Case Study: Digitizing MEP Drawings from Paper to CAD – Saving Time for Engineers

Every design engineer knows the feeling: a new exciting project is on the table, ideas are flowing, but the actual work is stalled. The reason is mundane—the source material consists of paper folders that are twenty years old, provided by the client.

Before an engineer can start creating a new solution, they would have to spend valuable hours (or even days) redrawing the old situation into the computer. This is tedious, time-consuming, and—considering an engineer's hourly rate—an unreasonably expensive activity.

This is exactly the situation faced by one of our good partners, a reputable engineering design firm. Their end client needed to renovate a 5-story building, but the drawings for the MEP systems (Electrical, Heating, Water) existed only on paper.

In this post, we discuss how Ruut24 handled the digitizing of MEP drawings from paper to CAD, giving the designers the freedom to do what they do best—create new solutions.

The Problem: Engineers Should Design, Not Redraw

In this case, our client was another company—an engineering firm with a massive renovation project on their desk.

• The Situation: They had the building's architectural floor plans (walls) in DWG format, but all information regarding the existing technical systems was on paper (see the "BEFORE" image).

• The Obstacle: To design new ventilation or electrical systems, they needed a precise digital overview of the existing situation.

• The Decision: Should they deploy their top specialists to trace old lines, or outsource this service?

They chose the smarter path and delegated this work to Ruut24.

Our Solution: Manual Digitization in AutoCAD

Our task was specific: create a correct digital working file from paper. We didn't set out to create complex systems or burden the drawing with excessive dynamic blocks. The goal was to create a clean, simple, and accurate base material that the designer could immediately process further.

What did the workflow look like?

1. Input: The designer forwarded photos and scans from the end client's paper archive. The material was extensive—5 floors and three different MEP categories (Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing).

2. Processing (Drafting in AutoCAD): Our team manually redrew all MEP parts in AutoCAD.

   • We did not use automatic converters, which create a lot of "digital noise" and vector mess on the drawing.

   • We drew routes and elements cleanly and correctly. (This ensures that lines are straight and intersections are precise).

   • We ensured the drawing was technically correct but structurally simple and logical.

3. The Result: We handed over 15 ready-to-use DWG files to the designer.

Digitizing Paper to CAD: The ROI for Engineering Firms

Why does it make sense for a design bureau to outsource the digitizing of MEP drawings?

• Focus on the Right Things: Instead of spending a week redrawing old pipes and cables, the engineer could immediately start calculating and designing the new solution.

• A Clean Base: The DWG files we created are "lightweight" and optimized. We avoided complex blocks and unnecessary layers that could make the file slow. It is the ideal template for future work.

• Speed and Cost-Efficiency: Ruut24 specialists do drafting work daily, which ensures speed. It is more cost-effective for a design firm to order this work from us than to spend their engineers' expensive time on routine data entry.

Digitizing MEP Drawings from Paper to CAD: 5 Floors, 15 Drawings – Delivered!

The project covered three areas:

1. Electrical: All sockets, lights, and switchboards were transferred from paper to AutoCAD.

2. HVAC (Heating & Ventilation): Piping and radiators were drawn precisely onto the digital base.

3. Plumbing (Water & Sewer): Risers and sanitary equipment were given their digital form.

In total, 15 drawings were completed. What was previously a messy pile of paper became a concrete and clear digital folder. The designer received the files and could continue their core work immediately.

Conclusion: Ruut24 is the Engineer’s Right Hand

This case study is a perfect example of B2B cooperation. We don't design new systems—we help designers get to the starting line faster.

If you are a designer, architect, or construction contractor and you have a stack of papers from a client on your desk, don't waste your time. Send it to us. We perform digitizing of drawings from paper to CAD quickly, accurately, and professionally.

You handle the engineering; we'll handle the drafting.

Looking for a reliable drafting partner?

Send us your input material: info@ruut24.com

Learn more: www.ruut24.com/en