What happened

A two-storey extension was ready for structural completion sign-off. The inspector arrived, asked for the engineer's latest revised drawings, and they were not on site.

How it was discovered

The inspector flagged it on the visit. The drawings had been revised three weeks earlier; the revision had not reached the site folder.

The consequences

Inspection failed. The builder spent a day reconciling the actual work to the revised drawings, then booked a re-visit. Two weeks of programme slip and a small but real re-inspection fee.

What homeowners can learn

Drawing control is not a paperwork luxury. The latest revision needs to be on site, in the builder's hands, every week.