What is the purpose of maintaining integrity of design documentation in an investigation?

• A. To publish marketing materials
• B. To ensure built structure matches design intent and code requirements
• C. To track procurement costs
• D. To assign blame to contractors

Answer: (B)

Maintaining integrity of design documentation is about making sure the built structure truly reflects the approved design and complies with code requirements. In an investigation, this matters because the design documents are the trusted reference for what was intended and required by standards. When the as-built reality is compared to those documents, investigators can see if any deviations occurred, whether they were authorized, and how they affected safety and performance.

This integrity helps determine root causes—whether issues came from design flaws, construction deviations, or later alterations—and it supports regulatory compliance and accountability. It also guides appropriate remediation and informs stakeholders about the true state of the structure.

Publishing marketing materials, tracking procurement costs, or assigning blame are not the primary purpose of preserving design documentation in this context.