New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING › Chapter 30 - ARCHITECTS › Part 3 - REGISTRATION AND RENEWAL, DUPLICATE CERTIFICATES, SEAL SPECIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION › Section 16.30.3.18 - INDIVIDUAL SEAL AND DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A. Registration seal specifications: Each
				architect registered in the state of New Mexico shall secure a registration
				seal of the following design: The seal shall have two concentric circles with
				the outer circle measuring one and three-quarter inches in diameter and the
				inner circle being one and one-quarter inches in diameter. The upper portion of
				the annular space between the two circles shall bear the words "STATE OF NEW
				MEXICO" and the lower portion shall bear the words "REGISTERED ARCHITECT". The
				space enclosed by the inner circle shall bear the name of the architect and his
				or her registration number. In no event shall the seal contain more than one
				name of an architect. By placement of a seal and signature on a drawing, an
				architect verifies that his or her registration is valid and that he or she is
				practicing in accordance with the Architectural Act, Sections
				61-15-1 through 13 NMSA 1978 and
				these rules and regulations.
B. Use
				of registration seal:
(1) Each original sheet
				of construction drawings and each cover sheet of specifications, submitted for
				permitting, and reports, prepared by or under the responsible charge of an
				individual architect, must bear the imprint of the seal with the signature of
				that architect and the date of the signature closely aligned to the seal. The
				name and address of the architect must also appear on the sealed page. A
				registrant may apply a seal, signature and date of signature by hand. A
				registrant may affix an electronically-generated seal, signature, and date of
				signature. An electronic signature may be utilized provided the registrant
				utilizes a secure method of affixation; the registrant does not authorize any
				other person to so affix; and the registrant and client have agreed to conduct
				transactions by electronic means. Drawings, reports or documents that are
				signed using an electronic signature shall employ an authentication procedure
				to ensure the validity of the electronic signature. Signature must satisfy
				requirements defined in
				16.30.1.7 NMAC.
(2) As provided in the Architectural Act,
				Subsection A of Section
				61-15-7 NMSA 1978, all plans,
				specifications, plats and reports prepared by an architect or under the
				architect's responsible charge shall be signed and sealed by that architect,
				including all plans and specifications prepared by the architect or under the
				architect's responsible charge on work described in project exemptions, under
				Section 61-15-9 NMSA 1978.
(3) Placing of multiple architectural seals
				on plans, specifications or reports shall not be permitted. The
				architect-of-record must seal, sign and date all construction drawings,
				specifications, and reports prepared by or under the supervision of that
				architect. In doing so, the architect-of-record assumes full responsibility for
				these documents.
(4) Reviewing, or
				reviewing and correcting, technical submissions after they have been prepared
				by others does not constitute the exercise of responsible charge because the
				reviewer has neither control over nor detailed knowledge of the content of such
				submissions throughout their preparation. Any registered architect signing or
				sealing technical submissions not prepared by that architect but prepared under
				the architect's responsible charge by persons not employed in the office where
				the architect is resident, shall maintain and make available to the board upon
				request for at least five years following such signing and sealing, adequate
				and complete records demonstrating the nature and extent of the architect's
				control over and detailed knowledge of such technical submissions throughout
				their preparation. An exception is made for:
(a) architects who review, adapt, and seal
				prototypical projects provided that the project qualifies as a prototypical
				project meaning the original plans were designed by other architects, engineers
				or architects and engineers with the intent of being used in several diverse
				locations with local adaptations;
(b) a kit-of-parts that is a manufactured
				item and the New Mexico registered architect is not responsible for the
				components.
(5)
				Architectural and engineering seals are required for any subsequent and
				physically linked construction to a project which, when seen together with the
				original construction, would have required both seals.
(6) A legally applied seal and signature is a
				permanent part of construction documents and may not be removed for non-payment
				of fees or other civil action.