cover letter of secretary general of the spanish council of technical architects

Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Aparejadores

y Arquitectos Técnicos

To whom it may concern:

The following is drawn, together with the complementary documentation attached, in order to inform the authorities or representatives of professional associations’ from other countries, or anybody who could be interested, about the Spanish university degree and professional qualification of “Arquitecto Técnico” (Technical Architect).

To that end, we attach hereto, on sealed and numbered folios, a short description of the

academic training and of the professional functions that Technical Architects perform in Spain

in accordance with the legislation that applies for the purpose.

With the aim that these observations may be properly evaluated, it is necessary to clarify that

the Professional Association which I represent is recognized and protected by the Spanish

Kingdom, and has been granted, according to the Statutes that govern it (approved by Royal

Decrees 1.471/1977, May the 13th [BOE no. 153, June the 28th, 1977], 497/1983, February

the 16th [BOE no. 62, March the 14th, 1983] and 542/2001, May the 18th [BOE no. 135 June

the 6th, 2001] and 1.639/2009, October the 30th [BOE no. 287, November the 28th, 2009])

and to the Professional Associations Law, the exclusive representation of the Technical Architect

profession in the national and international context, the regulation of the practice of the

profession and the defense of the interests of the professional group that represents. It is, in

short, a “Competent Authoritie” in the sense provided on the Directive 2006/123/EC of the

European Parliament and of the Council, of December the 12th, 2006, on services in the

internal market.

Madrid, May the 23th 2013

THE SECRETARY GENERAL

Attached Information about the academic studies and professional capacities of the Technical Architects (with

this eight numbered and sealed pages, written on just one side)

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Academic Training

In accordance with the provisions of 2nd Section of the First Additional Provision of the Royal

Decree 1393/2007 of October 29th, which establishes the organisation and planning of

official university education, in the academic year 2010 – 2011, there were no longer offer of

university places for first year new students in the academic degree of Arquitecto Técnico

(Technical Architect). This Degree was adapted to the so call European Higher Education Area,

and the new degree was denominated, in most cases, “Grado en Ingeniería de Edificación”

(Degree in Building Engineering).

The degree of Arquitecto Técnico is consistent with the definition provided by Article 3.1.a)

and the qualification level of Article 11.d) of the Directive 2005/36/EC and entitles the

holder to pursue the regulated profession of Arquitecto Técnico (Technical Architect).

It is a Degree obtained after taking postsecondary regulated education (Article 3.1.e. of the

Directive 2005/36/EC) and that has a duration of at least three years.

Main areas of study

1. Management of the Execution of the Building (Site Management).

2. Management and Control of the quality of the building.

3. Construction materials and their recycling.

4. Building systems, technology and architectural graphic expression.

5. Structural systems and installations in buildings.

6. Production management systems on site, businesses and rules and regulations.

7. Management of the building process (timing, economics, measurements and valuations).

8. Projects. Health and Safety and Prevention.

Although the university degree of Arquiteto Técnico appears in Spain with this name with the

reform of the Technical Studies in 1964, the last regulation of its curricula was establish by the

Royal Decree 927/1992, of 17 July 1992, according to which the official university degree of

Arquitecto Técnico is established and the general guidelines for its curriculum approved.

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Arquitectura Técnica

Core subject and description Credits

Areas of study Theory Practical Total

Legal aspects of Construction. Town planning

Legislation in general and as applied to the sector.

Town planning.

0 0 6 Administrative Law Business Organisation Town and Country Planning

Applied economics

Economics in general and as applied to the sector.

Business organisation.

0 0 6 Applied Economics

Business Organisation

Building. Quality Control, maintenance and restoration of Buildings and Architectural Constructions.

History of Construction. Construction Typologies and Systems. Pathology: etiological techniques and techniques for restoration and refurbishment of buildings. Quality control techniques. Maintenance techniques. Rules and regulations.

0 0 21 Architectural Constructions Building Engineering Continuum Mechanics and Theory of Structures

Work Equipments, Installations and Ancillary Resources

Analysis of requirements. Characteristics of teams, installations and ancillary resources for carrying out the works. Rules and regulations.

