THE Ministry of Development (MoD) said that effective on October 1, 2016, Authority for Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi) will only accept plans submitted by Qualified Persons.
With the enforcement of the Building Control Order (BCO), 2014 from November 1, 2015, only Qualified Persons may submit plans for development approvals.
Definition of Qualified Persons are architects or professional engineers who are registered and have practicing certificates under the Architects, Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyors Order (APEQSO), 2011 enforced since September 13, 2012.
Those who are not Qualified Persons such as draughtsmen who have the necessary qualifications are required to register as Qualified Persons and obtain practicing certificate under APEQSO to continue to provide their services.
Alternatively, they may serve under the direction or supervision of a registered architect who has in force a practicing certificate as provided by APEQSO.
The objective of enforcing the BCO is to ensure the safety and health of the public through the control of building development.
BCO provides for Qualified Persons and Builders to be responsible for ensuring that the building works carried out comply with the regulations and standards.
For the purpose of implementing the BCO, draughtsmen, who are not Qualified Person, are temporarily allowed to submit plans but limited only to completing ongoing projects that still had contractual obligation with their clients.
In this regard, draughtsmen are requested to submit to ABCi before October 1, 2016 a list of their ongoing projects together with copies of their contracts with clients.
New submissions of plans not prepared by Qualified Persons will not be accepted from October 1, 2016.
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