As-Built documentation is a detailed record of how a project was constructed or implemented after completion. It includes changes made during the construction process, deviations from the original plans, and any modifications made to the final product. This documentation is crucial for future reference, maintenance, and troubleshooting purposes.
With As-Built documentation, maintenance can be done easily with an accurate record of the project’s construction. It can also help to identify and address any issues that may arise over time. For renovations, as-built documentation helps in understanding the existing structure and systems, ensuring that any modifications or upgrades are done correctly and efficiently.
Additionally, having detailed as-built documentation is essential for compliance purposes, as it provides a clear record of how the project aligns with building codes and regulations.
Now, let’s learn more about as-built documentation, what it is, and how to create it. Continue reading to learn more.
According to the Existing Conditions blog, As-built documentation is a set of drawings the contractor submits when they’ve finished a project. It is also known as “record drawings” or “red-line drawings.” As for the function, it describes that the function of As-built documentation is to facilitate a compare-and-contrast between the building as designed and the building’s final specifications.
If you’re just getting started with BIM and CAD, it’s best to look for the best software for your needs before diving into the as-built documentation topics. To learn more about this, please see our article, “What Is the Best 3D CAD Software? 5 Top Options to Consider“.
Components of As-Built Documentation
The as-built documentation must contain a number of essential components.
The first thing that it must include is Field Changes that means any changes made on-site during the construction period. This could include adjusting to unforeseen site conditions or making changes based on material availability.
The next component that needs to be included is Shop Drawing Changes. That component refers to any changes made during the fabrication process of specific building components, such as custom windows or speciality equipment. It must also include any Modifications, which are any alterations made for functional, aesthetic, or other reasons but not included in the original design.
As-built documentation must also include design Design Changes. That component refers to changes or revisions made to the initial architectural or engineering designs after construction begins. It was also necessary to include Extra Works components, which refer to extra tasks or project components that were not originally included in the contract or scope.
The last thing and most important is High-Definition Laser Scanning. That document will provide precise, detailed, and rapid data capture for the built environment. This technology captures and documents even the most minute details, ensuring that the As-Built documentation is as precise as possible.
As-built documentation network (Image by Freepik @seahorsevector)
Importance of As-Built Documentation
As-built documentation holds immense importance in the construction process for several reasons:
- Accurate Reference: It serves as a reliable reference for future modifications, upgrades, or troubleshooting. By having detailed documentation, IT professionals can refer to the as-built records to understand the existing setup and make informed decisions.
- Compliance and Regulations: It aids in demonstrating compliance with industry standards and regulations. As-built documentation helps organisations showcase their compliance to regulatory requirements and ensures that the implemented infrastructure meets the necessary standards.
- Disaster Recovery: Crucial for disaster recovery planning and restoration of systems in the event of failures. By having comprehensive documentation, organisations can recover from disruptions more quickly and effectively.
- Efficient Maintenance: Helps in efficient maintenance and troubleshooting by providing detailed insights into the infrastructure. With as-built documentation, IT teams can quickly identify and resolve issues, reducing downtime and minimising the impact on business operations.
Method of Creating As-Built Documentation
There is, in fact, more than one way to scan a building when making as-built documentation, despite what most people think. The basic idea stays the same, but the steps may be different depending on the hardware and technology used. In their blog, Revitzo breaks down the process of creating as built documentation into four steps, which are
- Step 1: Take a survey of the construction site without using any technology. This step is about finding control points that will be used later. Different levels of a building must fit together perfectly, and control points provide a single point of reference for the whole structure.
- Step 2: Control point surveillance. In this step, the first scan of control points is done, which gives an overview of the structure and a point of reference for any future measurements, since measurements from different times would not be able to be matched if the locations used to measure the structure are not correct.
- Step 3: Construction site surveillance with cameras and lasers. At this point you can start using technology to record the construction. This is where the main “scanning” takes place using lasers, cameras, or both.
- Step 4: Data processing. It’s necessary to put together a lot of data that cameras and lasers produce into a single, complete model. This is where as-built documentation software usually comes in, making a point cloud model that is cleaned up, processed, compressed, and ready for anyone to see.
Benefits of As-Built Documentation
The main benefit of as-built documentation is clear: it lets you see what a building looks like in 3D on your computer. But there are a few more benefits to using the as-built documentation software:
- Enhanced Troubleshooting: Facilitates quick and accurate troubleshooting of issues. With detailed documentation, IT professionals can easily identify the root causes of problems and implement appropriate solutions.
- Compliance verification: The existence of two distinct models (planned and as built) makes it easier to compare the two, verify various compliance regulations, and update documentation as needed.
- Streamlined Upgrades: Simplifies the process of upgrades and expansions by providing clear insights into the existing infrastructure. As-built documentation helps in planning future upgrades and expansions, ensuring compatibility, and minimising disruptions.
- Cost Savings: This reduces the costs associated with maintenance and troubleshooting by enabling efficient resource allocation. With accurate documentation, organisations can allocate resources effectively, reducing unnecessary expenditures.
- Knowledge Transfer: Serves as a valuable knowledge repository for new team members and external stakeholders. As-built documentation ensures that knowledge about the implemented infrastructure is preserved and can be easily shared with relevant individuals.
You have now learned all of the components of as-built documentation. You should learn about the model coordination concept in order to improve synergy during construction. Learn more in our article, “Model Coordination in BIM: What It Is and What Its Main Components Are“.
Conclusion
Last but not least, as-built documentation is an essential part of the IT landscape because it shows the final state of the infrastructure in great detail. Efficiency, compliance, and future scalability in operations are all guaranteed by it. Technology and infrastructure advancements can be smoothed out when IT companies create and maintain detailed, as-built documentation. This helps to strengthen operations.
At this point, you might be considering implementing BIM into your construction project. If this is the case, you should consider BIMscaler’s consulting and management services.
BIMscaler consulting and management services provide end-to-end BIM usage for your project, starting with BIM/model management, content management, project start-up, project meetings, and end-user support, including as-built documentation creation.
As a leading Australian provider of BIM services, BIM Scaler assures you of a professional and effective BIM implementation for your building project.
