AIA G716 RFI Form Explained + Free RFI Template (Excel)

AIA G716 RFI Form — Explained

What AIA Document G716 is, what goes in each part, and when you actually need the official form — plus a free Excel RFI form and log that captures the same information.

✓Captures the same info as an AIA G716

✓Drawing / spec reference + proposed solution

✓Architect response block with date

✓Cost / schedule impact + CO required Y/N

✓Contractor / design team / owner sign-off

✓RFI Log tab — 30-row tracker

RFI Form + Log (Excel)

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Frequently asked questions

What is AIA Document G716?

G716 is the American Institute of Architects' standard Request for Information form. A contractor uses it to ask the architect (through the owner's chosen channel) to clarify drawings, specifications, or conditions, and the architect records the response on the same form. It is a communication record, not a change order: it does not by itself change the contract price or time.

Is there a free AIA G716 PDF?

The official G716 is a copyrighted AIA Contract Document sold through AIA Contract Documents; free copies you find online are usually unlicensed. If your contract requires the official AIA form, buy it from AIA. If it just requires an RFI, a contractor-made form that captures the same information is normally acceptable — check your contract's RFI and communications clauses. The free template on this page is our own layout, not the AIA document.

Is an RFI a change order?

No. An RFI asks a question; the answer may reveal a change. If the architect's response adds scope, cost, or time, follow your contract's change procedure (a change order request, construction change directive, or similar) and reference the RFI number. Mark the RFI "potential cost/schedule impact" so it gets tracked.

How long does an architect have to answer an RFI?

Whatever the contract or specifications say. Many specifications set a response period (often 7–10 working days) and a faster path for RFIs that block work. If the contract is silent, put a "response needed by" date on every RFI and track days outstanding in your log — slow responses are delay-claim evidence.

What is the difference between G716 and G710?

G716 is the contractor's request for information. G710 (Architect's Supplemental Instructions) is the architect issuing minor changes or clarifications without a change in contract sum or time. An RFI answer sometimes comes back as an ASI.

AIA G716: the standard RFI, and a free alternative

AIA Document G716 is the American Institute of Architects' standard Request for Information form: the contractor asks the design team to clarify the drawings or specifications, and the answer is recorded on the same page. It is a record of questions and answers — not a change order.

The official G716 is a copyrighted AIA Contract Document. If your contract only requires a written RFI, a contractor-made form that captures the same fields is normally acceptable — check your contract. The free template here is our own layout covering the same information, plus an RFI log.

Free download. Get the Excel RFI form and log here, or track RFIs in Field PM with automatic numbering, ball-in-court, and one-click change order requests.

AIA G716 in one paragraph

AIA Document G716 — Request for Information is the AIA's standard form for asking the design team to clarify the contract documents. The contractor fills in the question, references the drawings or specifications, proposes a solution if it has one, and sends it through the channel the contract names. The architect answers on the same form. Its value is the paper trail: every question, who asked it, when, what the answer was, and whether it might change cost or time.

What goes on a G716-style RFI

Whether you use the official AIA form or your own, a complete RFI captures the same information. In our own words:

Part	What to put there	Field tip
Identification	Project, RFI number, date, who it's from and to	Number RFIs sequentially and never reuse a number
Reference	Drawing sheet, detail, spec section, grid/location	Attach a marked-up screenshot of the detail
Request	The specific question — one issue per RFI	State the conflict neutrally: "Detail 5/A-501 conflicts with spec 09 21 16"
Proposed solution	What you recommend and why	Architects answer a recommendation faster than an open question
Impact	Potential cost / schedule impact, response-needed-by date	Flag it even if uncertain — it protects your change-order rights
Response	The architect's answer, date, and signature	Log the response date; track days outstanding

Do you have to use the official G716?

Read your contract's RFI and communications clauses. Many contracts just require written RFIs through a set channel; a contractor-made form with the fields above is normally fine. Some owners or architects require the AIA form or their own portal. If the official document is required, buy it from AIA Contract Documents — it's copyrighted, and "free G716 PDF" downloads are usually unlicensed copies.

What's in the free RFI workbook

RFI form — number, date, project, priority, drawing/spec reference, question, proposed solution
Response block — for the architect/engineer, with date and signature
Impact — cost / schedule impact and "change order required?"
Sign-off — contractor, design team, owner
RFI Log tab — a 30-row tracker for every RFI on the job

It's our own layout, built to capture the same information a G716 does — use it wherever a contractor-made RFI is acceptable.

Write RFIs that get answered

Lead with the recommendation. "Recommend X because Y" gets a yes/no in minutes.
One question per RFI. A hard question shouldn't hold up an easy one.
Give a response-needed-by date tied to the schedule.
Keep the language neutral. Questions get answered; accusations get routed to legal.

For the full walkthrough, see the RFI template guide.

From a spreadsheet to tracked RFIs

A spreadsheet log works until you have forty open RFIs. Field PM's RFI and change order tracking numbers RFIs automatically, tracks ball-in-court and days outstanding, and turns an RFI answer into a change order request in one step. Start a 30-day free trial, no credit card.

Related templates

RFI Template + Log — the full RFI guide
Change Order Template — when the RFI answer changes scope
Pending Change Order Log — track PCO → COR → CO
Submittal Log
Document Transmittal