An RFI — Request for Information — is how the field asks the architect or engineer to clarify a conflict, a missing detail, or an ambiguity in the construction documents. It's a formal, tracked question so the answer becomes part of the project record.
The skill isn't filling out the form — it's spotting the issue early and writing the question so the answer actually unblocks the work. A sharp RFI ("Detail 4/A-501 shows the sill flashing terminating at the jamb, but the wall section on A-301 continues it past the opening — which governs?") protects the schedule. A vague one ("Please advise on the flashing") invites a useless answer and a second round trip.
Because RFIs sit at the intersection of the drawings and the specs, they're one of the most common ways scope gaps and design errors surface on a job — and managing the RFI log is a core part of a project manager's or project engineer's day.