Decrease Costs And Improve Repair Time With As Builts

By Author: Jon Fernandis
Total Articles: 18
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Most building additions and renovations are conducted by personnel that were not present during the initial construction. In order to aid them in their task and help avoid and unnecessary actions or unintended damage to the building, especially to its critical structures, they should have a plans that show the location, position, and structure off all internal components and structural supports. This plan is often referred to as as-built prints, or plainly as built.

Difference Between As Built and Blueprints

Blueprints and associated building plans are often provided by architects in cooperation with engineers as the plan for building. As most builders and engineers would attest, there will be some small but not insignificant difference between the plans and the final results of the build.It details the features of the building “as built” as opposed to “as planned” Right after the completion of the building is the perfect time for creating as-built plans especially with the cooperation of the construction crew including the on-site contractors and workers. As built are often created incorporating the annotations ...
... and notes of the builders on deviations from the original plans and are often more detailed than standard blue prints. Blueprints and as built are often submitted to the proper building authorities as part of their record keeping requirements.

Uses of As Builts

As built are primarily used as a building tool to prevent compromising the structural and mechanical integrity of a building as well as systems operating within it. A good example of the use of these kinds of plans is during repair or renovations of systems like electric systems and plumbing lines. Without an detailed plan on hand, a worker or contractor can accidentally hit or cut across an electric line or pipe which can cause significant damage as well as become an serious safety issue for the workers. As built plans are also seen to add value to properties as property buyers often recognize the additional costs that would be required during renovations if no plans were available.

An As Built Survey

There are several reasons why an as built survey may be required. If no as-built plan was created immediately after construction, a property owner can acquire the services of qualified professionals to conduct an as built survey of the property. Often, this will include mapping out all or any deviations from original blueprint plans and include any additional structures added after the original building period. An As built survey can also be the initial part of larger general renovation or repair effort as they can increase the efficiency of the process by reducing errors as well as the lowering the chances for damages and other similar unwanted occurrences. Starting on a renovation or a remodeling project requires an as built plan of the existing conditions of the place. As an architect, you would want to acquire the most accurate and updated plan of the place that you will be redesigning in order to provide the best solution to the needs of the users of the space. However, it can be time consuming if you perform the measuring of the dimensions of the site. This is where the services of a company who conducts an as built survey come in. An as-built plan will show the accurate layout of the structure by indicating the existing conditions of the space. With the help of experts in as-built surveys, you can actually cut down the amount of time working on the project since you already have a better understanding of the project and you can avoid any delays that might stem out from inaccurate designs.. For more information visit www.ppmco.net/