How Long Must An Architect Keep Project Records And Drawings

It's imperative for top providers of CAD architecture services like The AEC Associates to have a sound record keeping policy in place in order to avoid chaos and maintain a smooth workflow. CAD architecture services team must have a clear idea about which records are to be kept and for how long, and which ones are to be discarded and when. This would allow them to avoid chaos and find the relevant records without delay whenever required. An organization should retain various types of records including drawings, specifications and other design material.
CAD Architecture Services The management must first classify different types of records clearly before forming a record keeping policy for the organization to make it more effective.

Types of records:

Records to be retained by CAD architecture services agencies could broadly be divided under the following three different archival categories:

Architect-owner records, including the site drawings and other records provided by the owner and sketch drawings made at each stage by the architect for discussions with the client
Consultant records, including the drawings and specifications prepared by various consultants for the project. It's vital to retain them for future needs and references.
Architect-contractor records, including the final working drawings and specifications for construction; rates for different works and bills and payment records etc. These must be retained necessarily for legal purpose.

Keeping these archived documents and records is vital for the providers of CAD architecture services for several reasons. One can later pinpoint how specific decisions were made and what were the results of those decisions, making the future design process more efficient and effective. For example, you would know why the number of floors was changed or a new material used. In addition, it would be possible to ascertain who took these decisions and who approved them. It has many other advantages as well; some of these are described below.

Legal importance- Retaining important records/ documentation can help you protecting yourself against any possible legal suits in future. You have everything in black-and-white, so there can be no confusion or misinterpretation at a later stage.
Future reference- These archived drawings and records are excellent reference material for future projects of similar kind. One can save time and effort while taking important decisions working on similar projects later. Clients also often request for these drawings and documentation for different reasons, you must possess them as a responsible professional.

Having a sound record keeping policy in place is a must for the providers of CAD architecture services to keep their offices in order and operate efficiently. You must first classify the types of records to be retained in order to form an effective record keeping policy for your organization