What is an as-built assessment of the building?

Comprehensive assessment of a building's structural condition is a complex task that should be performed systematically. With the help of a detailed checklist, architects, engineers, and skilled workers can identify areas that need major investments for maintenance, repairs, or renovations.

A careful survey should always be conducted prior to any renovation in order to estimate the effort that will be required and the associated costs.

This article deals with the following topics:

1. The 3 aspects of an inventory of buildings

2. The content of a checklist for technical inventory

3. How to do a dimensional inventory with a checklist

4. A digital solution to streamline building as-built inventory

3 Aspects of a Facility Condition Assessment

A successful inventory of the building illuminates a variety of aspects. Through this very thorough assessment of the object, errors and risks can be identified at an early stage. Three supporting aspects of the inventory for a building follow:

1. Surroundings - inspection of the surrounding landscape, sidewalks, and parking lots, as well as assessment of the risk for flooding, natural disasters, and the like.


2. Composition of the building - inspection of the structure, foundation, floors and ceilings, etc.


3. Systems and Equipment - Inspection of mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems for proper operation.

Content of a checklist for technical inventory from the building

A checklist is an adequate tool to document and evaluate an existing building in detail. In a technical inventory, the focus is on the individual components of the structure. They are each assessed according to several evaluation criteria and their condition is classified.

The evaluation criteria are based on the component area. For example, in the case of exterior walls, the load-bearing behavior, moisture protection, moisture protection base, thermal insulation and special components are evaluated. For the stairwell, on the other hand, it is the floor, walls, wall surface and apartment doors.

Typical evaluation criteria of a checklist for the technical inventory are:

1. Construction
2. Supporting behavior
3. Moisture protection
4. Surface
5. Heat/sound insulation
6. Condition of the walls
7. Roofing
8. Supply lines
9. Heat generators
10. Pest infestation

The assessment of condition can be divided into three levels: "good", "sufficient" and "poor". The measures to be taken are then derived from the condition assessment. As a rule, this involves the complete renewal of the component or the more cost-effective repair. In each checklist for the inventory of a building should be left beyond that sufficiently place for further remarks to the component area.

Typical elements of the building structure that are asked about in a technical inventory checklist are:

1. Exterior/Interior Walls
2. Exterior windows
3. Exterior/interior doors
4. Roof, interior and exterior
5. Stairwells & stairways
6. Heating systems
7. Sanitary/electrical installations
8. House connections
9. Basement
10. Exterior installations

The dimensional inventory of a building with a checklist

The dimensional as-built survey is an indispensable requirement of any old building renovation. It must therefore be included in a checklist for the as-built survey of an old building.

The dimensional as-built survey involves either just checking existing plans or a complete new survey of the existing building fabric. The latter must be performed if the existing construction plans are incomplete and/or factually incorrect. In the former case, the first step is to determine whether the plans reflect the latest documentation with all subsequent changes or whether they are outdated.

Before a new complete new dimensional inventory is made, research should be done to see if plans of more recent date cannot be located. These can also be handicraft drawings of subsequent installations of heating and plumbing systems. These checkpoints for a dimensional inventory can be well mapped in a checklist. That way, no step will be forgotten.

If a complete dimensional survey becomes necessary after reviewing the plans, it should be combined with the results of the technical inventory. Deficiencies and weak points shall be noted in plans and recorded by a coordinating system.

Streamline building inventory with technology

With Lumiform's mobile app, you can easily perform any type of as-built survey via tablet or smartphone - online or offline. With the desktop software, you create your digital checklists and evaluate the data collected in the field. Your assessments are immediately stored in the cloud, so that all construction managers can access them immediately and always. This significantly reduces the risk of documentation errors, loss of information, and damage to your reputation.

Digitize your building inventory with Lumiform and reap the benefits for you and your team's work:

• The flexible form builder helps you turn any custom paper list into digital checklists in minutes


• Lumiform has over 5,000 pre-designed templates ready for you to get started digitally quickly and securely.


• Using the super intuitive mobile app, you can do any on-site inventory with your teammates with ease and in a time-saving manner.


• All results from your intake are automatically bundled into a report and can be sent to stakeholders.


• Extensive analytics help you more quickly uncover areas that need quick action.