AISC CODE OF STANDARD PRACTICE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDED STANDARD OF PRACTICE FOR 'REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION' (RFIs)

摘要

The AISC Code of Standard Practice (CSP) Committee developed provisions in the new 2005 edition of the AISC "Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges" for a standard of practice on the use of RFIs (requests for information) during construction. The CSP committee recognized that the RFI process is a critical part of the communication process between design professionals and the fabricator/erector on every construction project. The 2005 CSP revisions define RFIs and their use in resolving discrepancies as well as communicating revisions to the construction documents. Without an industry standard of practice on the use of RFIs that could simply be referenced, the committee developed a brief definition and commentary of the RFI process for inclusion in the CSP. This paper expands on the new CSP provisions and presents a more thorough, detailed commentary on the RFI process with the intent of defining good practice on the use of RFIs for fabricators, erectors, contractors and design professionals. The recommended practice presented is a refinement of the many observations, concerns and recommendations presented by the committee members based on their experiences in the construction of steel building projects across the United States. The paper also comments on how recent changes in technology and the construction industry have influenced the evolution of the RFI process. Issues that influence the misuse of the RFI process are explored, and a commentary on good practice in the use of RFIs, with recommendations for the fabricator/erector, general contractor and design professional, is presented.