(pronounced AZ-biltz)

As-builts are documents that show the conditions of a project or development after construction is completed. The term is used across the board for design, architecture, all types of engineering and even information technology installations. It may come as a bit of a shock to those not in the industry, but not many projects get built as they are drawn. Gasp! For this reason, it can be written into the contract that as-builts are provided to the client at the end of the job.

Sometimes they are provided to the client by contractors, the A&D team, engineers or sometimes all of the above. Since they can be a little pricey, many times as-builts go uncompleted, which then leaves it up to future personnel to deal with existing conditions. Let’s just hope they field verify first!

“Why are they called buildings, when they’re already finished” Shouldn’t they be called builts?” — comedian Stephen Wright