Architect's Certificates
There are different types of certificate. The two main types are: certificates issued by architects while administering building contracts and certificates issued following independent inspections of building work.
Architect’s Independence
In issuing certificates under a building contract the architect must remain independent and impartial and so will not always be able to comply with a client’s wishes if those wishes conflict with the architect’s professional judgement. In issuing certificates for the benefit of funds, banks and mortgage lenders, architects must give due regard to all interested parties and act with careful objectivity.
Certificates issued under a Building Contract
When ArchiFACT is named as the Architect in a building contract part of our role as contract administrator is to certify the work at various stages in the construction. These certificates vary to suit the type of building contract used. Some trigger client payments to the contractor. Typically these are:
Interim Certificates
These confirm that work has been carried out to the architect’s satisfaction, as determined by visual inspection. These certificates will be used as authorisation for the next tranche of payment for the works (and will sometimes identify an amount of retention from the full amount).
Certification of Practical or Substantial Completion
These transfer possession of the building to the client and may release a part of any retentions held under the building contract.
Making Good Defects Certificates
trigger the final release of retentions held under the building contract.
Final Completion Certificate
These will be issued only when the architect is satisfied that there has been full compliance with the contract.
However, few small-scale domestic projects will use the type of building contracts which require all of the above certification.
Professional Consultants Certificates
These certificates are often independent of appointment/building contracts and are sometimes required by mortgage companies and other lenders that are members of the Council of Mortgage Lenders. These are generally used for new residential projects where the builder is not providing an insurance backed warranty.
In order to issue this form of architect’s certificate, ArchiFACT will inspect the plans and technical details of the project including the planning approval documents and the building notice / building regulations application and all construction documents issued under the building contract.
As part of the service we can:
- audit the drawings, specification and schedules, etc.
- inspect the works in progress at key stages
- issue draw-down valuations for the funder to release stage payments
- provide interim reports and advice
- offer technical advice throughout
Building Regulations Completion Certificates
Where the local authority is the enforcing authority under the building regulations, it is required to certify completions under the regulations as follow:
17.—(1) A local authority shall give a completion certificate in accordance with this regulation and as provided for in paragraph (2) where—
(a)they receive a notice under regulation 16(4) or (5) that building work has been completed, or, that a building has been partly occupied before completion; and
(b)they have either—
(i)been notified, in accordance with regulation 14(4), that the building is a building to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies, or will apply after the completion of the work; or
(ii)been requested, in accordance with regulation 14(5), to give a completion certificate.
(2) Where in relation to any building work or, as the case may be, to any part of a building which has been occupied before completion, a local authority have been able to ascertain, after taking all reasonable steps, that the relevant requirements specified in the certificate have been satisfied, they shall give a certificate to that effect.
(3) In this regulation “relevant requirements” mean—
(a)in a case mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)(i), the applicable requirements of regulation 38 and Part B of Schedule 1 (fire safety); and
(b)in a case mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)(ii), any applicable requirements of regulations 26 (target CO2 emission rates for new buildings), 29 (energy performance certificates), 36 (water efficiency of new dwellings) and Schedule 1.
(4) A certificate given in accordance with this regulation shall be evidence (but not conclusive evidence) that the requirements specified in the certificate have been complied with.