Negotiating a provision in the agreement with theĬlient stating that the client will defend the architectĪgainst any claims that are due to a mistake in the If a client demands a set of “as-built” documentsĭuring initial contract negotiations, or later as anĪdditional service, the architect should consider Since record drawings are based on information provided by others, the Architect shall have no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in such record documents. This set of documents shall consist of record specifications and record drawings showing the reported location of work. Upon completion of the work, the Architect shall compile for and deliver to the Owner a set of record documents conforming to information furnished to the Architect by construction contractors.
To help minimize the likelihood of a misunderstanding or future claim concerning record documents, it may be useful to insert into the owner-architect agreement (or to use as the basis of a separate agreement for additional services to compile record documents) a provision that acknowledges the true nature of record documents.
#As built drawing for contractors verification
Unless the architect is the leader of a design-build venture, such verification cannot be the architect’s duty, and therefore the accuracy of the documents should not be the architect’s risk. The client may want the construction contractor, who is responsible for the information, to certify its appropriate level of accuracy. Therefore, it is neither practical nor ethical for an architect to attest to the accuracy of record documents or the accuracy of future design documents prepared on the basis of the information they contain. The cost of such services would be prohibitive-no client would agree to pay for them. To do so, the architect either would have to observe construction continuously, full-time, throughout the construction phase or perform destructive investigations and testing after completion. When record drawings are compiled for a client, they are intended to conform only to the information furnished by the contractor to the architect and thus only show the reported location of the actual work.īecause record drawings are based to a large extent on information provided by others, and finish materials conceal much of the information depicted, it is not reasonable to expect an architect to verify and certify the information the drawings contain. The phrase “record drawing” is a more accurate term for post-construction documents because there is no such thing as an “as-built” drawing drawings intended to document construction are based largely on information supplied by the contractor and others upon completion of the work and only partly on the architect’s observation and documentation of the actual construction. The term “as-built drawing” logically can be inferred to mean that the document depicts the actual physical condition of the constructed facility. Subsequent owners of the property have a right to rely on the information in a record document whether or not they were properly advised of the understanding between the original owner and the architect regarding the document’s completeness and accuracy. Readers are strongly advised to consult an attorney for advice regarding any matter related to contract provisions.įrom time to time, a client may ask the design team to modify construction documents-plans and specifications-to reflect the condition of the building “as-built.” An architect assumes a substantial risk in preparing such “as-built” documents. The information herein should not be regarded as a substitute for legal advice. Examples of provisional language that might be used to mitigate the risk involved with “as- built” drawings are included.įrom time to time, a client may ask the design team to modify construction documents-plans and specifications-to reflect the condition of the building “as-built.” An architect assumes a substantial risk in preparing such “as-built” documents. Asbuilt Industry News Certifying As-built or Record DrawingsĪrchitects should use caution when giving record drawings to clients and when creating “as-built” drawings.
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