PE Stamping Guides / Construction Documents
Deferred Submittals and Delegated Design PE Stamp Guide
Coordinate specialty-engineering submittals, design criteria, responsible professionals, review records, and permit resubmissions.
Published 2026-09-22 · Updated 2026-09-22 · 10 minute read
Key takeaways
- Delegated design shifts a defined design scope, not overall project coordination.
- The construction documents must provide clear performance criteria and interface requirements.
- Specialty-engineer documents may need sealing and design-professional review before permit submission.
How delegated design differs from ordinary product data
A delegated-design component requires project-specific engineering by a specialty engineer based on criteria established in the construction documents. Examples can include trusses, curtain walls, stairs, cold-formed framing, fire protection, precast components, and specialty connections.
A deferred submittal is submitted after the main permit set under an authority-approved process. The two concepts may overlap, but the contract documents and permit instructions should use the correct terms.
Information that should be defined before bidding
Clear criteria reduce gaps between the project design, supplier scope, specialty engineering, and permit-review expectations.
- Exact component and limits of delegated responsibility
- Design loads, combinations, movements, deflections, and performance criteria
- Supporting conditions, reactions, interfaces, and connection responsibilities
- Required calculations, drawings, seals, signatures, and file format
- Submittal-review sequence and permit-authority process
- Revision, substitution, field-change, and record-document requirements
Preserve a coordinated review record
The project design professional's review does not replace the specialty engineer's responsibility for the delegated design. Keep the reviewed submittal, calculations, comments, revisions, approval evidence, and permit transmittal tied to the installed version.
Frequently asked questions
Does the architect or engineer of record stamp delegated-design calculations?
The specialty engineer generally seals the engineering they are responsible for, subject to jurisdiction rules. The project design professional reviews for conformance with the design concept and contract criteria.
Can fabrication start before deferred-submittal approval?
That creates permitting and coordination risk. Follow the contract documents and authority's required review and approval sequence before fabrication or installation.
Authoritative references
Related PE stamping guides
This guide provides general information, not legal or project-specific engineering advice. Confirm current requirements with the applicable licensing board and authority having jurisdiction.