PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Instructor: Architect Abelardo Firmeza

COURSE OUTILE:
A. Administering the regular services of architecture
1. Definition of the architect’s role in the building industry
2. Liabilities and responsibilities
3. Methods of selecting the architect
4. The architectural projects
5. The professional fees
6. Inter-professional relationships

B. The spectrum of the architect’s services

1. The pre-design services
2. The regular design services
3. Specialized allied services
4. Construction services
5. Post-construction services
6. Comprehensive architectural services
7. Design-build services

C. Building Laws
1. The laws regulating the practice of architecture
2. The laws affecting housing, real estate, design, general construction, etc.
3. The general conditions of a contract

➢ ARCHITECT
- legally and technically qualified to practice architecture.

Legally
1. 21 years old
2. Pass the board exam with an average of 70% and with no day falling below 50%
Day 1 ​30% ​history of architecture
professional practice
building tech.
​Day 2 ​30% ​utilities
​structural
​Day 3 ​40% ​architectural design
3. Registered
a. PRC – renewable every 3 years during your birth month
b. BIR
• RC – residence certificate
• PTR – professional tax receipt
• OR – official receipt

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 c. SEC – security exchange committee
d. LGU – local government unit
e. DTI – department of trade and industry
4. Filipino

Technically
1. Graduate of BS Architecture
2. 2 years diversified training experience

The The
Abstra Physi
ct cal
World World

architect
1. Concept ​5M’s
2. Document ​ ​Resources in
-reports; pictures; ​Construction
graphics; draw ​1. materials
3. Implement ​2. money
4. Post Implementation ​3. manpower
4. machines
​5. minutes
➢ CODES OF ETHICS
1. General objectives
2. Ideals
3. Success
4. Remuneration
5. Interest of the clients
6. Professional prerogatives
7. Business venture
8. Behavior
9. Criticism
10. Creative endeavor

➢ METHODS OF SELECTION OF ARCHITECT

1. Direct Selection
2. Indirect Selection
a. Referral from another architect
b. Recommendation from a satisfied client
c. Comparative Selection
3. Design Competition

➢ CLASSIFICATION OF ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS

1. NBC – use and occupancy
(National Building Code)
2. FCP – risk of the occurrence of fire
(Fire Code of the Philippines)

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 3. UAP – degree of difficulty in design
(United Architect’s of the Philippines)

➢ LIST OF ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS

1. Simple projects
2. Moderate structures
3. Exceptional structures
4. Residential
5. Monumental structures
6. Repetitive construction
7. Housing projects
8. Extensive detailing
9. Alterations and renovations
10. Consultations and arbitration

Group 1. Simple Projects

- requires no interior partitions
a. Armories
b. Bakery
c. Hangar

Minimum basic fee: 6% of the cost

​50M or less: ​6%=A
​50M to 100M: ​A+5%=B
​100M to 200M: ​B+4%

example:
​55M project
​50M – 3M
​ 5M – 0.25M
​55M – 3.25M

Group 2. Moderate Structures

​- have interior partitions
a. Art galleries
b. City halls
c. Libraries
d. Supermarkets
e. Banks

Minimum basic fee: 7% of the cost

Group 3. Exceptional Structures

​- with consultants
a. Atomic facilities (physicist)
b. Aquarium (marine biologist)
c. Mortuary
d. Medical facilities / hospital
(electrical engineer)

Minimum basic fee: 8%

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 Group 4. Residential
Minimum basic fee: 10%

Notes:
** Condominium
- Considered as high-rise residential building.
- According to FCP:
a. considered as “exceptional”
b. 15m above is considered a high-rise building that requires consultants for:
- elevator
- sprinklers
- structural engineer

Dominant Use
- Basis for classification of groupings
- Example is Mix-Use building

Group 5. Monumental Structures

​- it requires concept
a. expositions
b. mausoleums
c. museums
d. gateways
Minimum basic fee: 12%

Group 6. Repetitive Construction

- using one and the same plan without any minute difference
- used several times
- includes group 1,2,3,&5
1st unit ​: ​MBF of Grp. 1,2,3 or 5
2nd unit ​: ​80% of MBF
3rd unit ​: ​60% of MBF
4th to infinity ​: ​40% of MBF

