Glazing submittals are one of the most common sources of schedule friction on commercial construction projects. They take longer than GCs expect, they get rejected more often than they should, and when they go sideways, they delay fabrication — which delays installation, which delays everything downstream. This guide explains what's actually in a glazing submittal, why the process takes what it takes, what causes rejections, and what you can do right now to keep your glazing scope on schedule.
What Is a Submittal in Commercial Construction?
A submittal is documentation provided by a subcontractor or supplier to the general contractor and architect of record, demonstrating that the materials and methods proposed for the work conform to the contract documents. Submittals are not just a formality — they're the mechanism by which the design team confirms that what gets installed matches what was designed and specified.
For glazing scopes, submittals are particularly consequential because glass and aluminum framing systems are custom-fabricated. Once materials are ordered and fabrication begins, changes are expensive or impossible. Getting the submittal approved correctly — before fabrication — is the checkpoint that protects everyone: the GC, the owner, the architect, and the glazing sub.
The contract documents (project specs, Division 08 in the CSI format) define what submittals are required and the review process. A typical glazing spec will require shop drawings, product data, samples, and calculations as a minimum. Some projects also require mock-up construction and testing before full fabrication can proceed.
What's Included in a Glazing Submittal Package
A complete glazing submittal package typically includes four main categories of documentation. Each serves a distinct purpose in the review process.
1. Product Data
Product data consists of manufacturer's published technical literature for the framing system, glass products, hardware, and sealants being proposed. This documentation demonstrates that the specified products are real, available, and meet the performance requirements in the spec — things like air infiltration rates, water infiltration resistance, thermal performance values (U-factor, SHGC), and wind load capacity.
For Florida projects, product data must also include Florida Product Approvals (FPA) for each glazing product — the state-level certification that the product has been tested and approved for installation under the Florida Building Code. In the HVHZ, product data must include Miami-Dade Notices of Acceptance (NOAs). These are not optional — a product without the appropriate state approval cannot be installed regardless of other qualifications.
2. Shop Drawings
Shop drawings are the detailed fabrication and installation drawings prepared by the glazing subcontractor, translated from the architect's contract drawings into the dimensional reality of the actual product being installed. They show framing profiles, glass sizes, anchor locations, sill conditions, head conditions, jamb conditions, corner conditions, and any special details required by the project.
Shop drawings are the most labor-intensive portion of the submittal package to prepare — and the most likely to require revisions. They require the sub to make decisions about field conditions, manufacturing tolerances, and installation sequence that aren't always resolved in the contract documents. A high-quality shop drawing set resolves ambiguities proactively and flags conflicts for the design team to address before fabrication.
3. Samples
Physical samples are required for glass (to confirm color, tint, and Low-E appearance under field lighting conditions), framing finishes (to confirm anodize shade, paint color match, and sheen level), and sometimes hardware. Sample review matters because glass appearance changes dramatically under different lighting and viewing angles — what looks acceptable on a spec sheet can look wrong installed on a building. Getting sample approval before fabrication avoids expensive glass replacements.
4. Engineering Calculations
Calculations demonstrate that the glazing system is structurally adequate for the design wind loads at the project location. For standard storefront scopes, calculations may be provided by the manufacturer as part of their product approval documentation. For curtainwall scopes, custom anchor design, and any non-standard structural conditions, project-specific calculations prepared by a licensed engineer are typically required.
In Florida, the engineer of record (EOR) for the building must often review and accept the glazing engineer's calculations as part of the permitting process. That adds a review step that doesn't exist in other states — and GCs need to account for it in their submittal schedules.
Typical Glazing Submittal Timeline
Here's a realistic timeline for a standard commercial storefront submittal in Florida. Curtainwall scopes and HVHZ projects take longer at every step.
| Step | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sub receives approved construction docs | Day 0 | Sub cannot start shop drawings from permit-pending or unapproved drawings |
| Sub prepares submittal package | 2–4 weeks | Shop drawings, product data, calculations; longer for complex or curtainwall scopes |
| GC review and transmittal to architect | 3–5 business days | GC should do a basic completeness check before transmitting to avoid wasted review cycles |
| Architect/engineer review | 10–15 business days | Most specs allow 10–14 days; complex scopes or busy design teams can take longer |
| Returned to sub (approved or revise/resubmit) | Total: 6–9 weeks | First-round approval is the goal; each resubmittal adds 3–5+ weeks |
After approved submittals, fabrication lead times for standard storefront systems in 2026 run approximately 10–14 weeks from order. Curtainwall lead times are typically 14–20 weeks or more. The submittal process must be completed — and approval received — before fabrication can begin. On a project with a 6-month installation window, late submittals are a critical path issue.
Common Reasons Glazing Submittals Get Rejected
A "Revise and Resubmit" response is expensive. It adds weeks to your schedule, delays fabrication, and creates schedule pressure that leads to shortcuts. Here are the most common reasons glazing submittals come back rejected — and what to do about each.
Incomplete Product Approval Documentation
The most common rejection reason in Florida: the submittal package is missing Florida Product Approvals or Miami-Dade NOAs for the specified products, or the NOAs provided are for a different product configuration than what's being proposed. The fix is simple — the sub confirms product approval status before building the submittal package, not after the architect rejects it.
Shop Drawings Don't Match Contract Documents
Shop drawings that show different glass sizes, framing profiles, or sill conditions than what's shown on the architectural drawings will come back rejected. This usually happens when the sub is drawing from memory, from a previous similar project, or from a manufacturer's standard detail rather than from the actual project drawings. Shop drawings must be developed from the specific contract documents for this project.