0 0 6 Architectural Constructions Electrical Engineering Hydraulic Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Building Structures

Elasticity and Plasticity. Materials resistance. Mechanics of ground and foundations. Structural typologies. Building structures. Rules and regulations.

0 0 12 Architectural Constructions Mechanic of the Continuum Medium.and Theory of Structures

Graphic Expression applied to architectural constructions

Descriptive geometry. Architectural drawing. Computer assisted design. Rules and regulations.

0 0 9 Architectural Constructions Architectural Graphic Expression

Physical Foundations of Architecture

General and fluids mechanics. Acoustics. Optics. Thermodynamics. Electricity. Electromagnetism.

0 0 6 Electromagnetism Applied Physics Optics

Mathematical Foundations of Architecture

Linear algebra. Calculus. Geometry. Numerical methods. Statistics.

0 0 6 Mathematical Analysis Operating Statistics and Research Applied Mathematics

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Arquitectura Técnica

Core subject and description Credits

Areas of study Theory Practical Total

Installations

Conditioning techniques. Electrical, mechanical and hydraulic installations. Other installations in building. Control. Rules and regulations.

0 0 12 Architectural Constructions Electrical Engineering Hydraulic Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Construction materials

Materials technology. Applied chemistry. Tests. Control. Environmental impact. Rules and regulations.

0 0 15 Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering Architectural Constructions Continuum Mechanics and Theory of Structures Environmental Technologies

Organisation and Control of Projects. Measurements, Budgets and Valuations

Techniques for analysis, organisation, programming and control of works. Measuring and valuation techniques. Prices analysis and composition. Methods for optimising resources. Rules and regulations.

0 0 18 Architectural Constructions Business Organisation

Projects

Technical Office. Methodology, organisation and management of projects. Rules and regulations. Preparation of an end-of-course project as an integration or summarising exercise

0 0 6 Architectural Constructions Architectural Graphic Expression Building Engineering

Health and Safety and Prevention

Analysis, prevention and control. Rules and regulations.

0 0 6 Architectural Constructions Employment and Social Security law Business Organisation

Topography and Surveys

Techniques for data collection, processing and representation. Surveys.

0 0 6 Architectural Graphic Expression Cartographic, Geodesic and Photogrametric Engineering

The study plan shown above is made up of the basic subjects that have to be studied by everyone taking the course. Each University can add to it whatever optional subjects it thinks appropriate within the parameters defined by the applicable rules and regulations.

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Functions

The exercise of the profession of Arquitecto Técnico (Technical Architect) is supervised by the

Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos Técnicos [Official Professional Association of Technical Architects]

for the place where the professional has his business address, and every professional is legally

obliged to be a member of the Association in order to be able to practice on his own account.

As a generalist who is familiar with the techniques and applies them to the construction process,

the Technical Architect is a figure closely related to the Civil Engineer and/or Construction-

Building Engineer (or Executive Construction Manager, or Executive Construction Supervisor)

who carry out this function in other countries.

The accredited training enables the Technical Architect to carry out a wide variety of activities

in the construction of all kinds of buildings, headed by the Site Management, which involves the

qualitative and quantitative control of the construction and economic aspects of the process. In

addition, the Technical Architect may draft plans or projects for certain types of buildings,

plans and quality control registers, for construction systems and for their installations. He is also

authorized to manage the use and maintenance of buildings during their useful life and, where

appropriate, their restoration.

The Technical Architect also carries out tasks such as advising on contracting and on the

selection and purchase of products, materials and installations; or the obtaining of

administrative authorisations and licences; or the carrying out of studies and the financial

planning for the development; or the monitoring of compliance with the works contract and the

supply contracts. This is the project management function.

In terms of health and safety at work, he may prepare health and safety studies, be

responsible for occupational health and safety coordination in the planning and execution and

take care of Occupational Risk Prevention in companies.

When it comes to environmental management, the Technical Architect is qualified to manage

the waste generated by the process.

As a construction expert he may prepare all kinds of expert reports and documents, either for

individuals or for the courts of justice. He may carry out his activities as a liberal professional in

businesses and in all areas of the public administration (local, regional and state).

And we must not forget the Construction Manager function, which is another very important

facet of professional practice, particularly on major developments.

