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What the RFI?

What the RFI?

Di: Matt Brennan
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A proposito di questo titolo

What the RFI? is a podcast dedicated to Construction Administration, Contract Administration, and Architectural Project Coordination.


Hosted by Matt Brennan, a Construction Administration Leader with over 25 years of experience, the show explores the real-world processes behind successful construction projects, including RFIs, Site Instructions, Change Orders, Construction Contracts, Specifications, Submittals, Deficiencies, Site Meetings, Project Closeout, and consultant coordination.


Every episode features practical advice, real project examples, industry technology, AI tools, and workflow improvements designed to help architects, architectural technologists, engineers, consultants, owners, project managers, and general contractors deliver better projects.


If you work in architecture, construction, or construction administration, What the RFI? delivers practical insights to help you navigate every stage of the construction process.


How many RFIs did you get this week?

© 2026 What the RFI? Arte Economia Gestione e leadership Management
Episodi
  • Fan Mail: How to Get Into Construction Administration

    Fan Mail: How to Get Into Construction Administration
    Sep 21 2026

    How do you get into Construction Administration?

    In this special episode of What the RFI?, recorded while on vacation in Tofino, BC, I answer some fan mail from Richard—an experienced Architectural Technologist looking to make the jump into a full-time Construction Administration role.

    We talk about how experience in architectural technology, construction documents, RFIs, shop drawings and consultant coordination can become the foundation for a career in CA—and why you probably already know more than you think.

    I also get into some of the skills that aren’t necessarily taught in school: learning from experienced Construction Administrators, getting out to site, understanding contracts, communicating with contractors and consultants, and developing the judgment that only comes from experience.

    And since I’m recording this episode from the beach while on vacation, there’s one more important CA lesson:

    Take your vacation!

    Construction Administration can follow you everywhere if you let it. Turn on the Out of Office, hand over your projects, remove the work email from your phone and disconnect.

    The RFIs will still be there when you get back.

    In this episode:

    • How to transition into Construction Administration
    • Moving from Architectural Technologist to CA
    • Why document-production experience matters
    • Getting your first real CA experience
    • Learning RFIs, shop drawings and construction changes
    • Why field experience is so important
    • Finding a Construction Administration mentor
    • Learning from contractors and consultants
    • Developing confidence and judgment in CA
    • What to consider when accepting a CA position
    • Creating boundaries between construction projects and your personal life
    • Why you need to actually take your vacation

    Chapters

    • 00:00 — Live From Tofino: We’ve Got Fan Mail
    • 01:10 — Richard’s Construction Administration Career Question
    • 02:08 — How Do You Get Into Construction Administration?
    • 04:58 — Document Support IS CA Experience
    • 07:54 — Ask for More CA Experience
    • 09:11 — Get Out to the Construction Site
    • 11:11 — Learn What the CA Documents Actually Do
    • 12:38 — Learn Your Construction Contract
    • 13:34 — Learn From the Contractor
    • 15:56 — Communication Is a Huge Part of CA
    • 18:20 — Find a Construction Administration Mentor
    • 19:36 — Richard’s CA Career Opportunity
    • 22:19 — Learn to Turn Off Work
    • 23:19 — Take Your Damn Vacation!
    • 24:54 — Your Project Will Survive Without You
    • 25:20 — The RFIs Will Still Be There
    • 26:04 — More What the RFI? Fan Mail
    • 26:52 — Keep the RFIs Moving… Unless You’re on Vacation

    Have a Construction Administration question you’d like answered on a future Fan Mail episode? Send it to What the RFI?

    What the RFI? is a podcast about the real-world practice of Construction Administration, including RFIs, shop drawings and submittals, Change Orders, Supplemental Instructions, field reviews, site meetings, construction contracts, occupancy and project closeout.

    Got an RFI for Matt? Send it here!

    🎙️Website - WhattheRFI.com

    🍏Apple Podcast - What the RFI?
    🎧Spotify - What the RFI?
    🎥YouTube - @WhatTheRFI

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    27 min
  • Occupancy Inspections: What Building Inspectors Look For