Glass Specification Doesn't Meet Energy Code
In Florida, glass U-value and SHGC must meet the Florida Building Code energy requirements for the building's climate zone and occupancy type. If the proposed glass doesn't meet those requirements, the architect will reject the submittal. This is fixable — but it requires going back to the manufacturer for a compliant glass spec, which can affect lead times and cost.
Missing or Inadequate Engineering
For projects that require project-specific structural calculations — high wind zones, custom curtainwall anchors, non-standard spans — submittals without adequate engineering are returned. The solution is engaging an engineer early and confirming what calculation documentation the architect and EOR actually require before preparing the package.
Wrong or Outdated Products
Product lines change. A sub who submits product data for a discontinued configuration, a product with a pending Florida approval, or a hardware item that's been replaced by a different part number will get rejected. Confirming current product availability with the manufacturer before building the submittal package prevents this.
How to Keep Your Glazing Submittal on Schedule
As the GC, you have more influence over the submittal timeline than you might think. Here's what actually moves the needle.
Issue a Submittal Schedule at Award
At subcontractor award, issue a required submittal date that accounts for the full fabrication lead time and leaves buffer for one resubmittal cycle. If installation needs to start on October 1 and fabrication takes 14 weeks, you need approved submittals by June — which means the sub needs to submit by early May. Work backwards. Most glazing schedule problems start with a submittal schedule that doesn't actually connect to the installation date.
Require Submittals Before Fabrication Starts
This sounds obvious, but it's common for subs to begin material procurement or even fabrication while submittals are under review, betting on first-round approval. When the submittal comes back with revisions — particularly a glass spec change — the result is wasted material and a schedule problem. The spec requires approved submittals before fabrication for good reason.
Do a Completeness Check Before Transmitting
Have your project engineer or superintendent do a basic completeness review before transmitting to the architect. Check that Florida Product Approvals are present and match the proposed products. Check that the shop drawing title block matches the project. Check that all required documents listed in the spec are included. Catching missing items at the GC level takes 30 minutes. The same catch by the architect takes 2 weeks plus resubmittal time.
Track Review Deadlines Actively
The spec gives the architect a specific number of days for submittal review (commonly 10 or 14 business days). Track that deadline. If the review is running long, a gentle inquiry at day 10 is appropriate and professional. Architects are busy, and submittals can sit in a queue. Proactive follow-up — before the deadline becomes a problem — is part of schedule management.
Resolve RFIs That Affect the Submittal First
If there are open RFIs related to the glazing scope — questions about glass type, sill conditions, hardware spec, or anything else that will affect shop drawings — resolve those before the sub submits. A submittal built on unresolved RFIs is almost guaranteed to require revisions when the RFIs are eventually answered.
Digital Submittal Best Practices
The construction industry has largely moved to digital submittal platforms — Procore, Submittal Exchange, e-Builder, and others. Digital submittals streamline routing, tracking, and storage, but they introduce their own failure modes.
Confirm with your glazing sub that they have access to your submittal platform and know how to use it. A sub who submits PDFs via email when your platform requires direct upload creates administrative delays. Provide clear instructions at kickoff — including file naming conventions, required metadata, and who receives notification on the design team side.
Keep submittal documentation organized. On a project with multiple glazing sub-packages (storefront, curtainwall, interior glass, doors), separate submittal logs for each scope prevent confusion and make it easier to track approval status at a glance.
ACG uses digital submittal platforms as standard on all projects and delivers complete, well-organized submittal packages. Our team prepares shop drawings in-house and coordinates directly with manufacturers on product data — which means fewer surprises at review. Learn more about how ACG works with general contractors on our GC Resources page.
The Cost of Getting Submittals Wrong
A single resubmittal cycle costs 3–5 weeks minimum. On a project where glazing is on the critical path — and on most projects it is — that's 3–5 weeks of schedule impact that ripples through finish trades, inspections, CO, and owner occupancy.
Against that backdrop, the investment in a well-prepared submittal package is minimal. The sub who submits clean, complete, code-compliant shop drawings on the first try is worth more than a sub who wins on price and submits a package that takes three rounds to approve.
ACG has completed 350+ commercial glazing projects across Florida and understands what it takes to move through the submittal process without delays. If you're building in Florida and want a glazing sub whose process is as tight as their pricing, get in touch. You can also use our Scope Engine to generate a preliminary estimate before you even have final documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fabrication start before submittals are approved?
The contract typically prohibits fabrication before approved submittals. Some GCs allow "proceed at risk" fabrication on clearly standard items to compress schedules — but for glazing, where glass spec changes are common in submittal review, proceeding at risk is genuinely risky. A glass spec revision after fabrication starts can mean reordering glass and losing weeks of lead time.
What does "Approved as Noted" mean on a submittal?
Approved as Noted means the submittal is approved with specific corrections or clarifications noted by the reviewer. The sub is expected to incorporate those notes into the fabrication and does not need to resubmit unless the corrections are substantive. Review the notes carefully — "Approved as Noted" with a note that changes the glass spec is not the same as a clean approval.
How many submittal rounds should we expect for a typical storefront scope?
One round for a well-prepared submittal. Two rounds is common. Three rounds is a sign that something went wrong in either the preparation or the initial design coordination. If you're on your third submittal cycle for a standard storefront scope, it's worth a conversation with both the sub and the design team to identify and resolve the root cause.