Product Selection & Substitution Flashcards
7 cards from real CSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Product Selection & Substitution flashcards as text
Under CSI standards, which party bears primary responsibility for evaluating whether a proposed substitution meets specification intent?
Answer: The architect or engineer of record
The architect or engineer of record is responsible for evaluating substitution requests to determine if they meet the design intent and specification requirements.
Which MasterFormat section division most directly governs general substitution procedures applicable across all product categories?
Answer: Division 01 – General Requirements
Division 01 – General Requirements contains Section 01 25 00 (Substitution Procedures), which establishes the process for all product substitutions on a project.
A contractor submits a substitution request 45 days after award of contract. The specification allows substitutions only within 30 days after award. The architect should:
Answer: Reject it as untimely unless the owner grants an extension
Specifications set contractual deadlines for substitution requests, and submissions received after the stated period should be rejected unless the owner formally extends the deadline.
What distinguishes a 'product substitution' from a 'product option' in CSI specification language?
Answer: Options are pre-approved alternatives listed in the specification; substitutions require approval after bid
Product options are alternatives explicitly listed in the specification and pre-approved for use, while substitutions are proposed products not listed that require review and approval.
When a specifier writes 'or approved equal' after a named product, which burden does this language place on the contractor?
Answer: The contractor must demonstrate equivalency in quality, performance, and features
The 'or approved equal' clause requires the contractor to prove the proposed product is equivalent in all material respects including performance, quality, and appearance.
Which document type is specifically used to communicate an accepted substitution to all bidders before bid date?
Answer: Addendum
An addendum is the only contract document that can formally modify specifications before bid date, ensuring all bidders have the same accepted substitution information.
A substitution request includes test data showing the proposed product meets 90% of the specified performance value. Under standard CSI practice, the architect should:
Answer: Reject it because it does not fully meet the specification
Products that do not fully meet specified performance requirements are not equivalent substitutions and should be rejected unless the specification explicitly allows a lower threshold.