architects
So what is the process we will go through to turn your ideas into reality?
Below we will briefly explain the stages
So what is the process we will go through to turn your ideas into reality?
Below we will briefly explain the stages
Compliance with Regulations and the Principal Designer
When you're thinking about starting a construction project, you may have come across the terms 'Domestic Client', 'Duty Holder', Designer', 'Principal Designer' and and be a bit unsure how these will affect your project, and what you need to be doing to undertake and support these roles. At the outset of your project we'll go through this with you in greater detail but here we'll give a rough overview of these items.
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It all stems from the need to have safe and healthy buildings which begins at inception and continues to the building's end of life, which is often longer than our own human life span here in West Dorset! You'll have heard of the Building Regulations, which is a set of legislation with approved documents that lay out how a safe, robust and healthy building can be made. By complying with those Building Regulations, we are producing, as far as possible, a design for a safe and healthy home.
Duty Holders
What do I need to do (as a Domestic Client) ?
What will a Architect (Designer) do for my project?
What does the Principal Designer do for my project?
At Theo Green Designs, the majority of our clients are Domestic Clients, so those that are having works carried out on their own homes for their own enjoyment. If this sounds like you then here is what you need to do:
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- Allow time and resource for the building work to be compliant.
- Appoint designers and contractors, a Principal Designer and a Principal Contractor
- Co-operate with the whole project team, so that everyone can perform their duties and roles.
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We will discuss your responsibilites with you at the outset of the project, who we need to have on board for their expertise and let you know how best you can allow us all to perform our responsibilites as well.
As Architects and Designers, we have to consider the potential safety risks in our design from the outset to eliminate, mitigate or manange the forseeable hazards to as far as possible prevent harm to construction workers and the building's occupants throughout its lifespan, so that you can have a safer and healthier building.
We also have to produce good information, so that it can be built correctly and maintained well and communicate with other consultants throughout to ensure compliance. Our duties here are known as 'Designer's Duties'.
We perform these as part of our role as Architects by default, and will work with yourself and other consultants to ensure a compliant, safe and healthy building is designed.
We then have additional duties under the role of Principal Designer, which as a Domestic Client you are obligated to appoint for your project.
Generally speaking, the Principal Designer will be a person with direct control over the design work, (just as the Principal Contractor will be a person with direct control over the building work) and is someone who works closely with the Principal Contractor and the rest of the consultant team to manage, monitor and co-ordinate design matters, to ensure that designed compliance is being translated into actual compliance in the building work.
Again this is all to ensure and be able to prove health and safety throughout the building process and then on into the building's working life.
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