HOW LONG SHOULD BLUEPRINTS BE KEPT FOR A PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
1 reply
Jan 7, 2022
There is no statutory requirement to keep Drawings for any length of time. However, the statute of limitations (i.e., the deadline within which a plaintiff must assert a claim) on a regular breach of contract claim is four years from the breach. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations construction defect claims are often extended by a principal know as the "discovery rule." The "discovery rule" extends or tolls the beginning 4-year statutory period until the injured/aggrieved party discovers the defect. This means that a claim could be brought more than 4-years after the end of a project (often many years) if the defect is not readily apparent. In Pennsylvania, however, there is a statue of repose. The statute of repose requires any claim against a contractor for any deficiency in the design, planning, supervision or observation of a construction project or any injury to a person or property due to such a deficiency to be commenced within 12 years after the completion of the Construction. I would therefore recommend that you keep an electronic and/or hard copy of the drawing for that long.