"I work for a wind engineering consultant company and we've had a
records issue come up that I need some help with. In order to provide
our services, our clients (architectural and structural engineering
firms) send us copies of their architectural drawings. We use those
drawings to 1) develop our own drawings which are scaled down and 2)
create a model based on our drawings for testing in our wind tunnels. We
have been saving the client provided drawings for the same retention
period as the entire project. I'm beginning to think that we may not
have to. It would make sense to me that we retain OUR drawings (which we
use to build the model), but that the client is responsible for
retaining their drawings, provided that the drawings they send us are
copies and they have the originals. Any advice would be greatly
appreciated!"

At the architectural/engineering firm where I work we follow these
guidelines:  In the case of an architectural print which is historical
(indicating how the building was constructed before we became involved),
we would save it as a reference, but not as part of the project.  The
exception to this rule would be if a subcontractor has submitted what we
call "shop drawings".  An example of that would be if the mechanical
contractor submitted his prints indicated how he will carry out in
detail, his responsibilities, and those prints were "accepted" by us.
In that case, a retention period reflecting the statute of repose or
statute of limitations is applied.

Just a perspective from the other side of the coin.


Deborah K. Wolf 
Records Manager 

S W B R    A R C H I T E C T S 

387 E.Main Street
Rochester, NY 14604
585.232.8300
585.232.9221 fax
http://www.swbr.com <http://www.swbr.com/>  
 
"Each day that passes is a triumph for an archive, for each day some
mere scrap of paper permits justice to prevail...As a rule the papers of
a given generation are seldom required after their reception and primary
use; but when all personal touch with that period has ceased, then these
records assume a startling importance, for they replace hands that have
vanished and lips that are sealed."  - Arthur G. Doughty, 1924

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