How to make proper & effective RFI?

 

Many readers may know how to make RFI but are you following any strategy for your missing information? Are you following any proper path to collect all points? Because RFI or questions related to missing information may create delays & may affect “whole construction time”.

To avoid delays, re-work, as a detailer we have inform client as early as possible, so he will get time to collect the missing information & come back before release & that will save lots of time & human hrs & ultimately the cost of the project.

 

 

 

See my flow chart & following points.

SET 1:

In set 1, Target the missing information related to ABM, Anchor bolt setting plan & embed setting plan, theses are the items you have to release at early stage. You have to include basic information related to Job title box, like customer name, Job no, electrode name, paint spec, surface preparation etc. (May vary per client’s requirements)

 

In first RFI set you should List out queries related to “discrepancies in location of members,

Section sizes issues, queries related to material grades etc which you can find out while initial member addition. Generally to avoid delay someone starts “Initial member addition & another person who may lead particular project may keep continue his “Job study”. Some more people may involved depends on the size & complexity of the project.

 

SET 2:

Try to list out all queries related to “discrepancies in sectional details, EOS issues etc. For Set 2, you can take some 1-2 days extra to see Archt. Dwgs. Do not ask all questions to client, as you are doing

one job but at the same time your client may be doing more than 5-7 jobs at a time, so co-operate with him. Become a good coordinator of your client, this is very important.

 

SET 3:

After listing & releasing almost all RFI’s, we may found any problem related to connection,  infringement while doing actual modeling, that type of RFI’s you have to release in this set. I believe that if you release RFI’s at daily basis then defiantly client will frustrate, though our aim to avoid shop / field issues for client. So always to try & send RFI’s in bunch.

What if client answered & still RFI in not solved condition:

Yes, defiantly this happens many times that, client forward some pdfs / docs which he has received from GC or Archt. or joist / deck manufacturer etc & he thought that pdf will clear our RFI. Always keep in mind that we are here to help client & not to pin-point his mistakes. Don’t worry in these cases, reply to that mail & tell him that our RFI no xyz is still outstanding.

It’s advisable to make log / report which will provide summary of all resolved / outstanding RFI’s & which should be get updated & shared with client to keep him on same page.  

 

What if client answered RFI’s after Approval release? 

Yes, again defiantly this may be possible. We have to keep in mind that client always tries to answer our questions but when he can’t solve, he forwards that RFI to respective agency / authority. Ex. If any of our RFI is related to precast panel or say related to Wall dimensions then he may ask to Archt.

But this may cause “REWORK”, defiantly everybody hates reworking & in many cases that affects whole job schedule. Imagine in RFI, you asked for “Grid to grid” dimension, at the time of modeling you have assumed proper dimension based on JUDGEMENT & you release drawings for Approval.

RFI response shows you to change that particular dimension in that case you may need to re-approval of all like AB setting plan, embed plan & erection also.

So it’s better to ask RFI at early stage.

 

What care we have to take if some RFI’s not resolved before Approval release? 

• With Approval release set, send updated RFI log / report to client.
• Verify all members with clouds which may change by RFI response.
• Verify dimensions which you ASSUMED.
• Some client prepares RFI no with cloud & verify note.