These are the standard document categories in a commercial construction workflow. Here's what each one represents operationally — and how ServiceIQ structures the tabs inside every project so the right people see the right paperwork at the right time.
Directives issued during construction to clarify scope without changing the contract. Lower formality than a change order — typically used to resolve ambiguity in drawings or specs on the fly. FIs keep the work moving while preserving a paper trail of who decided what, and when.
Contractor-submitted documentation — shop drawings, product data, samples — sent to the architect or engineer for approval before installation. Submittals are the critical compliance checkpoint: nothing gets built until the relevant submittal has been approved or approved-as-noted.
General project documentation — contracts, meeting minutes, RFIs, correspondence. The catch-all record layer for project history and legal protection. When a dispute or audit happens months or years later, this is the layer that defends the work.
Architectural, structural, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) plans. The primary build instructions — versioned and revision-controlled throughout the project lifecycle. Field teams need confidence they are always looking at the current "Issued for Construction" set.
Technical product specifications — the materials, standards, and performance requirements the project must meet. Works in tandem with drawings: drawings show where, specs define what. Together they form the complete build instruction.
Formal records of document transfers between parties. Primarily a chain-of-custody tool — they prove what was sent, to whom, and when. Critical for dispute resolution, payment milestones, and demonstrating that downstream teams had the information they needed.
Bid proposals and pricing submissions from subcontractors or general contractors. Used for cost comparison, scope validation, and change-order pricing throughout the project. Storing quotes alongside the job they relate to keeps procurement decisions defensible.
The bigger the job, the more your customers expect this exact document layer — the same one GCs and architects already use. ServiceIQ's Growth and Scale tiers give your team Submittals, Transmittals, RFIs, versioned Drawings, and Contractor Quotes out of the box, so you can confidently bid on — and win — larger commercial contracts.
