Direct Answer
A commercial roofing submittal package is the contractor’s documentation package submitted for review and approval before roofing materials are ordered or installed. It demonstrates that the proposed roof assembly matches the project specifications, applicable Florida requirements, manufacturer requirements, and approved or evaluated system. Depending on the project, the package can include product data, Florida Product Approval documentation, evaluation reports, installation instructions, shop drawings, assembly details, samples, safety information, warranty documents, and other project-specific compliance information.
Who This Applies To
- General contractors and construction managers
- Commercial roofing subcontractors
- Developers and owners’ representatives
- Architects and engineers
- RROs and roofing quality-assurance personnel
- Property owners involved in new construction or re-roofing
Not for: This FAQ explains what is normally contained in a commercial roofing submittal package. It is not a substitute for the project specifications, construction documents, manufacturer requirements, or the authority having jurisdiction’s requirements.
1. Why a Roofing Submittal Package Matters
The submittal package gives the design and construction team an opportunity to verify the proposed roofing system before it becomes part of the building.
For Florida projects, this review can be particularly important because roofing documentation may need to demonstrate compliance with applicable wind-resistance requirements and Florida Product Approval requirements. Florida’s product approval system includes roofing and allows searches by product, manufacturer, code version, HVHZ status, and design pressure. Florida Building Commission Product Approval Search
The package therefore should not simply show what materials the contractor intends to purchase. It should establish how the proposed roof assembly is intended to perform and be installed.
2. Product Data
Product data identifies the materials and products proposed for the project. Depending on the roofing system, this can include:
- Membrane or roof-covering information
- Insulation
- Cover board
- Fasteners and plates
- Adhesives
- Primers
- Flashing materials
- Sheet metal
- Edge metal
- Sealants
- Walk pads
- Roof accessories
- Penetration and curb components
Product data should identify the manufacturer’s product name, applicable model or product number, dimensions or thickness where relevant, and installation requirements.
3. Florida Product Approval Documentation
For Florida commercial roofing, the submittal may include the applicable Florida Product Approval documentation or other compliance documentation required by the project and jurisdiction.
The Florida Product Approval database identifies roofing applications by code version, manufacturer, roofing category and subcategory, approval status, HVHZ applicability, and design pressure. Current database records also show roofing systems supported by evaluation reports prepared by Florida-registered architects or licensed Florida professional engineers. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
The submittal reviewer should verify that the documentation corresponds to the actual proposed assembly rather than assuming that a manufacturer’s general product literature establishes compliance.
4. Evaluation Reports and Testing Documentation
A roofing submittal can include evaluation reports or testing documentation establishing how the proposed system was evaluated.
Depending on the assembly, documentation may reference standards and testing associated with:
- Wind uplift
- Membrane performance
- Insulation
- Fasteners
- Attachment systems
- Fire performance
- Material properties
- HVHZ requirements
Florida Product Approval records demonstrate that different roofing systems can use evaluation reports prepared by Florida-licensed professionals and may reference standards such as ASTM, FM and TAS. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
5. Roof Assembly Details
The package should show how the individual materials work together as a complete roofing assembly.
A typical assembly description may identify:
| Component | Information to Verify |
|---|---|
| Deck | Deck type and substrate requirements |
| Insulation | Type, thickness and attachment |
| Cover board | Product, thickness and attachment where applicable |
| Membrane | Type, thickness and attachment method |
| Fasteners | Type, spacing and approved configuration |
| Adhesives | Product and application requirements |
| Perimeter | Enhanced attachment and termination requirements |
| Edge metal | Profile, attachment and applicable approval |
| Flashing | Materials and installation details |
This is particularly important for wind performance because the rating of a complete roof assembly can depend on the exact combination of components and attachment methods.
6. Shop Drawings and Roof Details
Shop drawings provide project-specific information that may not be fully represented in standard manufacturer literature.
Depending on the project, drawings can show:
- Roof plans
- Roof zones
- Membrane layout
- Seam layout
- Fastener patterns
- Perimeter attachment
- Edge conditions
- Parapet details
- Drains and scuppers
- Expansion joints
- HVAC curbs
- Pipe penetrations
- Roof hatches
- Skylights
- Equipment supports
The objective is to allow the reviewer to determine whether the proposed installation fits the actual building rather than merely approving a generic product.
7. Installation Instructions
Manufacturer installation instructions are an important part of the submittal because the approved or evaluated assembly generally has specific installation limitations.
Instructions may address:
- Substrate preparation
- Fastener installation
- Adhesive application
- Membrane installation
- Seam welding or bonding
- Flashing
- Penetrations
- Perimeter termination
- Edge metal
- Weather limitations
- Temporary protection
A Florida roofing installation guide, for example, identifies product descriptions, recommended installation procedures and conforming Product Approval or compliance documentation as typical submittal information. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
8. Samples and Color Information
Where required by the project, the submittal package can include physical or digital samples.
These may include:
- Membrane color samples
- Metal finishes
- Roofing accessories
- Edge metal finishes
- Flashing materials
- Other exposed roofing components
For architecturally visible buildings, samples can allow the owner and design team to confirm the appearance before procurement.
