General
RFI
Request for Information — a formal written question from the contractor to the architect or engineer seeking clarification on the contract documents.
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In the Field
RFIs create a paper trail that protects you when the plans are unclear. Log every RFI with date submitted and date answered. Slow RFI responses can be the basis for time extension claims — document the impact of unanswered RFIs in your daily log.
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Rule of Thumb
Submit RFIs as early as possible — not when you're standing in front of an ambiguous detail about to pour concrete. A 7-day RFI turnaround time is standard; plan your schedule around that lag.