
As-built drawings must include revised dimensions by crossing out or using an “X” to write over the original dimension.

Field crews will collect data and information as job progresses capturing all changes and modifications during construction. Recording as-built drawings is a responsibility of the general contractor during the construction process. This article presents some of the best practices recommended by general contractors and builders that will facilitate the as-built process for your company and crews in the field. Recording as-built and taking care of red-line drawings during construction can be a hurdle to clear before getting the final payment or releasing the retainage. Last week, the inquiry heard Rydon did not have a system in place to ensure there were no gaps in design responsibility.As-built drawings are required in almost every project and it is a common practice for future reference.

In March, Studio E associate Neil Crawford claimed that the architect’s role was “more responsive" and said Rydon had “maintain a greater degree of control over the design process”, reported Construction News’s sister title the Architect’s Journal. He said: “I, and the rest of the team, would generally only get involved if there was a detail we either didn’t have or realised we didn’t have, or if you had Studio E saying that Harley wasn’t producing or vice versa, which I don’t remember being the case.” Lawrence also said that both his and Rydon’s role was essentially reactive. I would expect that Harley would produce the technical drawings that it needed to enable them to actually build the project and if there was any details Studio E required, I would expect it and Harley to ask each other questions in a collaborative way.” He said: “The only drawings that Studio E would be getting that weren’t its own were Harley’s.


Lawrence said the drawings would all “go through the lead designer, Studio E”. He added: “I would suggest that Studio E has taken an original tender drawing and has just put it in the pack of as-built without checking it and updating it.” When asked to explain this “serious mistake”, Lawrence said he couldn’t as he had left Rydon “long before the as-built were complete and issued”. However, this type of cladding was not used on Grenfell Tower, with aluminium composite material (ACM) installed by Harley instead. It detailed that the type of cladding used on the tower was made up of zinc composite rainscreen panels. Prompted further about the ‘approved’ drawings, Lawrence said he had no discussions with Studio E about why they were marked as approved, and that he didn’t remember whether he noticed they were marked as such at the time.Īn ‘as-built’ drawing – a drawing containing changes made from initial plans and submitted by a contractor after a construction project is finished – was also shown to the inquiry. When asked by QC for the inquiry Richard Millett why the drawings were marked as approved, Lawrence said: “I don’t think we know why but I would assume that it was a Harley internal process to say it’s ready to go out to be checked, but that would just be my guess.” In some cases, Rydon was not included in the email chain at all. The drawings were marked with an “approved for construction” stamp before Studio E and Rydon had seen or commented on them. Simon Lawrence, who was Rydon’s contract manager on the Grenfell Tower refurbishment between 20, was shown emails from 2015 detailing plans for the building, including drawings for the crown feature at the top of the tower. Designs were deemed “approved for construction” by cladding specialist Harley Facades, without being seen by contractor Rydon or Studio E Architects, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has heard.
