Construction RFI draft

Purpose

Create an RFI that gives the responsible design or project party enough context to answer a field question without repeated clarification.

Scope

Questions arising from plans, specifications, site conditions, interfaces, or constructability. Excluded: sending the RFI, deciding the design solution, or authorizing changed work.

Data basis

• Observation or question, drawings, specifications, addenda, field notes, contract requirements, and RFI register.
• The fixed records, tables, or folders in the skill scope that hold the relevant history or schema.

Result

A draft RFI, option and impact note, and a proposed register row.

Quality criteria

• The question identifies the exact location, document reference, and affected scope.
• The draft separates observed facts, requested clarification, and proposed options.
• Potential schedule, cost, quality, or safety effects are stated with evidence or marked unknown.
• Every cited plan or specification reference is valid and specific.
• The register row has a unique draft identifier and status.

Instructions

Write one decision question per RFI unless several issues cannot be separated. Describe the conflict without assigning blame. Include only options supported by the project documents or field facts. Do not treat a suggested option as an instruction. Flag safety-critical or schedule-critical implications explicitly and preserve all assumptions.

Adapt before use

Keep the source trail close to every conclusion and preserve the difference between a source fact, a calculated value, an assumption, and a recommendation. Use stable identifiers across the document and sheet so a reviewer can move from a summary statement to the underlying row and source. Prefer a complete, transparent partial result over a confident answer built on missing evidence.

• Add the project RFI form, numbering convention, and response statuses.
• Define the evidence standard for schedule and cost impact estimates.
• Specify required distribution roles and response-time conventions.
• Add project rules for urgent field conditions.