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Measured building survey template
A site record for a measured building survey. Record the method, the accuracy agreed, the control and grid, and the drawings to produce, then add each room as a space with its floor, length, width and height (the form works out the area), doors and windows, features and photos. The form totals the measured area, and you can add hand sketches and the limitations, such as rooms not accessed. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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What is a measured building survey?
A measured building survey records an existing building so accurate drawings can be produced, such as floor plans, roof plans, reflected ceiling plans, sections and elevations. The RICS professional standard Measured surveys of land, buildings and utilities has the client choose the outputs, the features to survey (walls, doors, windows, floors, ceilings, beams, columns and stairs by default) and the accuracy band, and connects every survey to a local or national grid.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against RICS: measured surveys of land, buildings and utilities, 3rd edition and RICS professional standard: measured surveys of land, buildings and utilities (PDF).
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Want to see one filled in? See a completed measured building survey report (PDF), made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit.
Every question in the measured building survey template
A measured building survey record: method and equipment, control, each floor and room with dimensions, heights, openings and features, services and photos, and the drawings to be produced. 3 sections and 49 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
Make it your own: every question is editable
This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Client: the project's customer
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
Survey
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- ClientShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Building locationShort answer
Mark it at the main entrance. Tap Mark current location on site. It saves the coordinates, a grid reference and the accuracy.
- Survey date*Date
- TimeTime
- Surveyor*Short answer
- Method*Tick all that apply
- Laser distance meter and tape
- Total station
- 3D laser scanner
- Photogrammetry
- Drone
- Accuracy specified (for example the RICS accuracy band agreed)Short answer
- Control and grid (control points, local or national grid)Short answer
- Control point positionsShort answer
Mark each control point as you set it, so the next visit can find it. Phone GPS is to a few metres: it locates the marks, it does not replace the survey control. Tap Mark current location on site. It saves the coordinates, a grid reference and the accuracy.
- Drawings to produce*Tick all that apply
- Floor plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- Roof plan
- Reflected ceiling plan
- 3D model
- GuidanceThe RICS professional standard Measured surveys of land, buildings and utilities (3rd edition) has the client choose the outputs, the features to survey and the accuracy band. Agree them before the survey.
- Walk Cam: building walk-throughWalk Cam video with voice-to-text
Optional. Film a guided walk-through on the SiteSurvey app.
Rooms
- RoomsRepeat for each room. Each one asks:
- Room*Short answer
- FloorShort answer
- Length (mm)Number
Measuring from a photo gives an estimate. Use it as a cross-check on your laser or tape figure.
- Width (mm)Number
Measuring from a photo gives an estimate. Use it as a cross-check on your laser or tape figure.
- Floor to ceiling (mm)Number
Measuring from a photo gives an estimate. Use it as a cross-check on your laser or tape figure.
- Area (m²)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Volume (m³)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Doors and windowsRepeat for each entry. Each one asks:
- ReferenceShort answer
For example D1 or W3, as it will appear on the drawing.
- TypeChoose one
- Door
- Window
- Opening without a door
- Width (m)Number
- Height (m)Number
- Sill height above the floor (m)NumberShown when “Type” is “Window”
- Area (m²)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- This room: doorsWorked out by the form
- This room: windowsWorked out by the form
- This room: window area (m²)Worked out by the form
- Other notes on the doors and windowsNotes
- FeaturesTick all that apply
- Chimney breast
- Beam
- Column
- Bulkhead
- Stairs
- Level change
- Radiators
- Sockets
- Drainage
- PhotosPhotos
- Total measured floor area (m²)Worked out by the form
- Rooms measuredWorked out by the form
- DoorsWorked out by the form
- WindowsWorked out by the form
- Window area (m²)Worked out by the form
- Elevation heightsRepeat for each entry. Each one asks:
- ElevationShort answer
For example North (front) elevation.
- Where it was taken fromShort answer
Mark the spot you stood on, so the photo can be retaken. Tap Mark current location on site. It saves the coordinates, a grid reference and the accuracy.
- Width of the elevation (m)Number
- Eaves or parapet height (m)Number
- Ridge height (m)Number
- PhotosPhotos
- Highest point recorded (m)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
Notes
- Notes and limitations (rooms not accessed, furniture, roof spaces)Notes
- Hand sketchesPhotos
- Completed by*Short answer
- SignatureSignature
See it filled in
A completed measured building survey report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
Measured building survey FAQs
What methods are used?
Laser distance meters and tapes for simple buildings, and total stations, 3D laser scanners or photogrammetry for larger or complex ones. The form records the method used.
Why agree the accuracy first?
RICS uses survey accuracy bands, and notes that capturing features at some bands involves additional work and may cost more. Agree the band and the drawings with the client before the survey.
Why record the control?
The RICS standard says all surveys shall be connected to a local and/or national grid. The form records the control points and grid used.
Does it work out areas?
Yes. Each room's area is calculated from its length and width, and the form totals the measured area. Photograph hand sketches into the form so they stay with the measurements.
Why record limitations?
Rooms not accessed, heavy furniture or unsafe roof spaces affect what can be drawn. Record them for the client.
Who uses this?
Measured building surveyors, architects, building surveyors and estates teams.
Related
Related templates
Templates that go with the measured building survey form
Condition survey of a building: limits of inspection, element by element record, services and risks, further investigations.
Record measured construction work by location and drawing: dimensions with a quantity worked out, gross, deductions and the checked net with an arithmetic check, totals by unit and review points.
Photographic record of condition before works or at the start of a lease, room by room.
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