Can a strip-out assessment proceed without reliable as-built drawings?

Separate original construction drawings, later tenant-fit-out drawings and sketches prepared for the proposed work. Record the date, area and known limitations of each. Ask management whether renovations have changed the space since the latest drawing. A plan for another floor or a neighbouring unit can explain a question but should not be presented as a verified record of this work area.

Identify the particular wall, floor zone or ceiling connection that needs clarification. Ask the responsible project team what professional review or authorised investigation is appropriate. Do not open suspect assemblies to identify them yourself. If material records omit an area, carry that limitation alongside the drawing gap so it is not lost when the scope is issued.

A preliminary quotation or plan should distinguish observed work from unresolved conditions. When information arrives, reconcile it with the proposed boundary before issuing a revised instruction. This approach allows useful planning to continue without pretending every concealed condition has been settled. Bring the available records and the gap list to the interior-demolition assessment.

If historical plans are available, record their date and area before comparing them with the current space. If records are missing, ask the responsible designer which specific information gap must be resolved. If access is restricted, management and the project team first settle the authorised inspection arrangement.

An obtained drawing remains historical evidence until the appropriate assessment reconciles it with actual conditions. A records request, permission to enter and authorisation to disturb a particular assembly are three different decisions.