In our lengthy definition in a previous article, we learned that as-built drawings are revised drawings submitted upon completion of a construction or construction project. These are drawing records that contain all changes and revisions made to pilot drawings throughout the entire construction process. They are very important because they provide an accurate representation of the building and the entire property upon completion.

Because as-built drawings specify all structures and elements within the scope of a construction project, their dimensions and locations, all major or minor modifications and adjustments are and must be included along with their record of approvals.

All small details that deviate from what is indicated in the plan must be recorded. For example, for used materials, unused materials should be indicated with marks relative to the original items and intended use. This is for future reference to changes that occurred throughout the construction of the project.

Who are responsible for as-built drawings?

It is generally designers and architects who create the original drawing plans from which as-built drawings are based. Therefore, they are the most qualified to do the final as-built. But as their involvement in daily construction is limited, most of them are unaware of most of the changes addressed.

Consequently, it is the contractor who is responsible for the final as-built drawings. Since the contractor is the one who oversees the construction itself, he is the one who has the greatest ability to document changes and modifications as they occur. In reality, however, when construction begins, contractors get caught up in the busyness and responsibilities of on-site tasks, leaving completed drawings until the last minute.

Who benefits from as-built drawings?

As-built drawings are useful for all stakeholders in your construction project.

1. Contractors . As-built drawings are a crucial source of recorded changes and changes made to all construction changes. As construction moves from one phase to the next, it becomes easier for contractors to visualize the next actions needed in subsequent phases. Problems and other complications are easily detected and avoided before they can occur.
2. Customers/Building Owners . Accurate as-built documentation is critical for building owners and customers due to all installation and item records, which is highly important, especially if the building owner needs to troubleshoot a problem or revise the building design later.
3. Property Buyers . As-built drawings are essential for the final sale of the property, as they provide important information about what is being sold and purchased and serve as the basis for all future renovations and developments.

For more informative reading, check out our introductory guide to as-built drawings article.

When should as-builts be done and who should create and update them?

The professional cost of executed drawings represents approximately 1-2% of the total construction budget. It is relatively cheap but highly critical, so it is important not to skimp on what is being built. If you decide to opt for as-built construction, you must create your as-built drawings at the beginning of the project and meticulously monitor their development from start to finish. Producing them can be rigorous, but it's not necessarily a burden on your time and energy beyond what's needed to successfully deliver a project.

What is highly suggested is to track any and all deviations from the initial plan and record each change as it happens. This frames each change and clarifies in context the reasons why they were made. Furthermore, this habit of as-built documentation is a clear sign of your own professionalism and sends an important message to your client.

Failure to document changes and record adjustments during the construction process can lead to inaccurate final drawings and even hazards after completion. Without any record of composite adjustments, you will end up with a final product full of unreconciled changes.

After receiving the original as-built drawings from your architect or designer, you will have several options for approaching the as-built upgrade, with the prerequisite that you have purchased truly accurate as-builts:

1. Do the update yourself . Small businesses and companies often do this to save money. However, you may not have the necessary knowledge to properly handle as-built measurements and related processes. You may also be wasting all your time on tasks that you are not prepared to complete completely.
2. Delegate a junior team member . Medium and large companies do this because of the low cost but slightly better efficiency. But typically, your junior staff may not be ready-made professionals and end up unskilled and unprepared to perform the work according to industry standards.
3. Hire an as-built company . In the modern world, many companies outsource their as-built tasks to external companies so they can easily ignore costs and professional responsibilities.
4. The fourth option is to digitize your company's as-built process . By doing so, you can standardize and streamline all as-built related tasks and assign a specific individual or team to implement and execute. Then, construction teams themselves can shift their focus to important tasks and actual construction work.

Discover why BIM as-built drawings and documentation are important for your construction project.

Create effective as-built drawings today

Because as-built drawings must document any changes made to the original plan and record any deviations from the original drawing, as-built record drawings must:

1. Accurately describe any and all changes and adjustments made, including the date they were made. Specify materials used, equipment used, design changes, location changes and include anything applicable.
2. What you consider to be insignificant process details such as color coding, scaling, and log formatting should be followed for the sake of consistency. Confusing as-built drawings are just as useful as having no as-built drawings at all.
3. As-built drawings used to be very labor-intensive, requiring manual pen-and-paper inspections and workflows. However, the current technological disruption in the construction sector has simplified as-built designs and as-built construction. As-built drawing templates can be used at the beginning of a construction project with as-built drawing inspection templates for any modifications, with easy version comparisons for faster processes and real-time updating.

The use of software has made the as-built workflow simple, more accurate and data-focused, with the ability to produce accurate as-built drawings. You can simplify your as-built processes and standardize your as-built processes so that you can easily implement them through a delegated internal team or an external vendor.

Get your construction team to focus on their real tasks instead of wasting time on manual construction processes. Learn how you can implement as-built construction in your own company and further improve your own construction project management methodology.