544A.16 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Architect” means a person qualified to engage in the practice of architecture who holds a current valid license under the laws of this state.

2. “Board” means the architectural examining board established in section 544A.1.

3. “Construction” means physical alteration of a building or improvement of real estate, and includes new construction, enlargements, or additions to existing construction, and alterations, renovation, remodeling, restoration, preservation, or other material modification to and within existing construction.

4. “Construction documents” means the drawings, specifications, technical submissions, and other documents upon which construction is based.

5. “Direct supervision and responsible charge” means an architect’s personal supervisory control of work as to which the architect has detailed professional knowledge. In respect to preparing technical submissions, “direct supervision and responsible charge” means that the architect has the exercising, directing, guiding, and restraining power over the design of the building or structure and the preparation of the documents, and exercises professional judgment in all architectural matters embodied in the documents. Merely reviewing the work prepared by another person does not constitute “direct supervision and responsible charge” unless the reviewer actually exercises supervision and control and is in responsible charge of the work.

6. “Good moral character” means a reputation for trustworthiness, honesty, and adherence to professional standards of conduct.

7. “License” means the license issued to an architect by the board.

8. “Observation of construction site progress” means intermittent visitation to the construction site by an architect or the architect’s employee for the purpose of general familiarity with the progress and quality of the construction and general conformance of the construction to the construction documents and general compliance with the applicable building codes. For the purpose of this chapter, such observation does not imply exhaustive or continuous on-site inspections to check the quality or quantity of construction work.

9. “Practice of architecture” means performing, or offering to perform, professional architectural services in connection with the design, preparation of construction documents, or construction of one or more buildings, structures, or related projects, and the space within and surrounding the buildings or structures, or the addition to or alteration of one or more buildings or structures, which buildings or structures have as their principal purpose human occupancy or habitation, if the safeguarding of life, health, or property is concerned or involved, unless the buildings or structures are excepted from the requirements of this chapter by section 544A.18.

10. “Professional architectural services” means consultation, investigation, evaluation, programming, planning, preliminary design and feasibility studies, designs, drawings, specifications and other technical submissions, administration of construction contracts, observation of construction site progress, or other services and instruments of service related to architecture. A person is performing or offering to perform professional architectural services within the meaning of this chapter, if the person, by verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or in any other way represents the person to be an architect or through the use of a title implies that the person is an architect.

11. “Professional consultant” means a person who is required by the laws of this state to hold a current and valid certificate of registration or license in the field of the person’s professional practice, and who is employed by the architect to perform, or who offers to perform professional services as a consultant to the architect, in connection with the design, preparation of construction documents or other technical submissions, or construction of one or more buildings or structures, and the space within and surrounding the buildings or structures.

12. “Programming” means the identification, verification, and analysis of the architectural requirements precedent to the planning and design of a building or structure.

13. “Technical submissions” means the designs, drawings, sketches, specifications, details, studies, and other technical reports, including construction documents, prepared in the course of the practice of architecture.

[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §118.16]

87 Acts, ch 92, §8; 88 Acts, ch 1274, §37

C93, §544A.16

2005 Acts, ch 104, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 131, §3, 4, 7; 2018 Acts, ch 1026, §162

Referred to in §544A.15

Subsection 11 amended