The importance of as-built drawings for both contractors and future homeowners

In order to visualize a project’s components, such as dimensions, location, and other important elements, owners usually request as-built drawings from the construction managers. All the important details regarding a future building are included in these as-built drawings. The elements presented include walls, HVAC system, electrical fixture, doors and so on. As a future owner, you need to know that every construction project has a degree of complexity, and all of its parts must align right to obtain the end product. Contractors must rely on their experience in order to adjust to all the necessary deviations from the original design, as problems inevitably arise during construction.

This is the point where as-built drawings come in handy. Most clients will request a full set of as-built drawings at the end of a project, even though they are not always mandatory. The conclusion of the construction management process depends on these drawings. As a consequence, all construction managers must be totally aware of what does into the creation of clear and useful as-built drawings.

Why is as-built drafting important?

As opposed to the designs or proposed conditions, as-built drawings prove how the final construction was made and shows the existing conditions as they are. Since they provide a legacy of what was actually built, we can say that as-built drawings are very important for those who use the finished product. Besides the information regarding the position of the walls and doors, As-Built Drawings also offer homeowners information regarding the location and sizes of all the construction components, concealed elements, pipe and duct routing, terminal unit locations and so on.

As a result, these drawings can make future renovation projects much easier and much more efficient. If the owners are planning of expanding the final product or perform any modifications of plant facilities, they can rely on the as-built drawings to save time and to ensure that all operations will be conducted as planned. Process Hazard Analysis and Process Safety Management requirements are also covered in the as-built drawings. Since they can highlight safety concerns and potential dangers existing in the facility, we can say that as-built drawings contribute to the emergency preparedness of employees.

Who is entitled to create as-built drawings?

The contractor of the project is entitled to complete and submit as-built drawings once the project is done. In order to reflect any modifications in the on-site, drawings are constantly revised from original design drawings. Each and every structure and element includes in the scope of the building project is specified in as-built drawing services. Besides the record of approvals, the drawings must include all modifications and adjustments made to the end product. The basis for as-built drawings is created by architects and designers. Future homeowners usually rely on these professionals as they are the most qualified to handle such jobs. The changes track is practically the most important challenge faced by these professionals. However, the contractor is responsible for the final as-built drawings.

Changes mark-ups that may affect the final construction drawings should be performed only by the contractor, which is also entitled to perform document modifications as they occur. The consultant team can review and analyze issues and produce drawings of the constructed projects based on the drawings offered by the contractor. Once the project is completed, the owner can use all the drawings for health and safety measures and maintenance.

Automating the as-built documentation

When it comes to project management, building rehabilitation and renovation regarding the future, we can say that the old way of evaluating as-built drawings had lots of flaws. During the project lifecycle, numerous issues and challenges affected the traditional as-built drawings. The most important problem that delayed the delivery time and ruined the improvement of construction data was the rework necessary on the built documentation. Rework can be reduced through communication in different phases of the project.

Numerous failures can lead to a drop in the construction project’s accuracy in the old fashioned method of as-built drawings. However, all of these problems can be easily overcome with the help of construction management software and BIM.

When is the right time to start as-built drawings?

As mentioned earlier, there is a lot of attention and meticulous tracking of project development involved in the creating of as-built drawings. As changes to the initial drawings occur, you need to keep track of them from start to finish. Every client will surely appreciate and reward the professionalism of being able to keep track of these changes. Moreover, inaccurate final drawings may be the result of failing to document changes that may occur throughout the construction process.

Other important aspects regarding as-built drawings

Another important aspect surrounding as-built drawings would be the fact that there are various kinds of drafting services available on the market. The main types of drafting services are exterior drawings, section drawings, and plan drawings. The exterior of the building is expressed through exterior drawings. These kinds of drawings will offer important information regarding the materials used in the construction process, the heights of the walls, textures, and many more elements. The inside look of the future building can be expressed through the plan and section drawings.

The construction industry depends hugely on the plan drawings, as they offer valuable information regarding the project and an aerial view that can offer insights into the building design. While the plan drawings offer an aerial view of the project, the section drawings offer constructors the possibility to see the future building from the side.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that as-built drawings are very important for both contractors and clients. By helping record changes and alterations done in construction, they help contractors do their jobs much easier. On the other side, clients and future owners can resolve an issue or change any building design in the future easier if they have a full view of their property. Moreover, these kinds of information are also valuable in the idea of a future sale.