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A measured building survey drawing is a reliable 2D representation of a building’s current condition for existing building documentation. It shows floor plans, sections and elevations with real dimensions, building elements and rooms, derived from an up-to-date building survey rather than from outdated plan versions.
Why are measured building survey drawings important?
- Reliable basis: Current dimensions from the building survey and recorded building elements provide a dependable basis for planning, tendering, billing and permits.
- Lower risk: Deviations from old plans become transparent, reducing change orders and repeat site appointments.
- Efficient workflows: Digital data flows directly into CAD/BIM, CAFM and energy performance certificate processes.
- Better decisions: Accurate areas, quantities and room structures speed up refurbishment and MEP coordination, while reliable building data supports the efficient handling of rental and sales transactions.
How measured building survey drawings are created in practice
- Data capture: Existing building measurement using digital surveying methods such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), mobile laser scanning based on LiDAR/SLAM, or photogrammetry provides point clouds and image data.
- Evaluation: Floor plans, sections and elevations are derived from the point cloud; symbols, dimensions, layers and room data are added.
- Delivery: Export as CAD drawings in DWG/DXF/PDF; for BIM projects, semantic models (IFC) and metadata such as version, date and accuracy class can also be provided.
Types of existing condition drawings
- Floor plans: Room layouts, openings, stairs and dimensions.
- Section/elevation drawings: Heights, roof forms and facade structure.
- Area schedules/room book: Usable areas and gross floor areas, for example according to DIN 277, with room attributes.
- Deformation-accurate drawings: Representation of unevenness and curvature in existing buildings.
Common mistakes and misunderstandings
- Confusing them with old plans: Historical plans are not proof of the current condition. Always use current measurement data.
- Missing reference standards: Areas without a clear standard, such as DIN 277, are not comparable.
- Unclear tolerances: Without accuracy information, drawings are difficult to assess.
- Media breaks: Paper notes increase the risk of transfer errors; direct digital data capture is more robust.
- Isolated data: An existing condition drawing without a room book or attributes limits operation and analysis.
Existing condition drawings vs. as-built drawings
- Existing condition drawing: A 2D representation of the current building condition, such as a floor plan, section or elevation. It is independent of the year of construction or the reason for creating the drawing and is usually based on a current measured building survey.
- As-built drawing: Documentation of the actual condition immediately after construction. It shows deviations from the original design and can be delivered either as a 2D drawing or as a semantic 3D model (BIM).
FAQ
What are measured building survey drawings needed for?
They are used for planning, permits, tendering, billing, fire safety documentation and energy performance certificates. Wherever the current condition matters, measured building survey drawings should be created.
What level of accuracy makes sense?
Centimetre tolerances are often sufficient for design. For execution and detailed planning, deformation-accurate drawings with millimetre accuracy and a documented accuracy class are required.
Which formats are typically delivered?
Typical formats are DWG/DXF and PDF. IFC can also be provided if a 3D existing building model is available, together with metadata on tolerances, version and control points.