When a design team returns a reviewed submittal, it assigns a status that tells the contractor what action to take. These statuses are sometimes shown as words and sometimes as single-letter or numbered codes. The labels vary slightly between firms and contracts, but the meanings are consistent. This article explains each common status, what it allows the contractor to do, and how the codes map to one another.

Why submittal status responses are standardized

The status on a returned submittal does two things. It tells the contractor whether the work can proceed, and it records the design team's decision as part of the project record. Using a consistent set of responses removes ambiguity. A contractor reading Approved as Noted knows what is expected, and the project has a clear record of the decision if a question comes up later.

The American Institute of Architects and most specification systems describe a similar set of responses. The wording below reflects the responses used on most projects.

The common submittal review responses

What each response means in practice

Approved (No Exceptions Taken). The reviewer found the submittal conforms to the design intent in the contract documents. The contractor may proceed with fabrication, ordering, or installation.

Approved as Noted (Make Corrections Noted). The submittal conforms once the reviewer's marked corrections are made. The contractor may proceed without resubmitting, as long as the corrections are incorporated. This response keeps the project moving on minor items without requiring a full resubmittal.

Revise and Resubmit. The submittal does not yet conform, or it contains enough issues that the reviewer needs to see a corrected version. The contractor revises the item and submits it again as a new revision. Work on the affected item should not proceed until the resubmittal is approved.

Rejected (Not Approved). The submittal does not meet the requirements and is not acceptable as presented. The contractor must prepare a new submittal that conforms.

For Record Only. The item is logged for the project record and does not require approval. This response is used for informational items that the contract does not require the design team to approve.

Void. The submittal has been withdrawn or replaced by another submission. It is kept in the log for completeness but requires no further action.

A note on "Approved" and liability

Many firms use No Exceptions Taken and Make Corrections Noted rather than the word Approved to describe the limits of the review. The review confirms general conformance with the design intent. It does not relieve the contractor of responsibility for dimensions, quantities, fabrication, or coordination. The exact wording on a stamp is a deliberate choice. For more on the boundaries of the reviewer's role, see What Is Submittal Review? A Guide for Architects.

Tracking review status on a project

A submittal log records the status of every item so the team can see what is approved, what is in review, and what needs to be resubmitted. Translating a general contractor's letter or number codes into consistent labels keeps the log readable across projects.

Layer's Submittals Template uses a fixed status list and includes a status code mapping reference for importing logs from Procore, Submittal Exchange, or Excel. For setup details, see Managing Submittals in Layer: A Getting Started Guide.

Further Resources

• What Is a Submittal in Construction? covers types of submittals, the review process, and the standard responses.

• RFI vs. Submittal: What Is the Difference? explains how submittals differ from requests for information.