As built preparation and validation

Verify that what was built matches what was designed

Over the life of a project, small field changes, undocumented tie-ins and buried utilities can make “as-designed” drawings diverge from reality. Relying on outdated documentation increases the risk of clashes, rework, unplanned shutdowns and safety incidents during future revamps or excavation.

NWE’s As-Built Preparation & Validation services help you confirm the true condition of your assets by:

Capturing actual conditions with advanced laser scanning for above-ground structures and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for pipelines and buried structures
Preparing and updating as-built drawings and 3D models based on measured data
Validating construction against design intent within defined tolerances and documenting deviations under a QA/QC framework

When Do You Need As-Built Preparation & Validation?

You typically need this service when you cannot fully trust existing drawings or must prove that construction matches design and tolerance requirements.

Common use cases:

Project handover and mechanical completion
- Final as-built documentation for new builds or major modifications
- Verified basis for operations, maintenance and future integrity work
Revamps and brownfield modifications
- Installing new piping, equipment or structures in congested plants and terminals
- Performing clash checks and layout optimisation based on actual geometry, not outdated drawings
Buried pipelines and utilities
- Locating and documenting underground services where records are incomplete or inconsistent
- Reducing the risk of utility strikes during excavation or trenchless works
Ageing facilities and acquisitions
- Plants with decades of incremental changes and limited document control
- Assets acquired from previous owners with uncertain drawing quality or revision history
Governance, QA/QC and regulatory expectations
- Projects with defined tolerance limits and deviation procedures
- Need for auditable evidence that “as-built” conditions meet approved design and QA standards

What You Get from NWE As-Built Preparation & Validation

NWE focuses on usable outputs and clear governance, not just survey files.

1. High-accuracy capture of existing conditions

3D laser scanning / reality capture for structures, pipe racks, modules, equipment areas and buildings
GPR-based mapping for pipelines, ducts and buried infrastructure in plant and corridor environments

2. Prepared as-built drawings and 3D models

Updated 2D drawings and 3D models reflecting true as-built geometry
Deliverables provided in formats compatible with common CAD and BIM environments used in industrial and infrastructure projects

3. Validation against design and tolerance criteria

Comparison of as-built data with approved design models and drawings
Identification and classification of deviations (e.g. nozzle positions, elevations, support locations, route changes) within agreed tolerance limits
Clear highlighting of deviations that may impact safety, access, integrity or future constructability

4. QA/QC reporting and deviation management

As-built validation reports documenting methods, tolerances, deviation thresholds and acceptance criteria
Deviation logs that can feed Management of Change (MOC) and document-control systems
Integration with NWE’s As-Built Validation & Deviation Analysis approach, including the use of internal tools such as FLOW Software for structured deviation reporting and traceability

The result is a verified as-built basis for future engineering, integrity assessments and operational decisions.

Structures and Conditions We Assess

Typical assets

NWE’s As-Built Preparation & Validation services are applied across:

Process plants, refineries and petrochemical facilities
Offshore and onshore modules, pipe racks and structural steelwork
Terminals, tank farms and loading facilities
Pipelines, utility corridors and other buried services in industrial environments
Brownfield facilities preparing for revamps, tie-ins or decommissioning

Core technologies

3D laser scanning / LiDAR – high-resolution point clouds for accurate geometry capture and as-built documentation
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – locating and mapping subsurface pipelines and utilities where traditional records are incomplete

Point-cloud processing and modelling to produce CAD/BIM-ready deliverables and support scan-to-model and digital-engineering workflows

Why Work with NWE for As-Built Preparation & Validation?

NWE is more than a survey provider – it is an independent, accredited inspection and asset-integrity engineering company, so as-built data is collected and used with full lifecycle integrity in mind.

Accredited and certified
NWE is accredited under NS-EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012 as an inspection body and operates certified ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems, ensuring consistent, auditable QA/QC for as-built validation.

Survey, inspection and integrity in one place
As-built preparation and validation are delivered together with inspection, underwater inspection and asset-integrity services, so captured data directly support FFS, structural assessments, pipeline integrity, RBI and inspection planning without duplication.

Governance- and deviation-focused approach
As-built validation is treated as part of QC and tolerance management, linking deviations to MOC, non-conformance handling and compliance, rather than a one-off measurement exercise.

Proven in complex environments
NWE has experience on both onshore facilities and offshore assets where access, safety and uptime are critical, making reliable as-built data a key enabler for planning and risk reduction.

Related NWE Services

As-Built Preparation & Validation often supports and is supported by other NWE services, including:

As-Built Validation & Deviation Analysis (QC and tolerances)
Fitness-for-Service (FFS) and Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA)
Structural Integrity Assessment and Structure Stress Analysis
Pipeline & Piping Stress Analysis
Pipeline & Equipment Integrity Assessments
Risk-Based Inspection (RBI)
In-Service Inspection, NDT and Underwater Inspection (ROV)

Contact NWE or request an As-Built Preparation & Validation package for your project.

Our Projects & Engineering Solutions

Explore real-world projects showcasing our expertise, innovation, and commitment to client success.

September 13, 2025

NWE Subsea Inspection of 24-Inch River-Crossing Pipeline

August 24, 2025

NWE Underwater Pier Inspection After Boat Collision

July 19, 2025

NWE Completes Advanced Hyperbaric and SEM Testing for Offshore Polyester Rope Qualification

FAQ – As-Built Preparation & Validation

Q1. What is the difference between as-built preparation and as-built validation?

As-built preparation is the creation or update of drawings and models so they reflect actual built conditions. As-built validation compares those conditions against approved design and tolerance limits, documents deviations and links them to QA/QC and MOC processes.

Q2. What accuracy can we expect from NWE’s as-built surveys?

Accuracy and tolerance bands are agreed at project start, based on asset criticality and use. Industrial laser scanning typically provides millimetre-level accuracy suitable for clash detection and revamp planning, with tolerances such as ±5–10 mm commonly applied for structural and piping work.

Q3. How does as-built validation support future integrity and modification work?

Validated as-built data become a single, trusted reference for FFS, structural and pipeline integrity assessments, RBI, tie-in design and decommissioning planning, helping to reduce surprises, rework and risk on future projects.