Why As-Built Drawings Matter: Avoiding Costly Ripple Effects in Project Execution
When the end of a project is in sight, it is tempting to rush to the end, skipping over the small closeout tasks. But what may seem like a slight inconvenience at the time, can lead to far greater headaches down the road. In particular, As-Built drawings, which if done incorrectly (or not at all), can become incorrect design bases, waste time and resources, and escalate costs down the road.
Figure 1: Engineering Project Execution Cycle
Figure 1 illustrates the sequential flow of activities from initial planning to final documentation in the Engineering Project Execution Cycle. Projects begin with Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) to develop a clear and well-defined scope.
Next, Detailed Engineering Design (DE) encompasses the development of comprehensive designs and specifications to guide procurement, construction, and project execution.
Design Execution follows, with Construction, Commissioning, and Start-up activities. Throughout construction, all clarifications and changes required are managed through Requests for Information (RFI) and change requests.
The cycle concludes with project closeout, which involves finalizing documentation, capturing lessons learned, and formally marking the project as complete. A key element of the closeout phase is As-Building, which documents the system’s actual state after completing all construction activities. This step is crucial to operations and maintenance to ensure safe and efficient operations and troubleshooting. It also ensures that all subsequent designs for the system are based on accurate and up-to-date information, preventing errors and rework during future projects.
Completing the As-Building process after every project execution is not just a best practice—it is crucial for avoiding costly mistakes that can snowball into larger issues. As-Built drawings document the exact state of a system after construction, capturing any . These documents are vital to providing accurate, up-to-date information that operations, maintenance, and engineering rely on.
The Ripple Effects of Incorrect Inputs to Engineering
Skipping the As-Building process performing inadequately, can lead to engineering design activities based on incorrect or outdated information. Even a small error can have a compounding effect throughout the project lifecycle:
Incorrect Design Basis:
As-Built documents become the foundation for all subsequent design and construction activities for designers and engineers. A small, unidentified error in FEED can lead to significant mistakes, such as improper sizing of components or incorrect placement of equipment, possibly resulting in expensive rework and/or delays.
Wasted Time and Resources:
The design team may end up spending excessive, valuable time resolving misunderstandings or verifying existing conditions rather than focusing on the priority work. This slows down the project and diverts resources away from productive activities, and often requires costly site visits. Even one area of uncertainty can call much larger areas into question and extend the project timeline.
Inaccuracies Resulting in Escalated Costs:
Minor errors can lead to unexpected revisions that result in multiple change orders, which can easily push the project over budget. By ensuring accuracy throughout the As-Building process, organizations can identify and resolve issues early. This prevents small issues from escalating into significant, costly problems that disrupt both project schedule and finances.
The As-Building process is not just a formality—it’s a vital safeguard that supports ongoing operations and future projects. Accurate and reliable data ensures that maintenance teams have the correct information to keep systems running safely and efficiently.
Ask us how we can help streamline your as-building efforts,