Can Architect Stamp Structural Drawings
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| It's really sad in my country because there is a conflict between architects and civil engineers.The civil engineers claim they have a right to sign and seal architectural plans and documents in contrast to RA9266 which is a national law.I wonder if the situation in other countries are the same.:-( | |
Posts: 128
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| Here Engineers can stamp Arch drawings and Architects can stamp engineering drawings, the trick is both are liable for anything with their stamps on it so I know very few architects comfortable enough with engineering to stamp those drawings. | |
Registered: Posts: 4,326
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| In UK we do not have stamping. Anyone can (including your grandmother) supply arch design (drawings) and apply for approvals. | |
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| I think this is down to professional insurance issues. Architects are not qualified to evaluate structural drawings that are based on calculations. Architects' drawings do not deal with many things that important in terms of protecting people. There are things like capacities of fire exits and fire-stopping details which are important that engineers might not know much about because of the way they are trained. If they sign architectural drawings and there are problems with a building's fire performance, they will regret that they authorised them! It is also the case that the way architects and engineers work in different countries can be slightly different. Here in the UK, engineers are limited to drainage, roads and the structural elements of a building. All the construction details are done by the architect. In France, I believe that engineers are responsible for all the construction details. __________________ ______________________________________ This is what I do in my day job | |
Saturation Master Registered:
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| In America Architects can sign and seal most all drawings except Civil (Land Development)... Yet and Engineer can sign and seal anything...? Dont like it... but thats the way it is... __________________ http://www.abSketches.com http://www.facebook.com/abSketches York, PA USA | |
Registered: Posts: 4,326
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| Jim it is more than insurance issue. In most European countries only architects can apply for planning permissions and such. So as consequence you have type of arch which sign of plans on behalf other people for a fee. In UK you do not need to be qualified to do any of it. It is title of architect that is protected not the work. It means you can not call yourself architect if you are not on register of ARB. The title is protected by the Act of Parliament. In terms of liability there is more than fire. There is an issue of damp proofing , weathering details etc....which are the biggest cause of architect being sued in this country (UK). All consultants must have their PII in place and they are all liable for the work they do on project. I know some residential architects who actually provide some structural engineering advice on small project . It is not quite clear how that goes in terms of PII. | |
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Sure, I'm a Chartered Architect too, so I know about the regulatory stuff  However I'm not sure about what 'stamping' or 'sealing' is for. I'm guessing contractual issues related to construction, because in many other countries non-architects can also apply for permission to develop. The reason I mentioned fire was because that deals with loss of life and serious risk to health. As such it has to be the most significant area where someone who is authorising architects drawings needs specialist knowledge. If you recall some of the most recent building fires across the world where many people have died, what usually follows is a review of regulations and procedures. It makes sense that if any country wants to minimise the risks to the public, it puts regulations in place controlling qualifications of people whose work can expose people to risk. Just requiring PI cover isn't addressing this risk. The risks from acoustics, damp and weathering are trivial by comparison and are maybe things that insurance companies will have their own particular views on, regardless of whether an engineer is legally or contractually entitled to sign off drawings. Like you, I'm not sure how architects deal with the PI issues related to structural advice. I certainly wouldn't think of doing it! __________________ ______________________________________ This is what I do in my day job | |
Registered: Posts: 4,326
| Posted | Reply with quote #8 |
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| I have seen how this stamping looks like. It consist of report which is signed and literally stamped by architect. BTW explaining registration was really directed to non UK people . I know you are fellow chartered architect. I would agree that fire is more dangerous in terms of life but people are sued more for building defects than for fire detailing. Ultimately it is Local authority and Fire officer who enforces regulation in respect of fire. | |
Can Architect Stamp Structural Drawings
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