Group 7. Housing Projects

- includes only houses
1st unit ​: ​MBF
2nd – 10th unit ​: ​(60% of MBF x N) = B
11th – infinity ​: ​B+(30% of MBF x N)

​where: N = no. of units

Group 8. Extensive Detailing

- includes detailing of furniture, cabinets, landscapes and interior

Minimum basic fee: 15%

Group 9. Alterations and Renovations

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 - includes groups 1.2.3.4&5

Minimum basic fee: MBF + 50% of MBF

example:

Group 10. Consultation and Arbitration

- architect is entitled to receive payment on clients when giving an opinion regarding
architectural terms
- as of 1979: P200.00 per hour rate

➢ METHODS OF COMPENSATION

1. Percentage of construction cost

- based on minimum basic fee
2. Multiple of Direct Personnel Expense (MDPE)
- none creative “no-construction” projects.
- ex. feasibility studies
​Architect: ​NRTMf
​Consultants: ​NRTMf
​Staff: ​NRTMf
​Professional Fee: Direct Cost + MP + RE
​
where:
​T : time spend on the project
​N : number of person
​R : rate
​Mf: multiplying factor (2.0-2.5)
​RE: reimbursable expenses
​MP: margin of profit
​-not more than or equal
to 30%

- reimbursable expenses
a. mutual agreement
b. pertinent to the project
c. occur outside of the 100Km radius from the base of operation or office

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 3. Lump Sum + Fixed Fee
- convert the cost to the nearest whole number
4. Professional Fee + Costs
5. Combination Method
- combination of 1,2,3&4
6. Per Diem
7. “Turn Key”
- payments received after all the works has been done

Note:
** 15 days – receive payment after all the working drawings have been submitted.

➢ SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT

Contractor
1. downpayment: 20% - 50%
2. progressive payment: based on partial complition
3. guaranteed bond:
punch listing – inspect the building upon completion
Specialized Allied Services
1. proposal phase: ​5%
2. submission and acceptance
of preliminary drawings: ​25%
3. submission and acceptance
of final drawings: ​50%
4. retention fee: ​20%
total ​100%

Architect
1. proposal phase ​5%
2. schematic design phase​15%
3. submittance of design
development phase ​15%
4. contract document phase ​50%
5. construction phase or
retention fee ​15%
​total ​100%

Notes:
** To get the proposal phase of the architect

from the lot area, determine the buildable area

buildable area = lot area – open spaces

** rule of thumb: 30% open area

ex. buildable area: ​100sqm – 30sqm
​ : ​70sqm
​ : ​P20,000 x 70
​ : ​P1,400,000.00

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 AE (architectural/engineering fee): 10%
​: 140,000.00

proposal phase of 5% = P7,000.00

➢ THE SPECTRUM OF THE ARCHITECT’S SERVICES

UAP Doc. 201

The pre-Design Services

​- non-creative projects (MDPE)

Economic feasibility studies
Physical planning services
Architectural programming services
Site selection and analysis
Site utilization and land-use
Space management
Promotional services

UAP Doc. 202

Regular Design Services

​- sequential process
Schematic design phase

​
-integrated regular engineering services
Design development phase
Contract document phase

​General conditions
​Agreement
​Specifications
​Special Provisions
​Drawings
Construction phase
Milestones of Construction
1. Establishment of References
a. horizontal references
- lot plan, benchmark
b. vertical references
- positioning of elevations
staking plan – positioning of wood as marks for the start of digging and excavation.

2. Excavation
- supervised by the architect and the structural engineer
3. Reinforcements
- check size of bars, spacing, splicing and number of bars.

Support bars for installation of slab reinforcement: “sapatos” or spacer

4. Concreting
5. Finishing

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 UAP Doc. 203
Specialized Allied Services

​- requires consultants, having specified licenses

Physical planning services
Interior design
Landscape architecture
Acoustics, communications and electronics
Comprehensive planning services

Note:
Estimate
** structural: P50.00 – P80.00 per sqm

D. Physical Planning Services

3 types:
1. Site Development Planning
- as of 1979: P5,000.00/has

2. Subdivision Planning in the Urban Area

- as of 1979: P3,000.00/has

Subdivision planning – subdividing or parceling of large lots into smaller lots.

