Whether planning a retrofit or delivering the required documents to a city, county or state Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), having accurate documentation of plant conditions is critical. The details of this documentation, as-built floor plans and existing conditions plans, sound similar but they are in fact are used for different levels of detail.
3D As-Built Records
3D Scanning Services
As-Built Drawings Made Easy
Modern As-Built Record-Keeping
The term ‘As-Built’ refers to 2D floor plans detail completed construction features such as walls, doors, windows, millwork, and plumbing fixtures. These plans are created after construction of the building is complete to document any deviations from the architect’s original design. Examples of deviations may be changes to piping, rigging or equipment orientation. These may be completed immediately after the site is built or many years afterwards when a retrofit is needed or for legal or insurance requirements. Most spaces change over the years and as-built floor plans can be utilized by building owners to determine clearances for retrofits of equipment.
An ‘Existing Conditions’ survey delivers the same information as as-built floor plans, but more data about the property is captured. They outline interior, exterior, and sectional elevations from the finished floors, drop ceilings, where each piece of equipment is and associated data such as size, serial numbers, and condition. Existing conditions surveys also document electrical and data outlets, include reflected ceiling plans, show HVAC return, registers, ductwork, and sprinkler lines. They will show where electrical service and breaker panels are but in addition document the various circuits and which areas they control. The idea behind an Existing Condition Survey and drawings is to provide the most detailed view possible of a particular structure and property.
3D scanning services deliver the data needed to create visualizations of as-built floor plans and existing conditions surveys in dynamic 3D imagery that can be easily understood by decision makers from the plant floor to the boardroom. This process can happen in just days, whereas the ‘old school’ method of documenting as-built conditions may have taken weeks or months with surveying equipment and tape measures. Once the background is in place, designing in 3D within that space puts all the physical constraints clearly in plain sight.
Acensium brings decades of material handling engineering and project risk management experience coupled with cutting edge laser scanning and 3D analysis tools to deliver engineering services to both industrial and commercial clients. You can read more about Acensium Project Risk Management on the project risk management page.
Create Record Drawings, As-Built Drawings, and Measured Drawings with As-Built Services
Creating accurate drawings quickly for different project phases has always been either difficult or expensive. If scanning was quick and inexpensive you knew it likely was not accurate or had holes in the data that were left unscanned. The advancement of 3D scanning software and hardware has made 3D scanning faster and less expensive, making it the affordable choice to deliver millimeter-accurate measurements and environmental drawings quickly on-demand. Measured drawings, record drawings, and as-built drawings are all used differently and represent different stages of work. Creating accurate drawings at any phase of a project is as critical as validating the work matches the drawing.
Measured drawings
are used when there is an existing structure that needs to be represented during the documentation phase for planning. Documenting the existing environment accurately is critical to planning a project effectively.
As-Built drawings
are prepared by the contractor for construction purposes. These show the changes made to the original design during the construction process. The frequency and accuracy of creating as-built drawings is a key part of creating accurate record drawings and fixing any critical issues as soon as possible.
Record drawings
are the final drawings prepared by the architect and account for the on-site changes. Final record drawings may be needed for insurance purposes, local or state regulations, as well as important documentation to keep for future use.
Visit the Association of Construction and Development for more detailed information on the differences between types of drawings.
Acensium brings decades of combined engineering and consulting experience to the laser scanning field. Project success dependant on the accuracy and competency of measurements, the Acensium team has proven time and again that they are the leading engineering consulting firm in the laser-scanning and augmented reality space. Acensium delivers detailed modeling and risk management data, allowing plant decision makers to understand not only the problem but various solutions, benefits and capital costs.
Benefits of Working in 3D
The positive impacts from working exclusively in 3D are extensive, but can be captured in a few major themes:
What could you do with a high definition scan of your next project? Our millimeter-accurate scanners capture reality in very high detail. Want to learn more? We’re ready to help. Let’s discuss your project today!