A practical privacy checklist before sharing building drawings

Confirm permission and the intended use

Establish who supplied the drawing and what you are allowed to do with it. Access to a file does not by itself explain whether it may be uploaded to a third-party service or redistributed. Ask the project owner or the appropriate adviser when the scope is unclear. Record the intended purpose and recipient so the team can distinguish an internal layout review from a different use involving a new provider.

Inspect the whole package

Review title blocks, filenames, annotations, embedded photographs and accompanying notes. Consider whether each item is necessary for the particular task. If a redacted review copy is appropriate, keep the original separately and check that the copy still provides the dimensions and references needed for the study. Do not assume that cropping a visible page removes every detail from the underlying file; use a suitable process for the document type.

Ask how the tool handles files

Before using a service, read its current explanations of storage, sharing, retention and AI processing. Identify whether files stay on the device or are transmitted, and what happens when access is removed. Avoid treating a login screen or a polished interface as evidence of every security property you need. The appropriate checks depend on the sensitivity of the project and the obligations agreed with its owner.

Understand the current local preview

TranslateDesign's open tool stores project data in localStorage and drawing attachments in IndexedDB in the current browser profile. It does not send those drawings to an AI provider, and it has no login protecting the local workspace. Another person using that browser profile can access the local work. Clearing site data removes it, so maintain authorized backups and use a suitable shared process for sensitive or multi-person projects.

• Confirm authorization before changing the file's destination.
• Inspect annotations and attachments, not just the plan.
• Check current storage and processing information.
• Keep local-device access and backup needs visible.