cert of complience

The Law Society Conveyancing handbook outlines standard formats for certs of compliance with Planning Permission and Building Regulations and who can sign them.
The RIAI and IEI publish certs which are acceptable to the law society but any suitably qualified person can write their own format as long as it is in line with the Law Society format and they carry PI insurance.
A anomaly is that Architectural Technicians are not on the list despite being the professional dicispline most involved in building regulations compliance. Planners are not on the list either despite being the people most qualifed to certify compliance with planning permission.
Strangely while an Architectural Technicians (with a four year hons degree) who has been practising for in excess of ten years is not currently acceptable as a signatory, a person with no formal quaification will be accepted provided he states that he has been practising as an Architect for in excess of ten years. It is a blatant attmept at operating a ‘closed shop’ and should be overhauled.

will the new law, giving the title of “architect” protected status affect this? as i assume once this is enforced, the procedure of stating that you are an architect is null and void, as it would be illegal to state this if you are not qualified to the standard as stated in the bill. i have also heard that the ciat are currently pursuing the issue of techs being able to write certs of complience?? or am i mistaken

It would be very hard for the CIAT to push for this as they are essentially a UK representational group. I wouldn’t get too much into the ‘Technicians signing certs’ thing because theres a world of a mess to be resolved before signing certs becomes a reality. Theres no professional recognition of the title ‘Architectural Technician / Technologist’.. it doesn’t exist, so the law society aren’t going to allow a non-existent profession to sign certs.

to answer the ops question, basically anyone with the relevant experience as accepted by the Law society, and who has PI insurance, can sign certs.

I don’t think the Building Control Bill will affect the current status as the let out is not ”claiming to be an Architect” but stating that one has ”practiced as an Architect” for a period of ten years. i.e. I am not an Architect but can do a good imitation of one.
I don’t think we are too far away from a situation where the Law Society will recognize Architectural Technology Professionals as competent to sign Certs of Compliance. CIAT is reportedly in negotiation with them as are some of the Educational Institutions. Meanwhile the nascent ATI (Architectural Technology Ireland) should be influential when it is eventually launched as it could have up to 1500 members. Maybe the RIAI could make some steps to resolve the current unjust situation where they rely on their Technician members to advise them on Building Control issues and at the same time will not allow them to sign their own Certificates of Compliance.