Permit plans show the design submitted and approved for the permitted work. Record or as-built drawings document the installation and recorded changes, with accuracy depending on how they were prepared. Keep both, along with approved revisions and inspection records. A changed drawing alone does not approve a field alteration.
What does each document establish?
| Document | What to check | What it does not settle by itself |
|---|---|---|
| Approved permit plans | Address, permit, approved version and reviewed scope | Whether every concealed part matches the drawing |
| Approved revision | Changed area and authority acceptance | Condition of unrelated existing piping |
| Field markup or record drawing | Who recorded the installed route and when | Permission to make an unapproved change |
| Inspection record | Stage, result and outstanding corrections | A complete map of every pipe in the building |
Phoenix's commercial process explains that staff reviews submitted plans and provides approved plans with the permits. Save that approved version, rather than replacing it with the contractor's later markup.
How should a manager use record drawings?
Use the record to locate systems, plan access and identify questions for a site visit. Mark recorded valve locations, equipment connections and modified pipe routes. If dimensions were not measured, keep that limitation visible. An approximate mark is useful for orientation but should not become a guaranteed drilling location.
Before a later job opens a slab or wall, have the contractor verify the relevant conditions. A preconstruction site walk helps identify what can be confirmed from accessible piping and what still needs investigation. The broader commercial building plumbing due-diligence checklist covers condition and permit history as well as drawings.
What if the installed layout changed?
Keep the original design, the approved revision where required and the record of the finished layout. Ask the responsible designer and building department to resolve any discrepancy before assuming a field change was accepted. See changes after a permit is issued.
A tenant improvement can involve several trades, so label the plumbing record separately from electrical or mechanical sheets. At handover, put the final versions into the closeout package and identify who maintains them. Arizona's ROC recommends making project responsibilities explicit in the contract. For the inspection side of that file, our plumbing final inspection guide explains what final approval covers.