What is a Measured Building Survey?
A measured building survey is the collection of measured data to enable the surveyor to be able to produce plans, elevations or sectional drawings of a building. Measured data can be delivered as two dimensional drawings but more commonly three dimensional ‘BIM ready’ solid or wireframe models are the requested deliverables.
It is worth bearing in mind that a survey prepared for one purpose is not necessarily going to be of sufficient accuracy or detail to be used for another. For example, surveying the overall outline of a room to define the lettable area may well be done at a lesser accuracy than when data collection will enable an architect to design structural alterations to the building, e.g. the difference between an unconnected survey and a fully connected survey. Whatever the project, accuracy in planning is the key. A thorough survey will lessen the possibility of making costly mistakes at a later stage, as it will be lessen the likelihood of discovering unforeseen problems.
Why is a Measured Building Survey required?
The existing detail of a building may be required for a wide range of purposes, most commonly for refurbishment of the property. A measured building survey may also be required for historical archiving or lease plans to define a space.
Measured building surveys may also be required for:
- Sale, acquisition, letting or land registry
- Valuation or taxation
- Facilities management or services layout
- Licensing requirements
- Interior design layout
- Redevelopment, alterations or structural changes
- Health & safety, e.g. fire plan layout
- Modelling, visualization
- Rights of light, party wall issues.