Approval Status Verification
No shop drawing may be released for fabrication without EOR approval. Verify that every drawing in the release package carries an EOR stamp of 'Approved' or 'Approved as Noted' — not 'Revise and Resubmit.' 'Approved as Noted' drawings require that the noted items are incorporated into the shop drawings before fabrication, not after. Releasing on an 'Approved as Noted' stamp without incorporating the notes is releasing an incomplete set.
Revision Confirmation
- Drawing revision in the title block matches the approved submittal revision
- No drawings in the package are at a lower revision than what was approved
- All 'Approved as Noted' revisions have been incorporated and the revised drawing documented
- CNC files for all members in the package are at the same revision as the drawings
- BOM for the package reflects the current drawing content — quantities and lengths match
Release Authorization and Distribution
The release should be authorized in writing by the detailing PM — not assumed from the approval stamp alone. The distribution should be explicit: which drawings go to which shop areas, which CNC files go to which machine, and what the planned fabrication sequence is within the package. A paper or digital transmittal accompanying the release documents what was released, when, and to whom — this record is essential if a drawing revision is later issued affecting members already in production.
Material Grade and Specification Verification
Before committing a package to the shop floor, confirm that all material grades shown on the drawings are available in the yard and match the mill certificates on file. The structural specification (typically Division 05 00 00 in CSI format) governs the required grades — W-shapes at ASTM A992, plates at A36 or A572 Grade 50, HSS at A500 Grade C. When the drawing shows a grade that conflicts with what was ordered or what is in the yard, the drawing controls. Do not substitute grades without written EOR approval, regardless of apparent equivalence — the AISC Code of Standard Practice and AWS D1.1 welding procedures are both grade-specific.
Connection Design Completeness Check
A release package where some connections show 'TBD' or 'design by EOR — pending' should not be released for those members until the connection design is confirmed. This is particularly important for moment connections, column base plates, and brace connections where the connection geometry determines the member's end preparation — cope dimensions, weld access holes, end-plate flatness requirements. Releasing a package with undefined connections creates a guarantee of rework: the fabricator will build what they can, then stop at the undefined connections and wait — a production interruption that is more expensive than a delayed release.
Special Inspection Requirements Review
Before release, verify whether any members in the package require special inspection per IBC Chapter 17 or the project specifications. Seismic-resisting frames (AISC 341 scope) require a special inspector to observe weld procedures, verify welder qualifications, and document compliance. High-strength bolt pretensioning requires observation per RCSC Specification. If the special inspector has not been engaged before fabrication begins, the fabricator is at risk of performing uninspected work that cannot be retroactively accepted. Confirm the special inspection schedule is in place for any seismic, SMRF, or prequalified connection work in the release package.
Long-Lead Procurement Confirmation
Confirm that all long-lead materials in the release package have purchase orders placed and delivery dates confirmed against the production schedule. Heavy W14 column sections in sizes above W14x193, non-standard HSS dimensions, high-strength plate in A514 or A572-65, and jumbo sections in ASTM A913 all carry extended mill lead times — typically 8 to 14 weeks from order to delivery. If a member in the release package requires a section that is not yet ordered or is on back-order, releasing the drawing does not advance the member's production date. Coordinate with purchasing before releasing packages that depend on long-lead material.