The quality of as-built plans can go a long way in improving your company’s overall growth and reputation. Having an exact idea of the completed structure is significant in achieving your long-term goals and overall project development. They represent design drawings recorded by the contractors or your project team after the completion of the project and show how structural, architectural, and MEP services are assembled on the actual site.
As-built drawing services providers must make sure that these drawings are accurate and precise by including certain documents and details to make them comprehensive and comprehensible. These may be categorized as follows:
· Clearly showing all changes related to dimensions, shapes, fabrication, installation, and location of elements
· Mentioning scales used as compared to the original drawings
· Recording specific dates when changes were proposed and incorporated
· Recording the status of the structure after the final inspection is done
· Using proper descriptions and labels for clarity
· Including as appendices all shop drawing-related information
While architects and design engineers create the original design documents, the contractors are involved with day-to-day construction work on the job site and play a major role in the accuracy of drawings incorporating the changes. They provide a precise record of these changes during different stages of a construction project. This process facilitates effective visualization and early error detection for ensuring the accuracy of the drawings.
Following is a brief discussion on the challenges faced by the team while producing good quality as-built drawings.
- It is a great challenge for as-built drawing services if the team is somehow not able to capture a deep level of information.
- Lack of a standardized format is a big challenge since it leads to improper kind of documentation.
- Understanding the 2D-built drawings can sometimes be a challenge for the team. Providing enough clarity becomes necessary.
- If the contractor is not using modern drafting techniques, the use of traditional methods can lead to inaccuracies and delays. Use of the latest CAD and BIM software should be encouraged.
- It would be a big challenge if the service provider is not using techniques like aerial photography etc as backup statements like site pictures won’t be available.
As-built drawings play a vital role in the success of a construction project- during the construction phase and also during the operations/ maintenance stage. Your construction team must ensure that these drawings are accurate and precise with all required elements to represent the exact status of the completed structure.