Aside from all this we have the project activity, which is particularly important in the sphere of

restoration, repair, refurbishing and consolidation works on buildings that have already been

built and in relation to the adaptation and decoration of commercial premises, which also tends

to involve the management of the works themselves.

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The field of teaching and the exercise of the public function is a very important area of professional involvement. We must not forget that in a large number of the 8,000-plus Spanish Town Councils, the technical services (civil servants) are performed by Technical Architects. They are widely found in the regional administrations and also in the central administration.

FUNCTIONS OF THE ARQUITECTO TÉCNICO AS SITE MANAGER (Director of the execution of the building)

(regulated professional activity)

As part of the Technical Directors Team (consisting of the Director of the Building, the Director of the Execution of the Building and, where appropriate, the Health and Safety Coordinator during the execution phase), the Technical Architect:

Assumes the technical function of managing the physical execution of the project and of

carrying out qualitative and quantitative checks on the construction and the quality of what

has been built (quality control).

Verifies the receipt of the construction products on site, organising the carrying out of trials

and tests.

Manages the material execution of the works, verifying ground plans, materials and the

correct execution and arrangement of the constructive elements and services according to

the project.

Records the necessary instructions in the Book of Orders and Attendance.

Site preparation, including land clearing and earth moving

Signs the Site Preparation Certificate and the Final Certificate (which has to be produced

to the Minutes of Acceptance of the project).

Prepares and signs the partial economic certifications and the final settlement of the units

of work performed.

Receives the results of the service trials or tests on materials, systems and installations, which

have to be delivered to him by the building quality control entities and laboratories, which

also have to provide technical assistance to him.

Collaborates on the preparation of the documentation for works performed (Building Book)

and facilitates the results of the check carried out.

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INVOLVEMENT OF THE ARQUITECTO TÉCNICO IN BUILDING WORKS

Mandatory, as “Site Manager” (Director of the Execution of the Building) and component

of the Technical Directors Team (regulated professional activity):

In all new-builds that are principally for residential use in all its forms, or for

administrative, healthcare, religious, educational or cultural use. Similarly, and where

the Director of the Building is an Architect, in the construction of buildings whose

principal use is aeronautical; agricultural; energy-related; water-related; mining;

telecommunications; land, sea, river and air transport; forestry; industrial; naval,

drainage and hygiene engineering; and ancillary to engineering works and their

exploitation.

In all projects planned and managed by an Architect that relate to existing buildings

which correspond to the uses indicated in the preceding paragraph where there is total

intervention or, in the case of partial intervention, where there is an essential variation

in the general external composition, the volumetry or the structural system as a whole or

where the purpose is to change the characteristic uses of the building, all of which

situations are deemed to alter the “architectural configuration” of the building.

In listed buildings or buildings that have some form of environmental or historical-artistic

character which are planned and managed by an Architect, as well as in works to parts

of buildings which affect the elements or parts that are the subject of protection.

Optional, as “Site Manager” (Director of the Execution of the Building) and component of

the Technical Directors Team, in all projects planned or managed by Engineers.

Optional in the planning and management (of the project and site) in:

New-build projects or works to existing buildings whose uses are not listed above, in

accordance with the legal provisions that apply to the profession and depending on his

speciality and specific competences.

Projects involving a new building which is technically simple, where the building is not

for residential or public use, either temporarily or permanently, and where only one

floor is performed.

Projects involving the extension, modification, remodelling or restoration of existing

buildings which do not involve total intervention, which do not give rise to an essential

change in their general external composition, their volumetry or the structural system as

a whole and do not change the characteristic use of the building.

Demolition works.

Decoration works.

Other projects and constructions which do not amount to building works, in accordance

with his speciality.

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Other involvement:

Drafting and signing health and safety studies and drafting health and safety plans.

Technical assistance prior to such actions.

Coordination, at the planning and execution stage, of health and safety in relation to

the construction projects, being incorporated into the Executive Project Management

Team.

Drafting of partial plans or technical documents with his own signature and

responsibility in concrete aspects corresponding to the specialities and specific

competences of the profession.

Carrying out, with his own signature and responsibility, measuring, calculations,

valuations, assessments, appraisals, studies, reports, work plans and other similar tasks.

cover letter of secretary general of the spanish council of technical architects

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