Material Substitution Approval Lacked Context
How an isolated material approval bypassed secondary system requirements, causing structural conflicts and three weeks of rework.
The Handoff Failure
In the procurement phase of a commercial mid-rise facility, the framing subcontractor requested a material substitution for the exterior sheathing. The proposed alternative met the basic fire-rating and structural strength requirements. Looking at the request in isolation, the project engineer approved the submittal to keep the procurement schedule on track. However, the approval lacked critical context regarding the specified moisture barrier system.
The substituted sheathing featured a different surface texture that prevented the liquid-applied moisture barrier from bonding correctly. The field crew applied the barrier without noticing the adhesion failure, leading to water penetration during subsequent testing.
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