QA / QC

As-Built Drawing

Final drawing reflecting actual constructed condition — handed to the client at project closeout.

Also calledas-builtas built drawingrecord drawing
Definition

An as-built drawing is a final drawing reflecting the actual constructed condition of a building or civil engineering work — incorporating any modifications made during construction. Distinguished from design drawings (showing intended construction) and shop drawings (showing fabrication details), as-built drawings are produced after construction completion to document what was actually built. Per ISO 9001 + IS 14687 + project specification, as-built drawings are mandatory deliverables in formal QA/QC programs.

As-built drawing types: (1) Architectural as-builts — actual room layouts, dimensions, finishes after any in-construction changes. (2) Structural as-builts — actual column positions, beam dimensions, reinforcement, foundation locations. (3) MEP as-builts — actual routing of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, fire-fighting systems. (4) Site as-builts — actual road, drainage, utility positions. (5) Civil as-builts — actual earthwork, retaining walls, drainage. The as-builts are usually delivered as a complete drawing set, with all changes from the original design clearly marked.

Production of as-builts: (a) Reference design drawings — the original 'intended' construction. (b) Site survey — measure actual constructed positions. (c) Site visits during construction — capture changes as they happen. (d) Dimensional verification — compare design vs constructed. (e) Mark up changes on drawings — old (design) and new (actual) overlaid. (f) Final drawing set production — clean, complete, with revision history. (g) Handover to client + facility management. The most-overlooked aspect of Indian as-builts: many projects deliver only architectural and MEP as-builts, skipping structural and civil. The as-builts are essential for: (1) Future renovation projects (need accurate base drawings); (2) Facility management (knowing actual locations of utilities); (3) Statutory compliance (occupancy certificate); (4) Forensic analysis if structural issues emerge. Indian project completion is incomplete without comprehensive as-built drawing handover; this is increasingly enforced by client and government.

Where used
  • All major construction projects — mandatory deliverable
  • Government and PSU projects
  • Major commercial and infrastructure
  • Renovation projects — base drawings for future work
  • Facility management handover — knowing actual utility positions
Acceptance / threshold
Per ISO 9001 + IS 14687 + project specification: complete drawing set; all changes from design marked; revision history; submitted at project handover; archived for project record.
Site example
Site reality: a Pune commercial project's as-built drawings were incomplete at handover — only architectural and MEP delivered, structural and civil missing. The client withheld 5% of contract value (₹70 lakh) until as-builts were delivered. Contractor produced complete as-built set 3 months later; full retention released. Always plan as-built drawing production from project start; collect and document changes throughout construction.
Frequently asked
What is as-built drawing?
An as-built drawing is a final drawing reflecting the actual constructed condition of a building, incorporating any modifications made during construction. Distinguished from design drawings (intended) and shop drawings (fabrication). Mandatory deliverable in formal QA/QC programs per ISO 9001 + IS 14687. Includes architectural, structural, MEP, site, and civil as-builts.
Why are as-built drawings important?
(1) Future renovation — accurate base drawings for any later work. (2) Facility management — knowing actual locations of utilities, structural elements. (3) Statutory compliance — occupancy certificate often requires as-builts. (4) Forensic analysis — if structural issues emerge later, as-builts show what was actually built. (5) Asset management — accurate inventory for property valuation and disposal.
How are as-built drawings produced?
(1) Reference design drawings — original intended construction. (2) Site survey — measure actual constructed positions. (3) Capture changes during construction. (4) Dimensional verification — design vs constructed. (5) Mark up changes — old/new overlaid. (6) Final drawing set production — clean, complete, with revision history. Indian best practice: dedicated drafting personnel during construction documenting changes; final cleanup before handover.
Related qa / qc terms
QA/QC Inspection
Quality assurance and control checklists/templates
Non-Conformance Report (NCR)
Report for work not meeting specification
Inspection Test Plan (ITP)
Document listing every inspection/test checkpoint for an activity with frequency, criteria, and responsible party.
Field Quality Plan (FQP)
Project-specific QC document covering all activities — test methods, acceptance criteria, sampling rate.
Hold Point
Mandatory inspection checkpoint that must be cleared before work proceeds — unlike a witness point.
Witness Point
Inspection point where the QC engineer is notified but work can proceed if QC is unavailable.
Non-Conformance Report (NCR)
Document raised when work fails to meet specifications. Includes root cause, corrective action, preventive action.
Method Statement
Step-by-step procedure for a construction activity — safety, equipment, sequence, QC checkpoints.