Over the past few months, there has been an increase in the number of professional conduct complaints regarding drawings prepared by Architects and submitted to local governments without being sealed.
Architects are reminded that an Architect’s Seal must be applied in accordance with Professional Standard 8.0 Architectural Services: Use of Seal in Schedule A: Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
- Professional Standard 8.3 outlines the type of documents that must be sealed by an Architect, which include:
- Drawings and specifications issued for approval or reliance by any party;
- Letters of Assurance
- Certificates for payments, change orders, change directives, supplemental instructions, certificates of substantial performance, certificates of ready for takeover or other documents when administering construction contracts
- Formal reports – includes field review reports, feasibility studies, condition assessment reports, expert opinions, building code reports
- Professional Standard 8.4 specifies the documents which do not require an Architect’s Seal
- Professional Standards 8.4 and 8.5 addresses the use of digital Seals
Architects are bound to follow the Professional Standards, irrespective of instructions given by a local government or a Client. Architects and Firms are reminded that it is not a defence to a professional conduct complaint to state that a local government does not require or has not requested sealed drawings. For instance, Architects must seal development permit drawings submitted or issued to a local government even if the local government does not require a Seal until the building permit stage.
All Architects are encouraged to review the Practice Guideline: Use of the Architect’s Seal on the sealing recommendations for specific documents. A summary of when and on which documents a Seal is required can be found in Appendix A, page 14.
Supporting Documentation and Resources
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- Schedule A: Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct – Professional Standard 8.0
- Practice Guideline: Use of the Architect’s Seal
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AIBC Contact
For more information about this Regulatory Review or if you have any questions about the Architect’s Seal, please email practiceadvice@aibc.ca.
Issues of AIBC Regulatory Review will be published on a regular basis, announced via Connected and archived on the AIBC website.