Principal Designer and completion certificate

[flanagaj]

Can anyone provide some guidance here as I read a post on FB about someone unable to get a completion certificate as their architect was unwilling to sign off as principal designer (no idea what that means).  In a nutshell, we did the following.

 

1) Architect A did planning drawings and secured us planning.

2) Technical Architect B did building reg drawings and submitted them to planning.

3) LABC signed off the drawings and gave us an inspection schedule.

4) Warranty provider has also given us their inspection schedule.

 

I thought that so long as we satisfy 3&4 then we'll get a completion certificate and everything is fine.  But I think that maybe I've missed something crucial?

[JohnMo]

I just signed the completion certificate myself

[kandgmitchell]

I just filled in the name of the designer so that'll be architect (2) and the name of the contractor, signed the form myself and sent it back. Didn't hear anything else until the completion certificate dropped through the post.

[Redbeard]

It's not just about points 3 and 4, but if you can cover the points below you could be OK. I have been my own PD.

 

https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/documents/d/guest/guide-to-dutyholders-designer

says:

 

Competence: To satisfy the requirements and carry out any design work as the designer or principal designer, a person or organisation must: - − have the relevant skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours necessary to undertake the function. − carry out the design work in accordance with all relevant requirements. − provide adequate supervision to those in training within the design role whilst carrying out the work and ensure that those under supervision are not appointed as principal designers. − consider that an individual wishing to designate themselves as a principal designer within an organisation must take all reasonable steps to satisfy themself that they have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours necessary to manage the function of principal designer.

[flanagaj]

13 minutes ago, Redbeard said:

It's not just about points 3 and 4, but if you can cover the points below you could be OK. I have been my own PD.

 

https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/documents/d/guest/guide-to-dutyholders-designer

says:

 

Competence: To satisfy the requirements and carry out any design work as the designer or principal designer, a person or organisation must: - − have the relevant skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours necessary to undertake the function. − carry out the design work in accordance with all relevant requirements. − provide adequate supervision to those in training within the design role whilst carrying out the work and ensure that those under supervision are not appointed as principal designers. − consider that an individual wishing to designate themselves as a principal designer within an organisation must take all reasonable steps to satisfy themself that they have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours necessary to manage the function of principal designer.

If you have a physical copy of the LABC regs that you refer to for required works, then surely that must satisfy part of the requirement.

 

Still, good to know that I can sign it myself.  What is the actual point of the signed document though?

[JohnMo]

8 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

What is the actual point of the signed document though?

Someone is declaring the property is completed to building regs and all planning drawings. It's a legal document.

 

Any muppet could sign it, so they have asked for the PD to sign, so competent person.