Architect’s Supplemental Instructions: G710 Form and Objections

An Architect’s Supplemental Instruction, or ASI, is a written directive the architect issues during construction to clarify the original design documents or order a minor change, provided the change doesn’t affect the contract sum or the contract time. Under AIA Document A201-2017, the industry’s most widely used general conditions contract, the architect has unilateral authority to issue these instructions without the owner’s or contractor’s signature.¹ The standard form for documenting them is AIA Document G710.²

When an ASI Is the Right Tool

Section 7.4 of A201-2017 draws a hard line. The architect can order minor changes in the work that are consistent with the intent of the contract documents, but only when those changes don’t require an adjustment to the contract sum or an extension of the contract time.¹ If a change adds cost or delays the schedule, the ASI is the wrong document. Full stop.

Typical ASI scenarios include selecting a finish from a palette the specifications already approved, shifting a light fixture a few inches to clear a beam, or resolving a conflict between a floor plan and a wall section. If a contractor discovers that a specified piece of equipment is slightly larger than the drafted opening, the architect might issue an ASI to adjust the surrounding cabinetry, so long as the adjustment doesn’t trigger extra labor or materials beyond what the contract already covers.

Using an ASI for changes that actually increase costs is where projects get into trouble. A design firm that issues ASIs to sidestep the formal change-order process exposes itself to breach-of-contract claims and professional liability issues. The boundary preserves the integrity of the original bid. Once a contractor prices a project, that price is a binding commitment, and ASIs aren’t allowed to quietly expand the scope beyond what was priced.

How ASIs Differ From Change Orders and Change Directives

Three documents handle modifications during construction, and confusing them creates real problems.

An Architect’s Supplemental Instruction (ASI) is issued by the architect alone for minor changes that don’t affect the contract sum or time. No signatures from the owner or contractor are required. It is documented on AIA G710.²
A Change Order is a written agreement signed by the owner, contractor, and architect that modifies the work and may adjust the contract sum, the contract time, or both. Once signed, the new terms become part of the contract. It is documented on AIA G701.³
A Construction Change Directive (CCD) is signed by the owner and architect when a change must happen immediately but the parties haven’t yet agreed on cost or time adjustments. The contractor must proceed with the work, and the final terms get incorporated into a change order later.⁴

The practical question is always whether the change affects money or time. If no, use an ASI. If yes and everyone agrees on the terms, use a change order. If yes but the work can’t wait for agreement, a construction change directive keeps things moving while the numbers get sorted out.

What Goes on the G710 Form

AIA Document G710-2017 is the standard template. The form identifies the project, the parties, and the scope of the instruction itself. Each ASI gets a unique tracking number to maintain a chronological record of all minor changes throughout the project.

The most important part of the form is the description of the action required. AIA’s own instructions for the G710 emphasize that this description should be “carefully prepared after personal investigation or discussions with field personnel or Project Representatives.”⁵ Vague language invites disagreement in the field. Reference specific drawing sheets, specification sections, or detail numbers so the contractor knows exactly what’s changing and where.

When the written description alone isn’t enough, supplemental sketches, revised details, or updated specification language can be attached. Any attachments should be clearly identified, numbered, and dated so they’re traceable back to the instruction.⁵ The G710 doesn’t require the contractor’s or owner’s signature. The architect issues it unilaterally, which is part of what makes it efficient for minor items, but it also means the architect bears full responsibility for keeping the instruction within the no-cost, no-time boundary.

The Contractor’s Right to Object

Contractors should not treat every ASI as a command to be followed without question. Section 7.4 of A201-2017 gives the contractor the right to push back: if the contractor believes a proposed minor change will affect the contract sum or contract time, the contractor must notify the architect and must not proceed with the work.¹ Notice goes to the architect, not the owner.

This is where many contractors make a costly mistake. The same section contains a waiver provision. If the contractor goes ahead and performs the work described in the ASI without first notifying the architect that it will affect cost or time, the contractor waives any right to a cost adjustment or time extension.¹ There’s no grace period after the fact. Once the work is done, the leverage is gone.

For broader claims arising from an ASI, A201-2017 Section 15.1.3.1 requires claims to be initiated within 21 days after the event giving rise to the claim, or within 21 days after the claimant first recognizes the condition, whichever is later.⁶ Contractors who suspect an ASI masks a scope change should flag it in writing immediately rather than building a case after the fact.

Implementing the Instruction

Once a valid ASI is received, the contractor must proceed promptly with the changed work. Section 7.1.3 of A201-2017 states that the contractor shall proceed promptly with changes in the work unless the change order, construction change directive, or minor change order provides otherwise.¹ The contractor is also responsible for distributing the instruction to any subcontractors performing the affected work.

If the contractor ignores or incorrectly implements an ASI, the architect has the authority to withhold payment certificates. Under Section 9.5.1, the architect can withhold certification for defective work that hasn’t been remedied, or for repeated failure to carry out the work in accordance with the contract documents.¹ That gives contractors a strong incentive to take ASIs seriously.

Getting ASI Changes Into As-Built Drawings

Every ASI-driven change needs to end up in the project’s as-built drawings, the final set of documents that shows the building as it was actually constructed. If an ASI shifted a fixture location, adjusted clearances, or modified a material, the as-built set must reflect it.

The most effective approach is to update as-built drawings continuously rather than waiting until closeout. Teams that batch updates weekly or monthly are far less likely to miss something than teams reconstructing months of changes from memory. The design team and the owner’s team should both cross-reference the final as-builts against all ASIs, change orders, and RFIs. An ASI that never makes it into the record drawings creates a hidden discrepancy that someone will eventually discover at the worst possible time.

When an ASI Fixes a Design Error

Architects sometimes use ASIs to quietly correct mistakes in the original design documents. Under AIA Document B101-2017, issuing supplemental instructions is part of the architect’s basic services during the construction phase, so the architect cannot bill extra for issuing them.⁷ Correcting an error or inconsistency in the construction documents through a design revision is generally expected without additional compensation.

The complication comes when the correction costs more during construction than it would have if the error had been caught during design. If the incremental cost of fixing an omission mid-construction is significantly higher than it would have been earlier, the architect could be held liable for that difference, depending on the circumstances.⁸ The standard used to evaluate the architect’s conduct is whether they performed with the professional skill and care ordinarily provided by architects practicing in similar circumstances.⁷

The risk escalates when an architect uses an ASI to handle a change that really should have been a change order. If the minor correction actually affects the project cost or schedule, the ASI exceeds the architect’s authority under Section 7.4, and that overreach can constitute professional negligence. An ASI issued in the hope that no one will notice the cost implications is a bet that rarely pays off.

1
The American Institute of Architects. AIA Document A201-2017 – General Conditions of the Contract for Construction
2
AIA Contract Documents. G710-2017 Architects Supplemental Instructions
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AIA Contract Documents. List of All Current AIA Contract Documents
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AIA Contract Documents. Change Orders vs Change Directives AIA Contract Differences
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AIA Contract Documents. Instructions G710-2017 Architects Supplemental Instructions
6
University of Wisconsin System. General Conditions of the Contract for Construction AIA Document A201-2017
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Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. AIA Document B101-2017 Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect
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The American Institute of Architects. Standard of Care Confronting Errors and Omissions Up Front