A How-To on Reducing RFI’s

A constructability review is a proactive process that helps reduce the number of Requests for Information (RFIs) on a construction project. By identifying and resolving potential problems in the design documents before construction begins, a constructability review significantly minimizes the need for contractors to ask for clarification during the build.

What’s an RFI? 🤔

An RFI is a formal, written question submitted by a contractor to the design team (architects and engineers) to clarify ambiguities, conflicts, or omissions in the project’s contract documents. They’re a necessary part of the construction process, but an excessive number of RFIs can lead to:

• Project Delays: Work often stops or is delayed while the contractor waits for a response.
• Increased Costs: The time spent drafting, reviewing, and responding to RFIs is costly for all parties.
• Rework: A wrong assumption made due to unclear plans can lead to expensive rework.

How a Constructability Review Helps 🤝

A constructability review works to solve these problems before they even become an issue. Here’s how it reduces RFIs:

1. Catching Design Conflicts

Design documents can sometimes have conflicting information. For example, a drawing might show a structural beam in the same location as a ventilation duct. Without a constructability review, this conflict would only be discovered on-site, requiring the contractor to submit an RFI. The review brings together different experts to spot these clashes early on, allowing the design to be corrected before a single shovel of dirt is moved.

2. Identifying Missing Information

Sometimes, a design is simply incomplete. Key details, like the type of bolts for a steel connection or the exact dimensions for a complex facade element, might be missing. These gaps in information are major drivers of RFIs. A constructability review ensures that all the necessary details are present and clear, so the field team has everything they need to proceed without interruption.

3. Ensuring Practicality

A design might be theoretically perfect but impossible or impractical to build. For instance, a design may require a piece of equipment to be installed in a space with no room for the crane or lift needed to place it. An experienced builder on the review team would identify this issue immediately, prompting a design change that avoids an RFI and a potential project delay.

4. Improving Communication

The review process itself fosters better communication among all project stakeholders—the owner, architect, engineer, and contractor. By having a face-to-face discussion about the design’s nuances, everyone gains a shared understanding of the project’s goals and potential challenges. This collaboration builds trust and helps resolve issues in a collaborative workshop setting rather than through formal, time-consuming RFIs.

In short, a constructability review turns a reactive process (submitting RFIs in the field) into a proactive one. By investing time and effort upfront, you can save valuable time and money on the backend, making your construction project run more smoothly.