As-built drawing
An as-built drawing records the work as it was actually constructed, including changes made during the build, and is handed to the owner at completion.
An as-built drawing records the work as it was actually constructed, including changes made during the build, and is handed to the owner at completion.
What as-built drawing means
As-built drawings (also called record drawings) show the installed condition of a building. They start from the construction drawings and are marked up as changes, field fixes and relocations occur, then issued as a clean set near handover.
Contracts define who prepares them, in what format and by when.
A plain example
A duct run is moved around a beam during installation, and a wall is shifted to suit a clash. The installer marks these on a working set, and the final as-built set shows the actual routes. Without that update, later work relies on drawings that no longer match the building.
Why it matters
Owners use as-builts for maintenance, renovation, insurance and sale. Surveyors and engineers use them as starting information for future work, though they should verify critical conditions on site. Incomplete records are a common handover complaint.
Common confusion
As-builts differ from shop drawings, which precede fabrication, and from the original design. Accuracy depends on discipline: markups made late from memory can be wrong. Treat as-builts as a record, not a design approval, and confirm anything structural with the engineer of record.
Practical checklist
To get useful as-built records, plan for them from the start of the project.
- Agree the format and the person responsible in the contract documents.
- Keep a marked-up working set on site and update it as changes happen.
- Capture concealed items, such as services and fixings, before they are covered.
- Reconcile the markups with change orders and RFI responses.
- Check the final set against the building before accepting it at handover.
Related terms
Questions people ask
Are as-built and record drawings the same?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but a contract may define them differently.
Who pays for as-builts?
It depends on the contract. Check whether they are part of the contractor’s scope.
Can I rely on as-builts for renovation?
Use them as a starting point and verify critical dimensions and structure on site.
Sources and further reading
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