2025 Survey Costs (ex VAT)
| Property | Standard | Fast Track (+25%) | Rush (+50%) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2–3 bed | £400–£600 | £500–£750 | £600–£900 | | 4+ bed | £500–£800 | £625–£1,000 | £750–£1,200 | | Commercial | £800–£1,500 | £1,000–£1,875 | £1,200–£2,250 |
Survey Deliverables Reference
| Deliverable | Format | Use | | --- | --- | --- | | Floor plans | DWG + PDF | Design reference | | Elevations | DWG + PDF | Planning submission | | Sections | DWG + PDF | Building regulations | | Site plan | DWG + PDF | Planning boundary |
CAD Survey Drawings: What File Formats Should You Request?
When you commission a measured building survey, the deliverables will typically be provided in more than one file format. Understanding the difference between DWG, DXF, PDF, and Revit formats — and when to use each — helps you request the right deliverables for your project and avoid compatibility issues. icelabz provides all standard file formats as standard.
What File Formats Are Available?
The main file formats for measured building survey deliverables are:
DWG (Drawing): The native file format of AutoCAD. DWG files can only be opened in AutoCAD or compatible software. They are the industry standard for architectural and engineering drawings in the UK.
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format): An open file format that can be opened in most CAD software, including AutoCAD, DraftSight, FreeCAD, and others. DXF is less feature-rich than DWG but has broader compatibility.
PDF (Portable Document Format): A view-only format that can be opened in any web browser or PDF reader. PDF files are ideal for sharing drawings with clients, printing, and including in reports. They are not editable.
RVT (Revit): The native file format of Autodesk Revit. RVT files can only be opened in Revit or compatible BIM software. They contain the full BIM model with all element data and properties.
IFC (Industry Foundation Classes): An open BIM exchange format that can be opened in most BIM software. IFC files allow BIM models to be shared between different software platforms without losing data.
PTS / E57 / RCP: Point cloud formats. PTS and E57 are universal point cloud formats that can be opened in most point cloud processing software. RCP is an AutoCAD-format point cloud that can be opened in AutoCAD and Autodesk ReCap.
Which File Format Should You Request?
The file formats you need depend on how you will use the drawings:
For architectural design in AutoCAD: Request DWG format. DWG is the native AutoCAD format and provides the full range of drawing functionality — layers, hatch patterns, dimension styles, block libraries. Almost all architects in the UK use AutoCAD or a compatible CAD package, so DWG is the standard format for architectural survey deliverables.
For sharing with clients or printing: Request PDF format. PDF files are universally viewable and do not require any specific software. They are ideal for sending to clients, printing, or including in reports. icelabz provides PDF as standard alongside DWG.
For BIM workflows: Request RVT format (native Revit) and IFC format (open BIM). RVT provides the full BIM model in Revit format for use within a Revit workflow. IFC provides the open exchange format for sharing the model with other BIM software or for use by structural engineers, M&E consultants, and other project team members who may not use Revit.
For software that cannot open DWG: Request DXF format. DXF has broader compatibility than DWG and can be opened in most CAD software, including open-source and free CAD packages. The trade-off is that DXF has fewer features than DWG — complex line types, hatch patterns, and other advanced features may not transfer correctly.
Understanding DWG Layers and Structure
A properly structured DWG file is organised into layers — separate named layers that control the visibility and plotting of different drawing elements. A measured building survey in DWG format should include layers for:
- Floor plans (typically one layer per floor)
- Walls and partitions
- Doors and windows
- Fixtures and fittings
- Dimensions and annotations
- Levels and gridlines
The layer structure of the DWG file is important for how you can use the drawing. A well-organised DWG file allows you to isolate specific layers — turning off the dimensions layer to see the floor plan without annotations, for example — and to plot the drawing with specific layers visible or hidden.
Ask your surveying company to explain their layer structure before you commission the survey, so you know what to expect in the delivered DWG file.
