SCALE OF CHARGES

ByAARSI TABASSUM.
AMITA SRIVASTAVA.

DUTIES:
The duties that are required to be performed by an architect for various
types of projects have been prescribed by the Council of Architecture under
the Conditions of Engagement and Scale of Charges for respective areas in
the field of architecture. The documents stipulate the parameters within
which the Architect is required to function. However, the Conditions of
Engagement and matters related therewith for a given project shall be
carried out in accordance with the terms and Conditions of Agreement
executed between the Client and the Architect.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The work of an architect is to study his clients needs and to advice, to prepare, to direct and
to coordinate design and to supervise work, executed under a building contract.
The employment of consultants shall be at the architects discretion in agreement with the
client, where consultants are employed the architect shall be responsible for the direction
and integration of their work.
The architect may also nominate specialist sub contractors for the design and execution of
any part of the work.
The architect must have the authority of his client of initiating any stage of his duties. The
architect shall inform the client if the total authorized expenditure or contract period are
likely to be varied.
The architect may authorize material changes in designs if they are necessary, for
constructional reasons, provided that the client is informed without delay.
The architect shall give the periodic supervision and inspection as may be necessary to
ensure that the works are being executed in general accordance with the contract.
Where frequent or constant inspection is required, a clerk of works shall be employed. He
shall be appointed and paid by the client or alternatively may be employed by the architect
who shall be reimbursed.

Professional Liabilities:
Indemnity Insurance: The architect is required to indemnify the client against losses and damages incurred
by the client through the acts of the Architect and shall take out and maintain a Professional Indemnity
Insurance Policy, as may be mutually agreed between the Architect and the Client, with a Nationalised
Insurance Company or any other recognized Insurance Company by paying a requisite premium.
Maintenance of Record: The architect is required to maintain all records related to the project for a minimum
period of 4 years after the issuance of Certificate of Virtual Completion.
Duration: The architect's liability shall be limited to a maximum period of three years after the building is
handed over to / occupied by the owner, whichever is earlier.
Nature of Liability:
An architect is liable for the negligent act which he committed in the performance of his duties. The action
against an architect can be initiated by the Client on satisfying the following conditions :
(a) There must exist a duty to take care, which is owed by an architect to his client.
(b) There must be failure on the part of an architect to attain that standard of care prescribed by law, thereby
committed breach of such duty ; and
(c) The client must have suffered damage due to such breach of duty.

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT :
The Architect shall be paid professional fee in the following stages consistent with the work done
plus other charges and reimbursable expenses as agreed upon.
Stage 1
-On submitting conceptual designs and rough estimate of
cost.
-10% of the total fees payable.
Stage 2
-On submitting the required preliminary scheme for the
Client's approval along with the preliminary estimate of cost.
-20% of the total fees payable less payment already made at
Stage 1.
Stage 3
-On incorporating Client's suggestions and
submitting drawings for obtaining approval from the Client/
statutory authorities, if required.
-35% of the total fees less payment already made at Stages
1 and 2.

Stage 4
-Upon statutory approval, if required and preparation of
working drawings, specifications and schedule of quantities
sufficient to prepare estimate of cost and preparation of
tender documents.
-45% of the total fees payable less payment already made at
Stages 1 to 3.
Stage 5
-On inviting, receiving and analysing tenders; advising Client
on appointment of contractors.
-55% of the total fees payable less payment already made at
Stages 1 to 4.
Stage 6
-On submitting working drawings and details required for commencement of work at site. - 65% of
the total fees less payment already made at Stages 1 to 5
On completion of 20% of the work -70% of the total fees payable less payment already made at
Stages 1 to 6a.
On completion of 40% of the work - 75% of the total fees payable less payment already made at
Stages 1 to 6b(i ).

On completion of 60% of the work - 80% of the total fees payable less payment
already made at Stages 1 to 6b(ii).
On completion of 80% of the work - 85% of the total fees payable less payment
already made at Stages 1 to 6b(iii).
On Virtual Completion - 90% of the total fees payable less payment already made
at Stages 1 to 6b(iv).
Stage 7
-On submitting Completion Report and drawings for issuance of completion/
occupancy certificate by statutory authorities,wherever required and on issue of as
built drawings
-100% of the fees payable less payment already made atvarious stages and
retainer.

