NCARB Continuum Education (CE) Practice Exam

RFIs exist to turn unclear contract documents into clear, actionable guidance before fabrication or construction proceeds. When a contractor or subcontractor finds an ambiguity, inconsistency, or missing detail in drawings or specifications, they submit an RFI to the design professional. The response clarifies the intent, often with revised drawings, notes, or added specifications, creating a single interpretation that all parties follow. This helps prevent misinterpretation, fabrication errors, delays, and costly rework later in the project. RFIs aren’t safety reports, nor automatic requests for a change order, and they aren’t a billing mechanism for extra services; if the clarification reveals a need to alter the design, a separate change-order process handles scope and cost changes after review.