Everything You Need to Know About Measured Building Surveys
Technics’ collaborative approach and experience with measured building surveys ensures clients receive accurate, detailed, and reliable results tailored to their project needs and success.
What is a Measured Building Survey?
Measured building surveys present a digital representation of the existing structure, internal and external features, layout, and services of buildings. Accurate digital plans provide an understanding of the spatial relationships within the building and are used for various purposes, such as structural redevelopment, refurbishment, space planning, and lease plans.
What is Included in a Measured Building Survey?
Subject to the purpose of the project, budget, and programme, a measured building survey can include internal floor plans in 2D or 3D Revit modeling format, elevations of both the internal and external elements of the buildings, and sections of the building, which can help visualise the building configuration, construction details, and heights and levels.
Technics can support and tailor work specifications to provide the correct information. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and The Survey Association also provide specification templates to help clients define the requirements, accuracy, and features to be surveyed.
When Would a Measured Building Survey Be Needed?
Measured Building Surveys are required if the existing or potential owners are planning to undertake material changes to a building. They can include:
- Pre-construction planning – Providing comprehensive information on the current site to assist architects and engineers in creating new additions or alterations.
- Redesign – Creating accurate plans to facilitate the design work for structural modifications that can be integrated with the existing structure and planning constraints.
- As-built purposes – Creating an accurate record of the building as constructed. The final floor plans or 3D model can differ from the initial designs due to changes made during construction. This can be the case when a contractor hands over the final asset to the client.
- Condition surveys – Enable the assessment of a building’s structural conditions to identify issues and plan for necessary repairs or reinforcements.
- Historic preservation – To document the current condition of a historic structure to facilitate the planning for specific restoration or preservation works.
What Technology is Used in a Measured Building Survey?
The choice of technology for Measured Building surveys depends on the project’s purpose, specification, and budget.
Total stations and 3D laser scanners are the most common technologies Technics utilise because they are efficient and accurate in recording coordinated points of a building. The 3D laser scanners can capture millions of points a second from remote areas of large and complex structures.
Traditional methods, such as tape measures and a hand-held laser measurement tool (disto), can be used for basic layout, space planning, and smaller unconnected surveys.
How Long Should a Measured Building Survey Take?
The time taken to complete a measured survey depends on the purpose of the project, the size of the area to be surveyed, and the complexity of the building’s layout. For instance, a large open-plan building can take a few hours to survey using laser scanning on site, whereas a building with multiple rooms and floors that need to be fully connected for structural refurbishment purposes can take weeks.
After we estimate the survey duration, we discuss the work schedule with the client. This could involve allocating additional resources to meet specific project milestones or deadlines.
What Might Happen if I Don’t Instruct a Measured Building Survey?
As with any development or construction project, having the right information before you start your design work or project management is critical. In our experience, clients always save money when investing in the right asset information. This enables all the consultants to have greater insight into the project and the expected challenges, which helps to reduce the risks.
What are the Benefits of Measured Building Surveys?
Measured building surveys are invaluable for a wide range of applications. They offer precise, detailed, and reliable data that supports better decision-making, efficient planning, and effective building management. The benefits of measured building surveys are extensive and multifaceted, whether for architectural design, construction, property management, or legal purposes.
How Much Do Measured Building Surveys Cost?
The cost Technics charge is based on the time required to capture the data of the building on site, process the information using various software suites, carry out quality assurance checks, and deliver the agreed final output. The size and complexity of the building, the level of accuracy and information required, and the final output will be calculated on a daily rate basis.
Choose Technics for Measured Building Surveys
At Technics, we put our clients’ needs first. We deliver high-quality, reliable data, ensuring projects stay on track with minimal risks and no surprises. Our efficient methodologies and rigorous quality assurance guarantee accurate information from the start. With over 30 years of experience and a comprehensive range of services, including measured building surveys, we are trusted by our clients to deliver.
To discuss your project with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch or email us at enquiries@technicsgroup.com.