A single picture can tell a story, often with different versions depending on the person viewing it. In the construction industry, as-built drawings convey definite processes and instructions that ensure everyone involved in the project is aligned. Unfortunately, considering all the hundreds and thousands of documents and steps required to finish a single project, as-built drawings services and documentation are often overlooked and even taken for granted.
As-built drawings are a critical aspect of a construction project, particularly when maintaining the lifecycle once the construction is finished. With the help of reliable as-built drawing services, construction companies can look forward to better results every time.
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What are as-built drawings?
As-built drawings, also known by other names, including red-line drawings and record drawings, facilitate comparing and contrasting the design and final specifications. These drawings offer a comprehensive blueprint of the building and its surroundings as it is constructed. As-built drawing services are also defined as a revised set of drawings that contractors submit after completing a certain job or project.
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These drawings reflect every change made in the working drawings and specifications throughout construction. They also show the exact location, geometry, and dimensions of every work element as stated in the contract. Once finalized, as-built documentation includes any of the points below, together with the rest of the changes made during the project’s construction stage:
- Design changes
- Field changes
- Modifications
- Shop drawing changes
- Extra works
As-built documentation also goes hand in hand with as-built maps or as-built surveys. These are used throughout the construction stage to help continuously track the changes in the building and the land as the work progresses. It is ultimately easier to construct as-built drawings with the help of dedicated as-built surveys due to the higher level of recorded details from each project phase.
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Uses and applications of as-built drawings
Detailed and comprehensive plans from professional CAD drawing professionals are critical to ensure a successful building project. Throughout construction, there is always the possibility of changes and updates to some of the building’s features as the contractor deals with obstacles regarding the site itself, the materials used, or the respective government authorities.
As-built documentation is necessary to record such changes and retain an exact representation of the project, which is essential for commercial construction projects. The different uses of as-built drawings for new construction, building maintenance, and renovation projects are as follows:
New Construction
When constructing a new building that once existed on paper alone, it is normal for contractors to deal with several challenges and hindrances. As a result, they need to adapt and update their building plans accordingly. As-built drawings can record any change during the construction process to ensure that an accurate drawing of the building will exist upon project completion.
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Building maintenance
Upgrades are made throughout the lifespan of a building. The maintenance team of a building will make updates to the drawings to reflect the changes made to the building. This way, there will always be an accurate drawing of the building.
Renovation projects
Before a renovation project begins, it is critical to have a more exhaustive understanding of the building as it currently exists. This is why it is vital to work with updated drawings for an efficient and safe renovation.
Importance of as-built drawings for construction companies
While not all jobs require and necessitate the submission of as-built drawings, it remains a helpful aspect of any completed project. Once the project is completed, as-built drawings are a reflection of the professional image of your company. As-built drawings are essential for the people who use the final product. These drawings offer a legacy of what was initially built. This legacy becomes more critical if future projects are built over the old work.
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These also come in handy for public works or when there are changes to land ownership. As-built services will ensure that when contractors, architects, and 3D architectural designers move on from the project, there will still be an existing resource in addition to the original blueprints. The following are by far the four primary reasons why as-built drawings are important:
1. Serve as a guide for the facilities team
By having a complete record of all changes made, the facility teams can address problems immediately. In the long run, owners can save more money thanks to improved speed and overall operations.
2. Better onboarding
With new subcontractors joining the project throughout its course, having a set of as-built drawings can help teams access pertinent and correct information immediately. This speeds up the start of the work, thus saving more time and resources.
3. Improved renovation process
Thanks to the complete history of changes made to the project, owners can view what was built to avoid investing a lot into learning about the current conditions.
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4. Streamlined the process of acquiring building permits
Government agencies often require sets of as-built drawings before they issue the necessary building permits to allow the start of the construction project. You might still wonder why you should prioritize as-built documentation after the project is completed. However, creating as-builts shouldn’t be your only focus because it is something that you can entrust to the hands of professional as-built drawing experts. Instead, prioritize the overall quality of your offered packages.
As-built documentation can boost your construction company’s reputation and keep more businesses coming your way in the long term. These can also be useful if you are hired for renovations and system maintenance. This is when the information indicated in the drawings will benefit the owners themselves and your ability to finish the job successfully.
What to include in as-built documentation
Every single change made to the elements below must be included to have useful and complete as-built documentation:
Dimensions
Take note of all the changes to the dimensions of the different elements of the building.
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Fabrications
Include a log of each update made to the fabrications, such as the handrails, beams, and columns.
Installations
List down all the alterations made to the installation of the features of the building, such as windows, electrical, and HVAC. A professional engineering design company can help.
Locations
Jot down the changes to the location of millwork, plumbing, window casings, doors, and other important features.
Materials
Record the differences in the materials used as alterations that are made to the original as-built plan. Another important thing to remember here is that as-built drawings can include written notes, supplemental documents, and images, including satellite imagery or photographs.
What to expect from as-built drawing services
Ensure that you know and confirm who will be in charge of making your as-built drawings and the process they used during the creation to guarantee the most excellent results possible. It is also important to know that today’s as-built drawing services use construction software and technology used by AutoCAD drafting and design services that allows all the stakeholders involved to get the precise plans of the construction project all the time. Most of the time, the contractor in charge of the construction is the one who creates the as-built drawings for the project.
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While the architect may also be involved, it is not as common because they are not always present to monitor the construction process. Since the contractor is on the site during the construction of the building, they can update the building plans as often as possible once the changes are made. But to further reduce workload, construction companies can entrust the job of making this documentation to professional as-built drawing services. These experts include specific important details as they create the as-built documents, and these are the following:
Color coding
As-built documentation uses a standard color legend. Green is for added items, red is for deleted items, and blue represents special information.
Dates
Every change indicated on the building plan must be dated, complete with supporting documentation if needed.
Obstacles
The Autocad design professional must indicate all the obstacles encountered during the process, whether because of governmental agencies, environmental factors, or others.
Physical features
As the construction takes place, as-built drawing services will also take extra care to note the updates to the grades, elevations, and physical features changed or discovered throughout the construction process.
Scale
Any changes made to the drawings must maintain the exact proportions and scale of the original plans.
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Underground utilities
As-built drawing services will also take note of the precise locations of the underground utilities installed throughout the construction. Construction companies should take advantage of expert as-built drawing services to ensure a seamless and smooth project from start to finish.
How Cad Crowd can help
Cad Crowd has access to a broad network of 3D design professionals and CAD drawing experts to help you with your as-built drawing or architectural project. Contact us for a free quote.