedule that feeds the unit.
- 4Efficiency and refrigerant. The efficiency rating and refrigerant the spec and energy code require.
- 5Size and weight. Dimensions, curb and operating weight against the structural and roof drawings, with service clearance.
- 6Options. Economizer, filters, curb, hail guards, disconnect and the controls interface the spec calls for. Each one shows on the sheet or it isn't there.
Terminal units and air distribution
Terminal units are where small numbers hide. On our sample project, a series fan-powered terminal unit was scheduled with a 1/6 HP fan motor at 1.5 FLA. The submitted sheet's smallest listed motor was 1/2 HP at 4.1 FLA: same family, same inlet size, a different machine with a bigger electrical load. For diffusers, registers and grilles, check the neck size, airflow and throw, the pattern, the border type against the ceiling it sits in, and the finish.
Check the electrical side
The costliest mechanical misses are electrical. On our sample project, the rooftop units were submitted at 460 V three-phase for a building served at 120/208 V, and they'd already been approved when our check found them. Read every unit's electrical data against the panel schedule before the package leaves. The cross-trade conflicts guide covers how.
How Beem handles mechanical
We read the equipment schedules, the plans and the spec to list every item, match each sheet against its schedule row, and check each unit's electrical data against the circuit that feeds it. Our trade experts look over the result, and the package comes back within 48 hours of the complete set. Your first one is free while we test.
Questions mechanical contractors ask
What is included in mechanical submittals?
Product data and shop drawings for the Division 23 work in your scope: rooftop units, air handlers and split systems, exhaust fans, terminal units, ductwork and dampers, diffusers and grilles, insulation, controls, and the testing and balancing report. Each section's SUBMITTALS article lists exactly what it requires.
Which mechanical submittals should go out first?
The major equipment: rooftop units, air handlers and other built-to-order units. Their lead times start at approval, so a late or rejected equipment submittal moves the delivery date.
What should I check on a rooftop unit submittal?
Capacity at the scheduled conditions, airflow and external static pressure, electrical data against the panel schedule, efficiency and refrigerant, dimensions, curb and weight against the structural drawings, and every option the spec requires.
Why do mechanical submittals get rejected?
Most often for a value that differs from the schedule, such as a motor, capacity or airflow, for electrical data that doesn't match the circuit, or for options that aren't marked. The rejected-submittals guide lists the full set.
How does Beem check mechanical submittals?
We list every item from the schedules, plans and spec, match each data sheet against its schedule row, and check each unit's electrical data against the circuit that feeds it. Our trade experts look over the result before it comes back to you.