Limits for unlicensed office building designers

[BayPointArchitect]

Can anyone help me fill in the blanks for the attached state-by-state comparison? See attachment.For each state there are various limits enforced by regulation agencies to ensure that building designers know how to design a building that is somewhat safe.1) When someone who is NOT licensed attempts to design a new office building, what is the size, value, or occupant limit?2) For buildings that require at least one design professional (architect, structural engineer, MEP engineers, etc.), does your state allow architects to perform engineering that is INCIDENTAL to the main scope of their work. Does your state allow engineers to crossover into architecture and other types of engineering that they do NOT have a license to practice?Thank you

View attachment 1386

StateComparison.pdf

StateComparison.pdf

 

[mtlogcabin]

Montana Architects http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/37_65_1.htm

Montana Engineers http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/37_67.htm

Look at the definition of a public building it will shock you

 

[hlfireinspector]

Mississippi architects www.archbd.state.ms.us/

Mississippi engineers www.pepls.state.ms.us/pepls/web.nsf

 

[Mark K]

Won't happen in California. We no longer have Building Designers and the exemptions for an unlicensed individual performing design do not apply to office occupancies.

 

[conarb]

Mark:

Yes, but look at his spreadsheet, in California Engineers can design some buildings, and architects can do some engineering.

 

[vegas paul]

Kansas: Only exceptions for office buildings (any commercial, for that matter) are storefronts or facades, interior fixtures/cabinet work/furniture/appliances, etc.

 

[Mac]

From NY State Education law, Art. 147 Sec. 7307:

"...no official charged with the enforcment of laws, ordinances, or regulations relating to the construction or alteration of buildings or structures, shall accept or approve any plans or specifications that are not stamped: a. with the seal of an architect or professional engineer and bearing the authorized facsimile of the signature..."

Continues to part 5: "This article shall not apply to: 1. Farm buildings... 2. Alterations costing twenty thousand dollars or less to any building or structure outside the City of New York which do not involve changes affecting the struuctural safety or public safety thereof."

The short version is - projects costing under 20K don't need a stamp.

 

[Simonsays]

2007 Ohio Building Code, section 106.2.1, exception: A registered design professional is not required to prepare construction documents for alteration, construction, or repairs where the building official determines that the proposed work does not involve the technical design analysis of work affecting public health or general safety in: means of egress, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or fire protection.

You can do a closet or maybe a single room and that's about it.

 

[BayPointArchitect]

Thanks Montanna, Mississippi, California, Kansas, New York, and Ohio. I do appreciate the brochure that Mississippi has created for building officials. That is top notch and easy to understand.

 

[texasbo]

Here's a handy flowchart for Texas: http://www.tbae.state.tx.us/documents/ArchRequiredFlowChart.pdf

Here's the law: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/OC/word/OC.1051.doc

For private office building, 2 stories or less, 20,000 SF or less, no architect required.

 

[Paul Sweet]

1. In Virginia the limit for an unlicensed person to design a business building is 5000 SF, 3 stories, and 100 occupants.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+54.1-402

2. Code of Virginia § 54.1-401 does allow incidental practice of engineering by an architect, and incidental practice of architecture by an engineer.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+54.1-401