Safety Codes Bulletin: Professional involvement and schedules

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Purpose

This guideline is intended to help homeowners, contractors, and applicants determine when professional involvement is required under the National Building Code – Alberta Edition (NBC(AE)), and to clarify situations where it may not be necessary. Homeowners and business owners who are inexperienced with construction are strongly encouraged to partner with an experienced and qualified team of professionals, contractors and tradespeople, for projects of any size.

This bulletin is based on the NBC(AE) edition in effect on the date this guideline was published.

Discussion

What does “professional involvement” mean?

Professional Involvement means that a registered professional Architect and/or Engineer(s) are involved in the design and field review of a project. Plans and specifications must be authenticated by the registered professional, indicating that they are taking responsibility for the design of that part of the work. For some projects, a Licensed Interior Designer may also be used.

Does my project require professional involvement?

For most projects, the need for professional involvement is determined by the building’s occupancy, the number of storeys above grade, and the total building area or footprint. Where overall professional involvement is not required, Engineering may still be required for specific portions of work such as tall walls, roof trusses, floor joists, masonry veneer, retaining walls, helical piles, and unique construction techniques that fall outside of the prescriptive code requirements.

Where the size or complexity of a project gives rise to special safety concerns, the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) may require professional involvement if deemed necessary.

Who can I hire to act as a registered professional?

A registered professional means an individual who is registered to practice in Alberta under their respective discipline. Architects and licensed interior designers must be registered with the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA) Engineers must be registered with The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) Professional Technologists (P.Tech) are authorized to practice within their defined scope under The Association of Science & Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET). View chart in attached bulletin PDF.

When is Professional involvement not required?

Many small renovation projects in existing buildings may be completed without professional involvement. The decision to accept minor projects without professional Involvement is at the discretion the Authority Having Jurisdiction so it is always advisable to contact the local AHJ early in the life of the project.

What are Schedules and does my project require them?

Schedules are contractual documents between the owner or the Owner’s representative/agent on the project and the Professionals. Schedules are necessary to show how various professional disciplines will be coordinated for both the design and field review aspects of the building.

When a building is required to have professional involvement, the NBC(AE) requires that Schedules be submitted with all required sections filled in and be stamped and signed by the professional. Schedules submitted must correlate with the edition of the NBC(AE) for which the project has been designed.

Schedule A – Confirmation of Commitment by Owner and Coordinating Registered Professional. Coordinating Registered Professional (CRP) means a registered professional retained to coordinate the design and field reviews of all the registered professionals of record required for the project. Schedule A provides clarity on the roles of the owner and the CRP. Schedule A’s are submitted to the AHJ with the building permit application.

Schedule B – Assurance of Professional Design Involvement and commitment for field reviews by the Registered Professional of Record. Registered professional of record (RPR) means a registered professional retained to be responsible for the integrity and completeness of the design and field reviews in their respective discipline – Architectural/Licensed Interior Design, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Geotechnical.

Schedule B identifies which design professionals are involved in the design of the project and identifies work delegated to other professionals. Any work that is delegated to another professional must be listed in the section for “Schedules C-3 required”. Schedule B’s are submitted to the CRP at the beginning of the project; the CRP submits all Schedule B’s to the AHJ with the building permit application.

Schedule C – Schedule C’s confirm that the registered professionals have competed their obligations are submitted at the completion of the project prior to final inspection and occupancy.

What is the occupancy or use of my building?

Occupancy means the use or intended use of a building for the shelter or support of people, animals or property. Every building is assigned a “major occupancy” according to the principal use or intended use. NBC(AE) uses the following major occupancy classifications: View chart in attached bulletin PDF.

My project only involves work to the mechanical/HVAC, electrical, fire alarm and/or fire suppression system(s), do I need professional involvement?

In buildings that require professional involvement where the scope of work is limited to mechanical/HVAC, electrical, fire alarm or fire suppressions systems, professional involvement for the discipline(s) involved is required and Schedules A, B and C’s must be submitted.

Examples of work that may involve partial professional involvement includes replacement of mechanical equipment, additions or modifications to a fire alarm system, additions or modifications to a fire suppression system and installation of a commercial cooking system where grease-laden vapours will be produced.

All work to HVAC, mechanical, electrical, fire alarm and fire suppression systems must be done by qualified trades people who are trained to work on that system, equipment, or component.

Resources

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