Missing connection / design responsibility — steel RFI template

When to use: the drawings show member sizes but no connection details, and the specs are unclear on whether connection design is delegated to the fabricator's engineer — or reactions/forces needed for delegated design aren't given.

Subject: RFI [no.] — Connection design responsibility and design forces, [area/phase]

Body:

Structural drawings [S-xxx] show member sizes at [area] without connection details. Specification section [05 12 00 ¶x] is unclear on whether connection design is delegated. Please confirm: (1) whether connection design is the fabricator's responsibility per the contract documents; (2) if delegated, provide design reactions/forces for the affected members (or confirm the [uniform-load / percentage] basis to be used); (3) submittal requirements for delegated connection design calculations.

Connection detailing cannot begin for the listed members until responsibility and design basis are confirmed.

Attach: the spec paragraph in question, member list by area. Impact wording: connection design lead time sits in front of detailing, which sits in front of fab — show the chain if the schedule is tight. Don't say: "we assume connections are delegated." Responsibility assumptions are how stamped-drawing disputes start. Escalation: request confirmation in writing before any delegated-design work is priced or performed; this one protects both sides.

Log every one of these. Submission date, needed-by date, response date, what was held, what it cost. That trail is where steel money leaks — and where it’s recovered.