California Code of Regulations › Title 21 - Public Works › Division 1 - Department of General Services › Chapter 1 - Division of the State Architect › Subchapter 1 - Safety of Construction of Public Schools › Article 3 - Approval of Drawings and Specifications › Section 16 - Designation of Responsibilities

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
					 General Responsible Charge. For every project there shall be an architect or
					 structural engineer in general responsible charge of plans, specifications, and
					 observation of the work of construction, except that where plans,
					 specifications, or work of construction for alterations or repairs do not
					 involve architectural or structural changes said plans, specifications and
					 observation of the work of construction may be under the responsible charge of
					 a professional engineer qualified to perform services and registered in that
					 branch of engineering applicable to the work.
A project may be divided into parts, provided that each
						part is clearly defined by a building or similar distinct unit. The part, so
						defined, shall include all portions and utility systems or facilities necessary
						to the complete functioning of that part. Separate assignments of general
						responsible charge may be made for the parts.
(b) Delegation of Responsibility. The
					 architect or structural engineer in general responsible charge may delegate
					 responsibility for any portion of the work to, or may employ or retain, other
					 architects or registered engineers. No delegation to, or employment or
					 retention of, others shall be construed as relieving the architect or
					 structural engineer in general responsible charge of his rights, duties, and
					 responsibilities under Sections
					 39148 and
					 81138 of
					 the Education Code and Sections
					 36,
					 41 and
					 44 of these rules and regulations.
Subject to the provisions of the immediately precedent
						sentence, the architect or structural engineer in general responsible charge
						shall employ or retain, under his supervision, professional engineers
						registered in the applicable branches of engineering to design and observe the
						construction, including the making of verified reports (see Section
						36), of the mechanical and
						electrical portions of the work, but this requirement for observation of
						construction may be waived when special mechanical and electrical inspection is
						provided in accordance with Section
						33(c), where the
						elements of the mechanical and electrical portions of the work will not be
						significant to the safety of the building or its occupants.
(c) Assumption of Responsibility. The
					 architect or registered engineer who submits for approval plans and
					 specifications for any project or portion of a project which have been prepared
					 by others shall assume responsibility for the safety of design of the completed
					 construction and for the interpretation of and any necessary amplification of
					 the plans and specifications of the project. He shall manually sign all plans
					 submitted for approval to indicate his assumption of responsibility or may in
					 lieu thereof, sign and submit plans prepared under his own charge. (See Section
					 17(h) for other
					 signatures.)
When an architect or registered engineer accepts the
						responsibility for completion of a project or portion of a project relinquished
						by another, that architect or registered engineer thereby assumes
						responsibility as follows:
(1) If the
					 relinquishment occurs prior to the completion of the design documents all
					 responsibility shall be assumed. (See first paragraph of this subsection for
					 procedure.)
(2) If the
					 relinquishment occurs after the design drawings and specifications have been
					 completed and approved by the office, the assuming architect or registered
					 engineer shall be responsible for the construction of the project in accordance
					 with the design of the relinquishing architect or engineer. The assuming
					 architect or registered engineer shall assume responsibility for the
					 interpretation of and any necessary amplification of the plans and
					 specifications and shall manually sign any such documents prepared for that
					 purpose.