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RACI for Contractors: Who Does What, Who Decides, Who’s Informed

by | Oct 29, 2025 | Process

Construction RACI Chart: Who Does What, Who Decides, Who’s Informed

A quick story from the field

Monday, 7:15 a.m. The electrician is staged. Cabinets arrive at 10. The inspector may show up after lunch. Over the weekend, the owner’s rep requested a finish change. Who approves it? Who tells purchasing to hold the countertop release? Who alerts the flooring trades partner to shift tomorrow’s crew? With a RACI chart posted in the trailer, the path is clear: the PM is Accountable for the change decision, the PE is Responsible for pricing and impact, the designer and superintendent are Consulted, and purchasing, as well as affected trades partners, are Informed. The calls go out in minutes, the lookahead adjusts, and the crew keeps moving. Without RACI, that same morning turns into delays, guesswork, rework, and chaos.

What is a RACI chart

A RACI chart is a matrix that assigns four role types to each task or deliverable. It stops “not my job” and “I thought John had it” errors.

RACI means:

R — Responsible
Does the work. One clear doer per task whenever possible.
Examples:

  • Ground crew setting forms, moving spoils, compacting lifts

  • Carpenters framing walls, setting posts, installing sheathing

  • Electricians pulling wire, setting panels, terminating devices

  • Plumbers roughing drains and vents, setting fixtures, pressure testing

  • HVAC installers setting RTUs, hanging duct, balancing diffusers

  • Concrete crew forming, placing, finishing, curing

  • Painter finishing walls and trim

  • Project engineer assembling submittals, RFIs, permit packages

  • Superintendent running daily huddles, enforcing lookaheads

  • Survey/layout tech shooting points, verifying control

A — Accountable
Owns the result and approves completion. Exactly one A.
Examples:

  • Project manager accepting submittals and change orders, owning budget and schedule

  • Superintendent accepting field installation and inspections

  • Owner’s rep accepting finishes and client-facing decisions

  • Lead designer approving design intent and Basis of Design

C — Consulted
Provides input before or during the work. Two-way communication.
Examples:

  • Safety manager on lift plans, tie-off, and high-risk work

  • Structural engineer on headers, slab thickening, steel connections

  • MEP engineer on load calcs, equipment sizing, controls

  • Purchasing on vendor options and lead times

  • Key trades partners on sequencing and clearances

  • AHJ on code interpretations and inspection requirements

I — Informed
Receives updates so they can plan their work. One-way communication.
Examples:

  • Scheduler to update the critical path

  • Accounting to prepare pay apps and lien releases

  • Neighboring trades partners to plan area handoffs

  • Client to coordinate operations and access

  • Supplier to stage deliveries

Why contractors use RACI

  • Assigns ownership on permits, inspections, submittals, RFIs, buyout, deliveries, change orders, punch, and closeout

  • Speeds decisions where office and field intersect

  • Reduces rework by routing decisions to the right experts

  • Exposes overloads. If one person is R too often, rebalance

When to build a RACI

Build one when stakes are high or handoffs create risk:

  • Safety, schedule, cost, or client experience on the line

  • Decision rights unclear

  • Multiple trades operating in the same zone

  • Rework, missed handoffs, or blame cycles

Design-Build Example: Kitchen Remodel

Scope: Gut kitchen. Relocate plumbing and electrical. New cabinets and finishes under a design-build agreement.

Design-Build Example: Kitchen Remodel — RACI Matrix
Task / Deliverable R (Doer) A (Owner) C (Consulted) I (Informed) Notes
Program meeting with owners RLead Designer ADB PM CEstimator ISuperintendent Capture needs, budget, timeline
Concept layout and appliance specs RLead Designer ADB PM CLicensed Plumber, Electrician IHomeowner Lock rough-in locations
Permit drawings and submission RLead Designer ADB PM CPlumber, Electrician, AHJ ISuperintendent, Homeowner Include code summary
Cabinet order and long-lead items RPurchasing ADB PM CDesigner, Supplier Rep ISuperintendent Release after approved drawings
Rough-in and in-wall inspection RPlumber, Electrician ASuperintendent CDesigner, AHJ IDB PM, Homeowner Tie to 3-week lookahead
Finish selections sign-off RDesigner AHomeowner CSuperintendent, Trades Partners IDB PM Control samples prevent rework
Punch and closeout documents RSuperintendent ADB PM CDesigner, Homeowner, Trades Partners IAccounting O&M, warranties, as-builts

Commercial TI Example: Flooring Substitution Decision

Decision: Replace specified LVT due to lead time.

  • R: Project engineer compiles options, pricing, lead times, install impacts

  • A: Project manager approves or rejects

  • C: Architect, owner rep, flooring trades partner, superintendent, estimator

  • I: Scheduler, accounting, affected trades partners

Sitework Package — RACI Matrix (Small Development)
Task / Deliverable R (Doer) A (Owner) C (Consulted) I (Informed) Notes
Utility locates and Dig Safe RGround Crew Lead ASuperintendent CCivil Engineer IAdjacent Trades Partners Sequence with demo; protect utilities
Submittal: pipe, structures, stone RProject Engineer AProject Manager CCivil Engineer, Supplier ISite Foreman Approve before mobilization
Compaction and density tests RTesting Agency AProject Manager CSite Foreman IOwner Rep Book inspections early; tie to lookahead
Paving day plan RPaving Trades Partner ASuperintendent CSite Foreman, Supplier INeighboring Trades Partners Coordinate trucks, flagging, temperature window

Build your RACI in 15 minutes

  • List critical tasks by phase: precon, permits, buyout, build, inspections, punch, closeout

  • Assign one R and one A per task by name

  • Add C for experts who reduce risk

  • Add I for stakeholders who must not be surprised

  • Review with the superintendent and project manager. Align with field reality

  • Post in the trailer and share with trades partners and the client. Revisit in weekly coordination

Pitfalls and fixes

  • Two As on a task. Select one owner or split the task

  • Too many Cs. Limit voices to speed decisions

  • Titles instead of names. Use names to avoid rotation confusion

  • Stale matrix. Update when scope or sequence changes. Add a revision date

  • No link to schedule. Tag rows to WBS or activity IDs to keep lookaheads honest

Summary

RACI turns jobsite ambiguity into accountability. It clarifies who does the work, who owns the result, who must be consulted, and who needs to stay informed. Use it on the tasks that carry safety, schedule, cost, or client impact. Keep it live. Review it weekly. When everyone knows their role, decisions speed up, rework drops, and projects finish stronger.

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