3. Subdivision Planning in the Rural Area

- as of 1979: P2,000.00/has
civil works
- get paid 4% of the cost of the work

​- additional 30% if the terrain is rugged

E. Interior Design
2 types:
1. Interior Decoration
- mainly furniture
2. Interior Design/Architecture
- combination or integration of furniture to its location
minimum basic fee:
- 12% - 20% of the cost of the work
- 15% is mostly used

F. Landscape Architecture
Minimum basic fee: 10% - 15%

G. Acoustics, Communications and Electronics

Minimum basic fee: 10% - 15%

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 H. Comprehensive Planning
1. Physical planning services
2. Economic planning services
3. Socio-cultural planning services
4. Transportation and utilities planning services
- roads and bridges
5. Legal and administrative
- includes form of government

UAP Doc. 204

Construction Services

F ​ ​
full-time supervision: 1% - 1-1/2%
- supervision of the architect on site or its representative from 8am – 5pm

Cm ​construction management:
1-1/2% - 3%

Pm ​project management:
​2% - 5%

UAP Doc. 205

Post-Construction Services
​- making the structure habitable and has occupancy permit

Be ​Bldg. and equipment maintenance

Bg ​Bldg. and grounds administration
PAYMENT SCHEMES
1. Salary method
2. 45 to 6% of the gross monthly rentals

UAP Doc. 206

Comprehensive Architectural Services

​- inclusion of UAP Doc. 201 - 205

​- package services

UAP Doc. 207

Design-Build Services

​- guaranteed maximum cost 10%

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 a. Design-build administration
b. Design-build guaranteed maximum cost

Contractor
- holds the money
- purchase the materials
- payment for laborers

Builder
- compute the payroll
- submit computed payroll to the owner
- canvass and identify suppliers
- no responsibilities in holding the money

➢ UAP Doc. 301: GENERAL CONDITIONS OF A CONTRACT

It establishes the relationship between: Owner-Architect, Owner-Contractor(s), and Contractor-Architect. It stipulates the norms by which the contractor shall
perform his work in accordance with the current trends in the practice of Architecture.

Section 1. Definition and Documents

​Article 1. Definitions
​Article 2. Execution, Correlation and Intent of
Document

​Article 3. Drawings and Specifications

b. As-built
c. Detailed Drawings
d. Shop Drawings
e. Working Drawing
Notes:
Construction
** 6” to 8” - distances of nails
** Every 4” - distances of rivet at ridge roll for roofing
5 Sets of Blue Prints
1 – office of the building official
1 – contractor
1 – owner
1 – fire department
1 – site:
• Only the architect can use the copy at the site.
• May cause “termination” of the contractor in case of lost or mishandled.
• Well-kept at the site.
• Protected by electrical tape, binded by wood and screw and supported by acetate cover.

Additional 4 copies of blue prints

1- homeowner association
1- security of homeowner association

​
ex: town house, condominium, subdivision, etc.
2 – lending institution
a. file
b. appraiser

** 9 copies are free of charge and the succeeding copies are payable.
Conflicts on drawings and specifications or text
• specifications or text will prevail
• if not stated on drawings and specification,
the contractor has the right to do it in the most expensive manner, still the materials have to be approved by the architect.

Section 2
1. Laws
2. Regulations
3. Site Conditions
- the architect should do ocular inspection of the site
4. Permits
- responsibility of the contractor to provide permit on his own expense

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 5. Taxes
- whoever gains pays tax
6. Insurance
a. life insurance
b. property insurance
7. Survey
- actual verification of size of the lots at the cost of the owner
- re-survey when problem occur but at his own expense

Section 3. Equipment and Materials

o Equipments written on quotation submitted by the contractor must comply with actual usage.
o Materials should follow what is written on specifications.

Section 4. Premises and Temporary Facilities

o Define by property line
o Consideration of safety of adjacent lots and users.
Temporary Facilities
1. warehouse
2. bankhouse or barracks
- for stay-in workers
3. office
- for architect’s negotiations
4. utilities
- water, electrical sources, etc.
5. access
- road, pathways, etc.
6. trial usage
7. enclosures
8. signage
- “falling debris”
- “park at your own risk”

