Can the contractor perform work before an approved submittal has been received?

• A. Yes, for portions with implied approval
• B. No
• C. Yes if the owner approves verbally
• D. Only for minor portions

Answer: (B)

Submittals are the mechanism for confirming that materials, products, and methods meet the design intent before they are procured or installed. You should not start work that depends on a submittal until that submittal has been approved by the architect (or deemed approved within the contract’s review period). Beginning before approval risks installing nonconforming work, wasting materials, and triggering costly changes or rework to align with the approved design. Verbal owner approval is not an acceptable substitute, and silence from the reviewer generally does not authorize you to proceed unless the contract expressly provides a deemed-approval mechanism—and even then you must follow the contract precisely. In short, proceed only after an approved submittal to avoid potential liability and rework.