EFFECTING PAYMENT TO THE ARCHITECT :

The

fee payable to the Architect shall be computed on the actual cost of works on completion. The
payment due to the Architect at different stages be computed on the following basis:
Retainer : On rough estimate of cost.
At Stage 1 : On rough estimate of cost.
At Stages 2 to 4 : On preliminary estimate of cost.
At Stages 5 to 6b : Accepted tender cost.
At Stage 7 : Actual total cost.
Progressive, on account, payments shall be made by the Client to the Architect against any of the
above stages based on the quantum of work done during that stage, as may be mutually agreed to
between the Client and the Architect.
No deductions shall be made from the fee of the Architect on account of penalty, liquidated
damages, part rates or other sums withheld from payment or recovered from contractors/ suppliers.
When the work is executed wholly or in part with old materials or labour or carriage is provided by
the Client, the percentage fees shall be calculated as if the work had been executed wholly by the
contractor supplying all labour and new materials.
The actual cost of the completed works shall include cost of execution of assigned works, referred
to in Scope of Work and also the cost of equipment & machinery such as Transformers, DG Sets,
Sub-stations, Lifts, Air Conditioning Machines, Pumps & Motors, Water and Sewage Treatment
Plant, etc., but excluding the cost of land.

DOCUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION

CHARGES :
Apart from the professional fee, the Client shall pay to the Architect Documentation and
Communication charges, @ 10% of the professional fee payable to the Architect at all
stages

REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES :
In

addition to the amounts reimbursable against site visits by the Architect/ Consultant, the
Client will reimburse the Architect the following expenses incurred by him for discharge of
his obligations:
Actual cost of travel (to & fro), boarding & lodging and local transport for any visit made by
his staff to the site or such other place as may be necessary in connection with the
execution of work and in connection with the performance of duties referred to in this
agreement.
Cost of presentation models, computer simulation, presentation drawings, etc., prepared at
the instance of the Client for purposes other than the Design and execution of the project.

PROFESSIONAL FEE :
In consideration of the professional services rendered by the
Architect, he shall be paid professional fee and other charges in
accordance with the Scale of Charges for Urban Design/ Urban
Renewal, Site Development and Landscape Architecture, as
assigned.
Any tax levied by law, such as Service tax, etc., contingent to
Professional Services rendered by the Architect, shall be payable by
the Client, over and above the gross fees charged by the Architect in
relation to the services provided.

SCALE OF CHARGES:
The minimum fee for all works shall be the percentage of the total cost of work in
accordance with schedule A to E. The scale of charges show percentages under two
columns. The percentage under column 1 is applicable if structural and mechanical
work is done by consultants and fee under column 2 is applicable when all such
services are performed by architects own staff or if for such services, the consultants
are reimbursed by the architect.

SCHEDULE A: Industrial buildings of factories, warehouses,

garages, agricultural buildings.
Total cost of

Percentage 1

Fee 2

On the first Rs. 5 lacs

5%

6%

On the next Rs. 10 lacs

4.5%

5.5%

On the next Rs. 20 lacs

4%

5%

On the next Rs. 35 lacs

3.5%

4.5%

executed works

SCHEDULE B: Office building, school, colleges and hostels,

public buildings, commercial, communication, recreational buildings,
religious, monumental buildings, banks, clinics, libraries, art galleries,
court houses and apartment buildings.
Total cost of executed Percentage 1

Fee 2

On the first Rs. 5 lacs

6%

7.5%

On the next Rs. 10 lacs

5%

6.5%

On the next Rs. 20 lacs

4%

5.5%

On the next Rs. 40 lacs

3.5%

4.5%

Above 70 lacs

3%

4%

works

SCHEDULE C:
Hotels, hospitals, cinemas, theatres and concert halls,
specialize laboratories, buildings where skill and study
required is high in proportion to cost.
Total cost of

Percentage 1

Fee 2

On the first Rs. 5 lacs

7%

8.5%

On the next Rs. 10

lacs

6%

7.5%

On the next Rs. 20

lacs

5%

6.5%

On the next Rs. 40

lacs

4%

5.5%

Above 70 lacs

3.5%

5%

executed works

SCHEDULE D:
Private residences and individual exhibition stalls and pavillions.
Total cost of

Percentage 1

Fee 2

On the first Rs. 50

thousand

10%

12%

On the next Rs. 50

thousand

8%

10%

On the next Rs. 1

SCHEDULE
E:
lacs

7%

8%

executed works

The housing schemes comes under this section..

For the first

10 units

2%

On the next

90 units

1.5%

On the next

900 units

1%

Above

1000 units

.5%

SPECIAL SERVICES :
The services described under this head require the payment of addition
fees:
Town planning
Garden and landscape design
Interior decoration
Shop fittings and exhibition works
Furniture and fittings
Building systems and conponents
Litigations and arbitration