The designing stage of every construction project is crucial for satisfactory project execution. Every construction drawing has its own drive and a bunch of features. Different design drawings provide a glance into various stages of the construction life cycle. Starting from the foundation drawings to model creation, every building drawing plan is significant to comprehend. If you are from the AEC industry, you must have been acquainted with the concept of shop drawings and as-built drawings.
Let’s have a look at the fundamentals of what is shop drawing and as-built drawing and the difference between these two vital drawings.
🛑What are Shop Drawings?
Every building comprises a set of components, having distinct specifications and measurements. Architectural, structural and mechanical shop drawings are the comprehensive components that facilitate in identifying how they will match with the entire building structure. Further, the shop drawings are created prior to the onset of a construction project. Shop drawings (also known as fabrication drawings)
The Shop Drawings are essential to personify the true image of a construction project. The drawings need the consent and approval of the construction team and are significant for coordination. As soon as the design drawings are approved, the shop drawings refer to how the construction of the project is underway.
✅ Specifications of a Shop Drawing
This signifies the fact that the builders, contractors, workers, and supervisors would retain the specifications of all components of architectural, structural and MEP services beforehand. They are similar to the original building design drawings as conceived by the contractors.
N.B: There is a thin line of difference between construction drawings and shop drawings. Architectural, structural and mechanical shop drawings show the original building plan, whereas the construction drawings are often modified with time. They reflect the amendments a building has experienced whilst the construction process is continuing.
✅ Importance and Benefits of Shop Drawings
The originally designed plan detects the type of material requirements for the construction process. With the production of architectural, structural, and MEP drawings, there is no wastage of time or resources in explaining the complete building process to team members.
All these shop drawings, including architectural, structural, and mechanical engineering drawings are self-explanatory, that help contractors understand the dimensions, materials, timelines, process of installation, and other details. Hence, the original plan must be arranged before the commencement of the construction process.
🛑 What are As-Built Drawings?
Many people often raise the question about – ‘What is As-Built Drawing?’ Architectural, structural, and MEP as-built drawings are created once the project has been completed. They represent how the various architectural, structural, and MEP services of the building have been assembled on paper. Several MEP sets of as-builts are necessary for comparing what was the original plan and what could be made towards the project completion. The difference between pre as well as post-construction gets identified by the revised set of as-built drawings. Contractors are also engaged in creating many of the mechanical engineering drawings for project execution. The set of as-built drawings is submitted to clients once the project is completed. They retain all the structural details necessary for installation.
✅ Why do you need as-built drawings?
All as-built drawings for HVAC and other services are significant from a client’s perspective and help them analyze the final product. Several benefits are included for creating as built drawings for HVAC services. They help to install emergency services in a building. In addition, as-built drawings are crucial for conducting refurbishment works in the building. Once the building has been created, the as-built drawings are referenced as shop drawings as they comprise of in-depth information about the whole building structure. This building drawing plan helps in developing contingency plans and defining the emergency exit routes along with the peripherals for future reference for the maintenance team.
✅Difference between Shop Drawings and As-Built Drawings
Let’s weigh up the difference in construction technology. The fact of the matter is both design drawings are created by the contractors so when do they differ.
| Shop Drawings | As-Built Drawings |
|---|---|
| When are these drawings required? | |
| In a construction project, there are different types of shop drawings such as MEP drawings, spool drawings, architectural drawings, structural steel detail drawing, etc. They undergo changes during the construction lifecycle. | The revised set of drawings are the detailed design drawings at the initial stage before the initiation of the construction. As-built drawings record of all the changes the project has gone through project life cycle. |
| What is the drawing scope of these drawings? | |
| Whereas shop drawings are formed for just a few components of a building like we have separate mechanical drawings, electrical drawings, plumbing drawings which are integrated into MEP drawings for clash coordination | As-built drawings are created for the entire construction with precise modules. |
| How the drawings are subject to alteration? | |
| Shop drawings could be changed in the early stage of designing | The as-built drawings, cannot be altered as the buildings are already constructed. However, they can be modified while executing the revamp work and the final compiled drawing prepared by an architect is known as record drawing. |
| In which projects the drawings are required? | |
| Shop drawings are required for all kind of project irrespective to their size or, type. | As builts are more significant for commercial and high-scale projects. As-built drawings are created by the contractors and sub-contractors starting from the red-lined drafts and constitute to be an indispensable part of your construction project |
Do you need shop drawings, construction drawings, or as-built drawings?
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⭐⭐Why hire BIM Consultants for Construction Design Drawings?⭐⭐
✅ Providing insights into safety:
Using as-built drawing plans, it is easy to undertake process hazard analysis and safety management. Since the building set of plans shows where equipment shut-off valves are situated, you could develop emergency evacuation plans, fix safety equipment, and set up contingency plans around the building perimeter.
✅ Facilitating renovations for the future:
Since the as-built drawing process considers only the final erected structure and installed components, they come in handy for any future maintenance work of architectural, structural, mechanical and HVAC services. They facilitate the creation of construction documents as well as shop drawings for old building renovation and ensuring that the retrofits are performed efficiently.
✅ Maintenance & operations of structure:
As-built drawings facilitate in maintaining an easy operation of structures, as they are having a clear documented history of the building. They encompass electrical, mechanical as well as plumbing as-built drawings, enabling faster repairs by the maintenance team through quick reference. Without bespoke as-built drawings, it becomes difficult to install, locate and repair components.
Conclusion
Get a precisely accurate set of design drawings to beautify your spaces. Visualization can be reflected if the foundation is clear and detailed. Explore Tejjy Inc.’s design drawing services for MEP, Architecture, 3D laser Scanning Services, Structure for renovation or, new construction projects. Talk to our experienced BIM consultants place to discuss about architectural, structural, and mechanical shop drawings services.
Further Read:
MEP Plans In Construction Of Building And Industrial Projects