Section 5. Protection of Work and Property

Section 6
1. Labor
a. Quantity: no. of worker, lesser the worker when construction is almost finish
b. Quality: proper work designation such as painter, carpenter, steel man, etc.
2. Work
- based on specifications and plans

duration – include ‘liquidated damages’ which means delayed construction to be deducted to the fee.
a. working days – Monday to Friday
b. calendar days – number of days including Saturday, Sunday and holidays
3. Payment
​
- no payment shall be made without the approval of the architect.
Notes:
** duration starts counting 7 days after the acceptance of NTP ‘notice to proceed’.
** within 7 days: mobilization and materials were prepared.
** immediately means 5 days
** s-curve – allowable deficiency is 10%

Contractor
1. Certificate of completion (partial)
2. Request for Inspection
3. Billing
4. Certificate of Non-Financial

When “accepted”
- the architect furnish certificates to the owner:
1. Certificate of acceptance
2. Certificate of payment

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 Notes:
** the contractor may not be paid till 90 days before he go to court.
** substantial completion (98%): the contractor may e paid 100%

Section 7. Contractor-Separate;
Contractors-Subcontractors relations

Section 8. Suspension of Work

People who can suspend work: owner and contractor
1. Owner
a. Bankruptcy – declared by BIR
b. Insubordination – not following orders
c. Non payment
2. Contractor
a. Government stoppage of work
b. Non action of request
- drawings
- materials
- inspection
c. Non payment of workers or materials

Notes:
Involving numbers
** 5 days – means immediately
** 7 days – NTP ‘ notice to proceed’
** 10 days – request for materials and drawings
– notice (stop, begin or resume)
** 15 days – money matters (request for inspection, payments, salary and wages)
** 30 days – arbitration
** 90 days – government stoppage
** 120 days – Building Permit (stoppage)
** 365 days – Building Permit (without construction)
– 3 consecutive board examination failures
– guaranteed bond
– reinstatement
** 3 years – renewal of license
** 15 years – liability of architect to his project

➢ BUILDING LAWS

Practice of Architecture
1. RA 545 – The Architectural Law
2. PD 49 – Intellectual Property Law
3. PD 223 – The Law that created the PRC

​
** Hon. Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe (head)
4. LOI 1000 – The letter of Inspection Mandating Government support only to the A.P.O.
5. EO 164 – The Executive order regulating the hiring of foreign consultants
Article 1. Organization
Article 2. Registration and Exam

​** Qualifications
a. 21 years old
b. Filipino
c. Graduate of BS Architecture
d. 2 years diversified experience
e. High-School Graduate

Article 3. Sundry Provision

a. Foreigners cannot practice if there is no reciprocity
b. Corporation cannot practice architecture
c. Architect who’s employed by the government cannot practice architecture privately

Termination of License
1. Fraudulent Acts
2. Scandalous Acts
3. Criminal Acts
a. Life
b. Property
4. Unsound mind
5. Violation of Code of Ethics

Note:
Designers
** ADB Building – Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
** Bureau of Soil – Japanese architect
** Lung Center and Health Center – George Ramos
** World Trade Center – Minoro Yamasaki

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 ** Only the architect may sign the ‘Architectural Plans’

➢ LAWS THAT AFFECTS HOUSING, GEN. CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN, REAL ESTATE, ETC.

1. PD 1096 – The National Building Code

2. PD 957 – The Condominium and Subdivision Buyers Protective Law
3. BP 220 – The Socialized Housing Law
4. BP 344 – The Law Enhancing the Mobility of the Disabled (The Accessibility Law)
5. PD 1185 – The Fire Code of the Philippines

Notes:
** former president Ferdinand Marcos signed most of these laws
** Architect Roberto “Pentong” Gaite – architect to juries
** Building Permit – issued to buildings having a cost of P15,000.00 of indigenous materials
** Hon. Florante Soriquez – secretary of DPWH

➢ PRIORITY CHAPTERS TO STUDY

NBC:
1. Chapter 1 – General Provision
2. Chapter 2 – Adm. and Enforcement
3. Chapter 3 – Permits and Inspection
4. Chapter 7- Classification and Use
5. Chapter 8 – Light and Ventilation
6. Chapter 12 – Gen. Design and Construction

➢ OTHER INFO
• Apprentice – Designer – Draftsman
- signed by Filipino architect
- current and valid ITR
- under minimum of 6 months work with architect
​- maximum of four architects to sign the logbook
​- 3840 hours
​- while studying, 4 hours a day may count
​- 8 hours a day when working
​- overtime, Saturday and Sundays are not included
- submission of logbook is 30 days before the board exam

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