Under the Professional Governance Act, the Architects Regulation establishes the “reserved practice” for Architects. Reserved Practice is the services for which an Architect AIBC must be retained. To help the public understand the Reserved Practice of architecture in B.C., including when an Architect is required on a project, accompanying descriptive material in the form of a guide has been published – “Architects Regulation: Reserved Practice of Architecture”.
Overview of Architects Regulation and New Description Material
The Architects Regulation defines the practice of the profession of architecture and describes when and for which types of buildings an Architect must be retained. This replaces what was formerly “Section 60” of the Architects Act (commonly referred to as the ‘exceptions’). The Reserved Practice for Architects has been modernized to align building type and size with the BC Building Code, with a focus on public protection. It is important to note that Reserved Practice is now classified by major occupancy type, as defined in the BC Building Code.
The new descriptive material “Architects Regulation: Reserved Practice of Architecture” provides an overview of the Architects Regulation, including: Interaction Between the Architects Regulation and the BC Building Code, Alterations to Buildings, Architects and Professional Engineers, and a convenient chart that compares the Architects Regulation and the BC Building Code with respect to buildings requiring the services of an Architect. Of note, the descriptive material is intended as a guide and does not take the place of the Architects Regulation itself, which prevails in all cases.
Read the Descriptive Material – Architects Regulation: Reserved Practice of Architecture
If you have any questions about the material or the Architects Regulation, please email practiceadvice@aibc.ca.