Plumbing As-Built Drawings: Why They’re Vital for Construction Projects

As Built | April 2, 2024

In the world of plumbing, hydraulic systems are largely hidden away out of site in roof cavities, behind walls and in hard-to-reach places. That’s where As-Built Drawings come in. They’re like a detailed map of the plumbing system installed in a building. These drawings show exactly where pipes go, how they’re interconnected and where all the fixtures are located.

So, why are As-Built Drawings so important? Well, imagine a construction project without them—it would be like driving without a Google Maps! As-Built Drawings help maintenance and facility managers understand the installed plumbing system and where every pipe runs to.

Here’s why As-Built Drawings are so important:

  1. Improved Visibility: As-Built Drawings capture the actual installed plumbing work in CAD and on paper. Rather than spend time in crawl spaces tracing a pipe or worse still, demolishing plaster or digging to find a pipe run, hydraulic as built drawings provide insight to the installed system.
  2. Easy Maintenance: If there is a blockage or a system needs service, plumber as built drawings help a maintenance crew understand what has been installed and where it’s located. There’s less chance of mistakes and easier to fix any issue without causing too much disruption.
  3. Communication: As-Built Drawings are like a common language for everyone involved in future upgrades to a project too. They assist architects, engineers, builders and plumbers understand existing conditions making planning easier.

Capturing accurate As-Built Drawings takes time and careful records of modifications during the construction phase must be kept. CAD Professionals like Design Assist Partners then make sure every detail is updated accurately, but once they’re done, these drawings become an invaluable resource for everyone involved in the building.

So, if you ever hear about As-Built Drawings in a plumbing project, remember—they’re the secret sauce that helps a building run smoothly.