From project approval to onsite work, every stage of construction is guided by different types of drawings. A comprehensive understanding of shop drawings, construction drawings and as-built drawings will help architects, designers and consultants execute projects better and increase construction efficiency.
Project drawings break down the design of complex construction into executable parts according to needs and application. While there are many categories of project drawings, shop drawings, construction drawings and as-built drawings are what we encounter on a daily basis.
Architects, engineers, designers, consultants or contractors can often become confused if they do not understand which type of drawings is applicable where, as these do not carry the same information or perspectives. It is impractical to create a single 2D drawing carrying all information and catering to every need of construction work. Detailed drawings are also necessary for code compliance, zoning needs, authority approval, and as part of service contracts.
Thus, stakeholders use multiple types of building drawings in project. With the need for such detailed and special project drawings growing every day, the global market for drafting services has already crossed $5 billion. Project drawings in 2D for various disciplines can be categorized as architectural drawings, structural drawings and MEPF drawings.
This article explains all about construction drawings, shop drawings and as-built drawings and their importance in construction projects.
Table of Content
A construction drawing, also called a building plan, is a part of the preconstruction stage and serves as a crucial deliverable to begin a construction project. They are prepared by architects to represent architectural elements and specifications before on-site work begins.
Some construction drawings are also called “Issued for Construction (IFC)” drawings. These are approved by authorities and to be used for carrying out the actual construction. Architects and designers need to submit construction documents with project bids because they define official contract deliverables.
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Construction drawings are used when bidding for tenders, in contracts between contractors and owners and for actual construction in the field. They need to be easy and clear, as any misunderstanding can lead to delays or errors. Construction documents are enriched by specification documents that include standards, techniques, and materials that need to be adhered to for site construction.
Construction drawings also include data from other trades including structural engineers, HVAC specialists, electrical and plumbing engineers and fire safety professionals. The level of information and external inputs would depend on the project scale. A set of construction drawings includes:
Floor Plan Construction Drawing
Elevation Construction Drawing
Sectional Construction Drawing
Detail Drawings
Detail drawings are created on a 1:20 or 1:10 scale based on the project size and information contained within the drawings. Detail drawings demonstrate:
Construction drawings help architects and architectural firms during the approval process, bidding process and handover to contractors. They help to:
Shop drawings are important for manufacturers or fabricators to represent design intent with detailed plans. They help in the fabrication process by providing important information including that on manufacturing, assembly, and installation of building components. Shop drawings are produced by the contractors, subcontractors, fabricators or manufacturers.
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LEARN MORE »Shop or fabrication drawings are used for prefabrication or on- site installation of components. Fabricators and manufacturers use shop drawings to be sure of material types for components, installation dimensions and other necessaries.
Details that need to be included in shop drawings include:
Shop drawings help onsite personnel in accurate and precise installation of building components as well as fabrication. They help in:
An as-built drawing can be a document or record or a drawing created and delivered by architects, designers, or contractors after project completion. As-built drawings can represent and support thousands of building processes. These drawings can be used to manage the lifecycle of the project after construction is over. As-built drawings are deliverables that simplify comparisons and contrasts between the design and final specifications. They include all the modifications made during the construction project.
As-builts are used for the following purposes:
As-built drawings need to include the following details:
As-built drawings deliver the following benefits for key stakeholders:
| Construction Drawings | Shop Drawings | As-Built Drawings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Also known as | Working drawings, contract drawings, IFC drawings | Fabrication drawings, coordination drawings, workshop drawings | Record drawings, red-lined drawings, measured drawings |
| Prepared by | Architects and engineers | Contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, or suppliers | Contractors (field record), formalized by architect/engineer if required |
| Created when | During the design phase, before construction begins | After contract award, before fabrication and installation | Throughout construction, finalized at project closeout |
| Level of Detail (LOD) | LOD 350 | LOD 400 | LOD 500 |
| Primary purpose | Communicate design intent for approval, bidding, and permitting | Guide manufacturing, assembly, and installation of components | Document the building exactly as constructed, for operations and future work |
| Used by | Owners, authorities, bidders, contractors | Fabricators, installers, design team (for approval) | Facility managers, future renovation teams, government agencies |
| Changes over time | Revised during design before approval | Finalized before fabrication, revised only if design changes | Continuously updated through construction, finalized at closeout |
| Typical scale | Whole-building overview | Individual component or system | Whole building, with system-level detail |
Outsourcing drawing services can transform design and construction through cost savings, faster turnaround, and high-quality drawing deliverables. The principal focus of outsourcing your drawing needs is to go asset light while tapping into bigger talent pools, while committing in-house teams to core business activities.
Top seven advantages of outsourcing drafting services include:
As-built drawings, themselves, are typically not a binding document like construction drawings. They do not create or modify a contract. They are a record of the completed building, and may be required by contract or government agencies for permit close-out, insurance, or facility records.
The terms are used interchangeably, but some firms make a distinction between the two: as-built drawings are the field marked-up, red-lined drawings developed by the contractor during the project, and the record drawings are the final set that the architect or engineer compiles from the field markups for the contractor and owner.
No. Shop drawings develop and detail construction drawings for a particular component or trade. Contractors are required to build in accordance with the construction drawings, specifications, and approved shop drawings.
It depends on the contract, but the typical practice is that the as-built drawings are delivered to the owner as part of the closeout package of the project, since they are needed for operations and maintenance of the building, and for any future renovations.
Yes. Because shop drawings call for specific materials, sizes, and connections for a component, they can sometimes be used for takeoffs and cost estimating for that particular aspect of the work.
Construction drawings, shop drawings and as-built drawings are completely different in their functions but are needed across the design and construction phases. For efficient construction project execution, accurate, complete and updated drawings are a must. Without these, architects, designers, engineers, consultants and contractors cannot carry out error-free installation of construction components within planned timelines.
Architectural and engineering firms as well as consultants today, are increasingly outsourcing their drawing needs to reliable BIM service providers for better project outcomes.
Kaushik Gajjar is a licensed architect working as a BIM manager at Hitech CADD Services. With a work experience of over 10 years, Kaushik has successfully delivered various architectural projects to clients globally. As a “Best Young Architect” awardee, his creative architectural designing, planning, and knowledge of BIM tools and techniques ensure optimum client satisfaction.
Harika Singh is an academician and published writer. Her passion for engineering and technology reflects in the in-depth coverage she provides on technology trends. 20 years of work association with institutes of repute across India and the US positions her to provide valuable insights to business stakeholders on achieving scalability and operational efficiencies through digitalization.
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