9. Warranty Documentation
The submittal package should identify the warranties proposed for the roof system and clarify what each warranty actually covers.
Depending on the project, documentation may include:
- Manufacturer warranty
- Contractor workmanship warranty
- Warranty term
- Warranty limitations
- Inspection requirements
- Maintenance obligations
- Required authorized applicator status
- Warranty issuance requirements
- Non-prorated or material-and-labor coverage where applicable
The warranty should be reviewed against the actual specified assembly rather than treated as a separate administrative document.
10. Quality Assurance and Inspection Information
Some projects require additional quality-assurance documentation, particularly where the roofing specification calls for independent observation, manufacturer inspection or other verification.
The submittal package may identify:
- Required manufacturer inspections
- Quality-assurance agency information
- RRO observation requirements
- Testing requirements
- Inspection procedures
- Required reports
- Correction procedures
Florida Product Approval records can identify quality-assurance entities and validation information associated with approved roofing applications. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
11. Safety and Handling Information
Depending on the specification, submittals may also include safety and handling information for roofing materials.
This can cover:
- Storage requirements
- Material handling
- Temperature limitations
- Adhesive or primer requirements
- Fire precautions
- Hot-work requirements
- Worker protection information
These documents help the construction team understand how materials must be stored and handled before installation.
12. Substitution Documentation
If the contractor proposes a product or assembly different from the one specified, the substitution should be separately documented and reviewed.
The reviewer may need to compare:
| Specified System | Proposed Substitute |
|---|---|
| Membrane | Equivalent proposed membrane |
| Insulation | Proposed insulation type and thickness |
| Attachment | Fastener, plate and spacing |
| Wind rating | Applicable tested/evaluated rating |
| Florida approval | Applicable approval or compliance documentation |
| Warranty | Proposed warranty terms |
A substitution should not be accepted merely because the product appears similar. Changing components can change the performance and approval status of the complete roof assembly.
13. What the Reviewer Should Check
A roofing submittal review should compare the package against the construction documents rather than simply checking whether documents have been submitted.
A practical review should ask:
- Does the proposed assembly match the specification?
- Does the Florida Product Approval apply to the proposed assembly?
- Does the approval apply to the project’s jurisdiction?
- Does the assembly meet the required wind pressures?
- Does the deck match the approved configuration?
- Are insulation and cover-board configurations correct?
- Do fasteners and attachment patterns match?
- Are perimeter and edge details correct?
- Do shop drawings match architectural and structural conditions?
- Does the proposed warranty correspond to the actual system?
- Are all required inspections and quality-assurance procedures identified?
14. Roofing Submittal Package Checklist
| Document | Typical Purpose |
|---|---|
| Submittal cover sheet | Identifies project and submission |
| Product data | Identifies proposed materials |
| Florida Product Approval | Documents applicable Florida approval |
| Evaluation report | Provides technical compliance information |
| Shop drawings | Shows project-specific installation details |
| Assembly details | Shows how roofing components are combined |
| Installation instructions | Defines manufacturer installation requirements |
| Samples | Confirms appearance or material selection where required |
| Warranty documents | Defines manufacturer and contractor coverage |
| QA/inspection information | Defines required verification procedures |
| Safety/handling information | Documents storage and handling requirements |
| Substitution request | Documents proposed departures from the specified system |
Bottom Line
A commercial roofing submittal package is the documentation used to verify that the contractor’s proposed roofing system is appropriate for the project before installation. A complete package commonly includes product data, assembly information, Florida Product Approval or compliance documentation, evaluation reports, shop drawings, installation instructions, warranty information, samples where required, and quality-assurance documentation. For Florida projects, the review should specifically verify that the proposed assembly, wind resistance, jurisdictional approval and installation details correspond to the actual project requirements.
Related Questions
- How do Florida wind-uplift and product-approval requirements affect commercial roofing bids and submittals?
- How does RRO observation during construction protect a developer’s warranty position?
- What does a GC need to know about manufacturer warranty inspections on a new commercial roof?
- What roofing closeout documents should a GC collect before turnover?
- How can a GC reduce roofing quality-control risk on a commercial project?
Sources
- Florida Building Commission — Product Approval Search
- Florida Building Commission — Roofing Installation and Submittal Guidance
- Florida Product Approval — Example Roofing Approval Record
Last reviewed: September 2026
Related Resources
What Should a GC Expect From Daily RRO Observation Reports During Roof Installation?
What Is an IIBEC Registered Roof Observer (RRO)?
What Documentation Should I Keep for My Commercial Roof Warranty?
Need Commercial Roofing Help?
For commercial roofing installation, submittal review, quality assurance or project-specific documentation, contact ShieldLine Roofing to discuss the project requirements.
Disclaimer: This FAQ provides general commercial roofing information and is not engineering, architectural, legal, insurance or code-compliance advice for a specific project. Project submittals should be reviewed against the applicable construction documents, manufacturer requirements and requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.
