Article 3 Approval of Drawings and Specifications

1. General. Before awarding a contract or commencing with construction of a school building project, the school board shall submit an application to the Division of the State Architect and obtain written approval of the plans and specifications for any of the following:

   1. The construction of any new school building, or rehabilitation of or addition to any existing school building. School building is defined in Section 4-314.
   2. The reconstruction or alteration of an existing school building if the estimated cost exceeds $100,000. (See Sections 4-308 and 4-309.)

   3. The lease or purchase of any relocatable building except where occupied as a temporary-use community college building.

      Exception: The school board may award a contract and commence construction of a "relocatable building" for emergency housing in compliance with 4-302(b).

   4. The rehabilitation of a nonschool building to use as a "school building." (See Sections 4-306 and 4-307.)

   It is not necessary to secure approval for maintenance work on school buildings, in accordance with Sections 4-308 and 4-309. See Section 4-314 for the definition of "maintenance."

2. Filing. A separate application shall be submitted to DSA for each school building or group of school buildings on each school site. The application shall be submitted on a form prescribed by DSA. The application shall contain a project name for the school building or group of buildings, the name of the architect or registered engineer in general responsible charge of the work, the names of the architects or registered engineers who have been delegated responsibility for portions of the work (see Section 4-316), the estimated cost of the project and all such other information as is requested thereon.
3. Delayed filing. In case the plans and specifications for the reconstruction or alteration of any school building have not been submitted to DSA under the assumption that the cost will not exceed $100,000, the school board shall, if the bids which are received indicate that the cost will be in excess of $100,000, delay letting a contract until such time as the plans and specifications have been submitted and the approval by DSA obtained. The contract or contracts, when made, shall be based on the duly approved plans and specifications.

Authority: Education Code Sections 17310 and 81142.

Reference: Education Code Sections 17295, 17297, 17302, 81133 and 81138.

HISTORY:

1. (OSA/SS 1/92) Regular order by the Office of the State Architect/Structural Safety Section to amend Section 4-315, Part 1, Title 24, C.C.R. Filed with the Secretary of State on December 15, 1992; effective July 1, 1993. Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 9, 1992.

1. General responsible charge. For every project there shall be an architect or structural engineer in general responsible charge of the preparation of the plans, specifications and observation of the work of construction.

   Exception: Where the plans, specifications or work of construction for alterations or repairs do not involve architectural or structural changes, the 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.

2. Delegation of responsibility. The architect or structural engineer in general responsible charge may delegate responsibility for any portion of the preparation of the plans, specifications and observation of the work of construction, 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 or her rights, duties and responsibilities under Sections 17302 and 81138 of the Education Code and Sections 4-336, 4-341 and 4-344 of these regulations.

   Subject to the provisions of the immediately precedent sentence, the architect or structural engineer in general responsible charge may employ or retain, under his or her supervision, professional engineers registered in the applicable branches of engineering to design and observe the construction, including the making of verified reports (see Section 4-336).

3. Assumption of responsibility. The architect or registered engineer who has been delegated responsibility becomes the "responsible design professional" for that delegated portion of the work. Any design professional delegated responsibility for any portion of the work shall perform the duties prescribed in Section 4-341(c). Any design professional delegated responsibility for any portion of the observation of construction shall perform the duties prescribed in Section 4-341(f).

   When an architect or registered engineer accepts the responsibility for completion of a project or portion of a project started by another, that architect or registered engineer thereby assumes responsibility as follows:

   1. If the change in responsibility occurs prior to the approval of the design documents, all responsibility shall be assumed. (See first paragraph of this subsection for procedure.)
   2. If the change in responsibility occurs after the design drawings and specifications have been approved by DSA, the assuming architect or registered engineer shall be responsible for the construction of the project in accordance with the design of the previous 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 stamp and sign any such documents prepared for that purpose.

4. Acceptance of responsibility. The assumption of general responsible charge or of delegated responsibility shall be established by the following:

   1. Acceptance as architect or registered engineer in general responsible charge for the preparation of the plans, specifications, and observation of the work of construction shall be reported using the form(s) prescribed by DSA.
   2. Acceptance as the responsible design professional to whom portions of the preparation of the plans and specifications has been delegated shall be reported using form(s) prescribed by DSA.
   3. Acceptance as the responsible design professional to whom portions of the observation of work of construction has been delegated shall be reported using form(s) prescribed by DSA. Any change in the assumption of the general responsible charge or of delegated responsibility shall be reported using the form(s) prescribed by DSA. If no form is available for a specific delegation or change, the delegation of responsibility shall be reported in letter form, which shall include an indication that the school board has been notified.

5. Alternates. The applicant, or the architect or registered engineer having general or delegated responsibility, may name one or more persons to act as alternate(s) for the design and/or observation of the work of construction, provided such persons are architects or registered engineers who themselves are qualified under these rules and regulations to assume the responsibility assigned.

   Alternates shall be named on a form prescribed by DSA, or if no form is available, reported in letter form. Letters or forms shall be submitted to DSA prior to performance of work by the alternate and shall include an indication that the school board has been notified.

   Authority: Education Code Sections 17310 and 81142.

   Reference: Education Code Sections 17302 and 81138.

   HISTORY:

   1. (OSA/SS 1/92) Regular order by the Office of the State Architect/Structural Safety Section to amend Section 4-316, Part l, Title 24, C.C.R. Filed with the Secretary of State on December 15, 1992; effective July 1, 1993. Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 9, 1992.