Signing & Sealing Documents
I came across this practice problem and am confused as to why the answers I thought were correct, were not.
A recently licensed architect has been asked by their firm to begin to sign and seal drawings. In which of the following situations can the architect ethically sign and seal drawings? Check the three that apply.
(A) The architect has reviewed and approved a certification by a lender on the project
(B) The architect is leading a team of junior architects and is in responsible control of the drawing set
(C) The architect has reviewed shop drawings prepared by a fabricator
(D) The architect is partnered with an unlicensed job captain, but the architect worked on all the drawings
(E)The architect is asked to sign a set of drawings that their licensed colleague created because their colleague is on vacation
(F) The architect prepared the drawings in conjunction with a team of junior architects, whom the architect actively manages
I answered B, C, E, however the correct answers were B, D, F. I based my answers off of the NCARB Model Rules of Conduct. Here was my thought process:
Answer B describes Model Rule 5.1, "An architect shall sign and seal only those technical submissions that were prepared under the architect’s responsible control except as noted in rule 5.2 and 5.3." Having responsible control is the key descriptor here.
Answer C describes Model Rule 5.2 : "An architect of record may sign and seal technical submissions not required by law to be prepared by an architect including information supplied by manufacturers, suppliers, installers, contractors, or from the architect of record’s consultants, when that information is intended to be incorporated into the architect of record’s technical submissions and the architect of record has reviewed such information and can reasonably trust its accuracy." Wouldn't a fabricator fall into the same category as manufacturers, suppliers, installers, etc? Answer C also states the Architect has reviewed the shop drawings, indicating that they are not taking over responsible control.
And answer E describes Model Rule 5.3 : "An architect of record may sign and seal prototypical building documents prepared by an architect licensed in any U.S. jurisdiction, but only if the architect of record determines that such documents are in compliance with the requirements of the project’s jurisdiction and incorporates them into the architect of record’s own technical submissions." I would think this answer would be correct because the colleague who created the document set is licensed, and although the answer doesn't state it, the Architect should have reviewed the docs for compliance before signing.
TIA for any input!
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Hi Dana,
The problem with answer C is that it doesn't mention that the architect was responsible for the arch drawings the shop drawings are intended for. And E is also not a correct choice because the architect hasn't worked on those cds either. If the colleague is going to be gone for several months (or permanently), let's say, then the other architect could review the plans, make any edits necessary, and then stamp them. We cannot go around stamping drawings that were not produced under our direction.
And F is correct, because the architect directed the work of the junior architects. So the architect designed the building, and then had their staff produce the cds. That's ok.
I agree the correct answers are B, D & F. The scenarios where the architect directed the work and then stamped the drawings are the correct choices.
Hope this helps!
Rebekka O'Melia, Registered Architect, NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, Step UP, Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses
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The issue with C is that shop drawings would come in the form of a submittal from the fabricator, and therefore not be "intended to be incorporated into the architect of record’s technical submissions."
The problem with E is that the colleague's work would not be "incorporated...into the architect of record’s own technical submissions." She'd simply be stamping drawings as a matter of convenience for the colleague.
B, D, & F are the correct answers, as the drawings were prepared under the architect's responsible control in all circumstances.
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