What is an RFI? A Request for Information is the official way to get answers during construction. Here's everything you need to know about them.

On a large project, you might see 500 to 1,000 RFIs before construction wraps up. That's 500 to 1,000 opportunities for miscommunication, delays, and finger-pointing if they're not handled properly. In this episode, we break down the RFI meaning in construction, when to use them, when NOT to use them, and the critical differences between RFIs and other construction documents.

You'll learn why an RFI is the "nuclear option" for getting answers, not your first step. We cover the difference between RFIs vs change orders, RFIs vs submittals, and RFIs vs ASIs. Plus, we talk about what makes a good RFI versus what I call a "Zombie RFI" that creates more problems than it solves.

This is essential knowledge for the Construction and Evaluation (CE) division of the ARE, but these concepts show up across multiple exams.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

1:46 - What is an RFI?

3:23 - When DO You Use an RFI?

5:32 - When DON'T You Use an RFI?

7:40 - RFI vs Other Documents

11:23 - What Makes a Good RFI?

14:59 - Timing and the Architect's Responsibilities

17:03 - How This Shows Up on the ARE

18:56 - Conclusion

Episode Resources:

Read the full blog post: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/what-is-an-rfi-construction/

Download free RFI study notes: https://youngarchitect.com/RFI

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