What About Coordinate Systems and Units?
CAD files are drawn in a specific coordinate system and units. For most UK architectural surveys, the drawings will be in metres — with dimensions shown in metres to three decimal places. The coordinate system will be either a site-specific local grid or the Ordnance Survey National Grid.
For most architectural design work, a site-specific local grid is more convenient than the Ordnance Survey National Grid, since the coordinates are smaller and more manageable. For planning applications and legal purposes, drawings may need to be in the Ordnance Survey National Grid.
Confirm with your surveying company which coordinate system and units they will use, and ensure this is consistent with what your design software expects.
PDF as a Standalone Deliverable
PDF is not a replacement for DWG — it is a view-only format that cannot be edited. However, PDF is often the most useful format for sharing drawings with clients, printing, and including in reports. icelabz provides PDF as standard alongside DWG, so you receive both the editable CAD file and the viewable PDF.
When reviewing PDF deliverables from a surveying company, check that the PDF is properly scaled — that a dimension measured in the PDF matches the dimension shown on the drawing. A PDF that is not correctly scaled is useless for design or construction purposes.
Point Cloud Formats: PTS vs E57 vs RCP
If you commission a 3D survey with a point cloud, you will receive the point cloud in one of three formats: PTS, E57, or RCP.
PTS (ASCII point cloud): A simple ASCII text format with X, Y, Z coordinates and optional colour data. PTS files are universal but can be large and slow to open. Most point cloud software can open PTS files.
E57: A binary format designed specifically for point cloud data. E57 files are compact and fast to open, and support colour and intensity data as well as coordinates. E57 is the preferred format for most professional point cloud work.
RCP (Autodesk ReCap): A format used by Autodesk ReCap and AutoCAD. RCP files can be opened in AutoCAD and in Autodesk's cloud-based ReCap software. RCP is useful for BIM workflows using Autodesk products.
For most purposes, E57 is the preferred format for point cloud data, with RTS as a fallback for software that does not support E57.
Revit and BIM File Formats
If you commission scan to BIM, you will receive the BIM model in RVT format (native Revit) and possibly also in IFC format (open BIM).
RVT (Revit): The native file format of Autodesk Revit. RVT files can only be opened in Revit or compatible software. If your project uses Revit, request RVT format and ensure you have a compatible version of Revit to open the file.
IFC (Industry Foundation Classes): An open BIM exchange format. IFC files can be opened in most BIM software including Revit, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks, and others. IFC is the standard format for sharing BIM data between different software platforms and is often required for BIM Level 2 projects.
When receiving Revit files from a surveying company, check the version of Revit used to create the model and ensure you have a compatible version to open it. Revit files created in a newer version of Revit may not open in an older version.
Archive Formats: Why Keep the Original Files
Once you have the drawings, you may be tempted to delete the original DWG file and keep only the PDF. This is a mistake. The DWG file is the editable master — if you need to modify the drawings, add annotations, or extract specific views, you need the DWG file.
Keep the original survey files — DWG, RVT, and point cloud — in a safe, backed-up location. The survey data may be needed again in the future — for a renovation, an extension, a change of use, or a facilities management update. Having the original files means you do not need to commission a new survey.
icelabz provides all original survey files as standard deliverables. We also retain copies of all survey data on our servers, so we can re-supply original files if needed.
File Format Compatibility Checklist
Before commissioning a measured building survey, confirm that the surveying company will deliver in the formats you need:
- DWG (AutoCAD native format) — for architectural design
- PDF (viewable format) — for sharing and printing
- DXF — for software that cannot open DWG
- RVT (Revit native format) — for BIM workflows in Revit
- IFC (open BIM format) — for sharing BIM data between software platforms
- PTS / E57 (point cloud formats) — for 3D survey data
icelabz provides all standard file formats as standard, and we are happy to advise on the most appropriate formats for your specific project requirements.