The Grenfell Inquiry report is finally published, I know this has been going on for a few years now and a lot of changes to the construction process have already been implemented. I haven’t read it but read the press release so I got the basic information and it was an accumulation of mistakes that created the tragedy. They have improved legislation/regulations and are being used now to improve the process and only time will tell how effective it will be.
On the heels of that report the ARB have just released the ‘Consultation on a new Code of Conduct and Practice for Architects’
As an architect you are expected to:
- Be honest and act with integrity
- Be competent
- Promote your services honestly and responsibly
- Manage your business competently
- Consider the wider impact of your work
- Carry out your work faithfully and conscientiously
- Be trustworthy and look after your clients’ money properly
- Have appropriate insurance arrangements
- Maintain the reputation of architects
- Deal with disputes or complaints appropriately
- Cooperate with regulatory requirements and investigations
- Have respect for others
The code seems pretty boilerplate like the RIBA code with just an extra on the ‘wider impact of our work’, more emphasis on sustainability and reducing carbon. The competency that is required is stressed upon but you would assume that you would know these things when you qualify.
The ARB taking over the CPD and making sure that architects are fulfilling the requirements is going to help a lot. The RIBA is losing credibility in my eyes as they really haven’t been doing a good job, not once was my CPD audited to make sure I had kept up with the requirements.
Maybe the ARB should start selling architects as PD’s since they are making sure that the CPD is done, just a thought.
I haven’t read the report either but what can be seen from the different building journals,they have found problems throughout the construction process and post construction as well.
This all looks like a blame game instead of getting to the root of the problem that there are too many cooks in this construction process.
Responsibility looks like the main factor in the report and who is in control of the project. The whole idea of PD and PC is just making sure that on any project there is a responsible person for the stages. It brings to mind that this problem is with D&B contracts or maybe with those with Contractors Design elements otherwise the architect is the contract administrator so has control/responsibility of the whole project.
The ARB code of conduct is just stating how architects work when going through projects, it’s part of forming relationships with the client and the construction team, gaining a good reputation and hopefully regular work.
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