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Reducing RFIs with AI

AI plan checking reduces RFIs by catching document issues, coordination conflicts, and code violations before construction starts.

The RFI problem

RFIs (Requests for Information) are questions from contractors to designers when construction documents are unclear, incomplete, or contradictory. While necessary, RFIs are costly:

  • Each RFI takes 2-5 hours to process (contractor + designer time)
  • RFIs delay construction and can cause schedule impacts
  • High RFI volumes indicate poor document quality
  • Many RFIs could be prevented with better upfront document review

How AI reduces RFIs

  • Catches missing information

    AI identifies missing details, dimensions, and references that would trigger RFIs during construction.

  • Finds coordination conflicts

    AI detects cross-discipline conflicts (MEP clashes, structural conflicts) that would require RFIs to resolve.

  • Identifies code violations

    AI catches building code issues before construction, preventing RFIs about code compliance.

  • Finds spec-drawing conflicts

    AI identifies contradictions between specifications and drawings that would generate RFIs.

Results: fewer RFIs

Hours per RFI
Time saved
Per project
Cost savings
Improved
Document quality

Teams using AI plan checking report:

  • Fewer RFIs on projects with AI document review
  • Faster RFI processing because issues are caught and resolved before construction
  • Better document quality leading to fewer questions during construction
  • Reduced schedule delays from waiting on RFI responses

Best practices for RFI reduction

  1. Run AI Plan Check Before Bidding: Catch issues before contractors start asking questions.
  2. Review AI Findings with Design Team: Address coordination and code issues proactively.
  3. Update Documents Based on AI Findings: Fix issues before construction starts.
  4. Use AI for Addenda Review: Check addenda for new conflicts that could generate RFIs.
  5. Track RFI Types: Use AI findings to identify patterns in document quality issues.
Learn More About RFI Prevention

Related resources

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See how AI plan checking can catch document issues before they become RFIs.

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