Substitution Requirements

Occasionally, product substitutions must be made due to cost, availability, or contractor request. Understanding that product substitutions can have a dramatic effect on a building project, SOM maintains rigid criteria for considering substitutions, to ensure that steps are taken to verify that a proposed substitution is valid. Each substitution request is internally reviewed by SOM, and requires extensive documentation by the contractor or subcontractor. Minimum standards apply, and additional information may be required for submission, depending on the type of product or system evaluated. The contractor or subcontractor must submit the following to substantiate the substitution:

1. Product data, including drawings, fabrication, and installation procedures.
2. Samples, where samples of the specified products are requested.
3. A detailed comparison of significant qualities of the proposed substitution with those of the material or work specified. Significant qualities may include elements such as size, weight, durability, performance, visual effect, code compliance, maintenance requirements, energy usage, and environmental considerations.
4. Coordination information, including a list of changes or modifications made necessary to other parts of the work, including the work of other trades that will become necessary to accommodate the proposed substitution.
5. A statement indicating the substitution's effect on the contractor's construction schedule, indicating the effect of the proposed substitution on overall contract time.
6. A cost comparison between the product specified and the requested substitution, including a proposal of the net change, if any, in the contract sum.

Liability

Product liability is always on the minds of design professionals throughout a project. The standard of care within the profession is a benchmark used to determine what other architects are doing. Related factors include how long a product has been in the marketplace, how well it performs, and any problems that have occurred elsewhere. New products, materials and systems may not have any history, leaving the due diligence and research to the architect.

Innovation

SOM's Director of Strategic Innovation works with several major manufacturers to develop new products for use in projects and in the marketplace, including carpet and ceiling tiles, insulation and wall panels. In these cases, the firm identified a need, and worked with manufacturers to create new products.