    Occupancy Inspections: What Building Inspectors Look For
    Sep 14 2026
    Your building is nearly finished.The consultants have signed off. Integrated systems testing is complete. Everyone is talking about move-in day.Now the building inspector is coming.In Episode 50 of What the RFI?, we’re talking about one of the biggest milestones in Construction Administration: the occupancy inspection.What happens when the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) arrives on site? What is the building inspector actually looking for? Who should attend the inspection? And what happens when the inspector finds something standing between your project and an occupancy permit?This is Part 3 of our four-part Occupancy & Project Closeout Series.🏗️ IN THIS EPISODEWhat AHJ — Authority Having Jurisdiction — actually meansWho may be involved in an occupancy inspectionWhy the occupancy process varies between municipalitiesWhen to start communicating with the building inspectorWhy occupancy day should NOT be the first time you meet your inspectorHow to perform your own pre-occupancy walkthroughExiting, egress and life-safety requirementsAccessibility items inspectors may reviewFire department requirements and inspectionsWho should attend the occupancy inspectionWhat to do when the inspector identifies something unexpectedWhy arguing with the AHJ on site usually isn’t the answerHow to document and close inspection deficienciesRe-inspections and follow-up reviewsPartial and conditional occupancyGetting to the final occupancy approvalOne of the biggest lessons from this episode?Walk the building BEFORE the inspector does!Forget about the paint touch-ups for a moment and put on your building-inspector hat.Follow the path of egress. Open the doors. Check the hardware. Look at accessibility. Look at guards and handrails. Look at fire separations and fire department access. Make sure the building’s life-safety systems are actually ready.And when the inspector finds something — because they probably will — don’t panic.Understand the concern. Document it. Assign it. Resolve it.And keep the project moving toward occupancy.CHAPTERS00:00 — The Building Inspector Is Here00:20 — Welcome to What the RFI?02:00 — What Is an AHJ?03:30 — Know Your AHJ04:46 — Don’t Meet the Inspector on Occupancy Day07:24 — Walk the Building Before They Do08:49 — What Will the AHJ Look For?10:29 — Fire Department Review13:05 — Occupancy Inspection Day16:03 — Before the AHJ Leaves18:03 — Unexpected AHJ Deficiencies20:05 — Closing the Deficiencies23:00 — Partial & Conditional Occupancy25:02 — Final AHJ Review Tips27:01 — Don’t Celebrate Yet!🎧 OCCUPANCY & PROJECT CLOSEOUT SERIESThis is Part 3 of a four-part What the RFI? series following a construction project through occupancy preparation, integrated systems testing, the AHJ inspection and ultimately project closeout.PART 1 — OCCUPANCY PREPARATIONWhat needs to happen before you can even think about calling for an occupancy inspection?https://youtu.be/HDiwBEi4oHYPART 2 — CAN/ULC-S1001 INTEGRATED SYSTEMS TESTINGWhat happens when all of the building’s life-safety systems are finally tested together?https://youtu.be/NflfD6lh0GsPART 3 — OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS: WHAT BUILDING INSPECTORS LOOK FORYou’re listening to it!PART 4 — PROJECT CLOSEOUTComing next: moving from occupancy into takeover, deficiencies, closeout documentation and the final stages of the construction contract.▶️ WATCH THE COMPLETE OCCUPANCY & PROJECT CLOSEOUT SERIEShttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgn59YOfGm8🎙️ ABOUT WHAT THE RFI?What the RFI? is a podcast about Construction Administration and what actually happens during construction.We talk about RFIs, shop drawings and submittals, Supplemental Instructions, Change Orders, site meetings, field reviews, deficiencies, occupancy, project closeout and everything that happens between the construction drawings and the finished building.Whether you’re an architect, construction administrator, consultant, contractor, project manager or just starting your career in construction, the goal is simple:Make Construction Administration easier to understand.🌐 Learn more about What the RFI? and Construction Administration:https://www.whattherfi.comGot an RFI for Matt? Send it here!🎙️Website - WhattheRFI.com🍏Apple Podcast - What the RFI? 🎧Spotify - What the RFI? 🎥YouTube - @WhatTheRFI
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    28 min
  • CAN/ULC-S1001 Integrated Systems Testing — Getting Ready for Occupancy

    CAN/ULC-S1001 Integrated Systems Testing — Getting Ready for Occupancy
    Sep 8 2026

    What happens after the fire alarm goes off?

    Does the elevator recall? Do the doors release? Do the mechanical systems respond? Does the monitoring station receive the signal?

    In Episode 49 of What the RFI?, we continue our four-part Building Occupancy Series with a practical look at CAN/ULC-S1001 Integrated Systems Testing from the Construction Administrator’s perspective.

    We break down what S1001 testing is, how it differs from fire alarm verification, who needs to be involved, how to prepare for testing day, and what happens when one of the building’s integrated fire and life-safety systems doesn’t respond the way it should.

    We also discuss the S1001 Integrated Testing Plan, coordinating contractors and consultants, common testing-day failures, retesting, deficiencies, and the final S1001 documentation needed as you work toward building occupancy.

    In this episode:

    • What CAN/ULC-S1001 Integrated Systems Testing is
    • S1001 testing vs. fire alarm verification
    • How fire alarm, elevators, doors, HVAC/BAS and other systems interact
    • Who should be involved in integrated systems testing
    • Preparing the building before testing day
    • Coordinating trades, consultants and technicians
    • What happens when an S1001 test fails
    • Retesting and documenting deficiencies
    • Final S1001 documentation for building occupancy
    • Construction Administration lessons for keeping occupancy on track

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Fire Alarm Test — Does Everything Work?
    • 00:39 S1001 Integrated Systems Testing
    • 02:21 What Is CAN/ULC-S1001?
    • 03:56 How Integrated Life-Safety Systems Work
    • 05:41 S1001 vs. Fire Alarm Verification
    • 07:09 Who Is Responsible for S1001 Testing?
    • 10:34 The S1001 Testing Plan & Checklist
    • 11:19 Before Testing Day — Don’t Use S1001 for Commissioning
    • 12:45 Coordinate the Right People
    • 15:31 S1001 Testing Day
    • 19:30 Expect Something to Fail
    • 21:29 Document Deficiencies & Retesting
    • 22:40 Final S1001 Report for Occupancy
    • 23:44 Construction Administrator Takeaways
    • 25:17 S1001 Complete — What’s Next?

    This is Part 2 of our four-part Building Occupancy Series, following Episode 47 on Building Occupancy Preparation.

    Next up: the AHJ is coming to site. We’ll look at the final occupancy inspection, what the Authority Having Jurisdiction may be looking for, and what happens when the inspector finds something you weren’t expecting.

    What the RFI? is a Construction Administration podcast for architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, owners and project managers working through the realities of construction.

    Got an RFI for Matt? Send it here!

    🎙️Website - WhattheRFI.com

    🍏Apple Podcast - What the RFI?
    🎧Spotify - What the RFI?
    🎥YouTube - @WhatTheRFI

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    27 min
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