Direct Answer
IFC stands for Issued for Construction — the stamp placed on shop drawings after the Engineer of Record (EOR) has reviewed and approved them. You can legally and safely begin fabrication only after receiving an IFC set. Starting production from 'Approved as Noted' or 'Revise and Resubmit' drawings without resolution of all notes is a common source of rework.
Full Explanation
The submittal review cycle typically produces one of four responses: Approved, Approved as Noted (A/N), Revise and Resubmit (R&R), or Rejected. 'Approved' is the cleanest — proceed as drawn. 'Approved as Noted' means the reviewer has written corrections directly on the drawings; the detailer must incorporate those notes and confirm in writing before the fabricator acts on them. 'R&R' means the drawings need substantial revision and a second submittal before any fabrication. Fabricating from R&R drawings is a code violation and a liability risk.
What This Means for Your Shop
Maintain a submittal log showing each drawing's current approval status. Do not allow the shop floor to pull drawings from a 'pending' folder. A single R&R set mixed with approved drawings can result in fabricating a member that cannot be installed.
Common Mistakes
Starting fabrication from 'Approved as Noted' drawings without first confirming the noted revisions are incorporated. Also: not tracking which revision level of each drawing is currently approved.
Recommended Process
Maintain a drawing register. When drawings are returned from review, log the status for each sheet. Issue only IFC-stamped drawings to the shop floor. Flag any A/N drawings and coordinate with the detailer to confirm all notes are resolved before cutting.