Alongside technicians, engineers, and architects, authorized builders could also function

Prague – In addition to authorized technicians, engineers, and architects, authorized builders could also begin to operate. These would be individuals authorized to lead the execution of construction projects in the role of construction managers, who would not need permission to process project documentation. The amendment to the so-called authorization law will be discussed by the government on Monday. The introduction of a new type of authorized person is welcomed by the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians Active in Construction (ČKAIT) and the Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA). Both chambers participated in the amendment of the law.

Currently, according to the explanatory report submitted by the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR), fields are taught at high construction schools that focus on the professional management of construction execution, but not on the actual design of constructions. Construction managers must be authorized engineers and must have experience with the preparation of project documentation in order to obtain authorization. The amendment aims to remove and clarify certain provisions, thereby strengthening the legal certainty of authorized persons, applicants for authorization, as well as ČKAIT and ČKA.

According to the chairman of the legislative committee and vice-chairman of ČKAIT, František Konečný, it will be easier for experienced construction workers to obtain authorization after the change is adopted. The main reason for introducing a new type of authorized person was the current shortage of authorized construction managers in the market. "The construction manager is a very important person. The newly defined profession 'authorized builder' will have significant importance for construction companies that have a high demand for authorized construction managers,” Konečný stated.

Jan Kasl, chairman of ČKA, also views the introduction of the authorized builder institute as a step in the right direction. However, he believes it must lead to a clearer division of responsibility in the process of preparing and executing constructions. At the same time, it must not weaken the role of authorized architects, urban planners, landscape architects, and engineers where their expertise is irreplaceable, he added.

Kasl also pointed out that the change in the law has subsequently been adjusted based on the opinion of the government legislative council. This version has not yet been discussed with ČKA. "We continue to lack the authority of professional chambers to establish minimum, hence safe, time requirements for individual project phases. Such delineation is especially important for public procurers, who need to have a basis for determining a safe price for project work and for assessing whether the proposed scope of services corresponds to professionally and responsibly executable performance,” he added.

The amendment to the law also includes, for example, clarifications of the powers of individual bodies of professional chambers. According to MMR, these are technical changes, and neither ČKAIT nor ČKA have issues with them.

In recent times, various associations and experts, in addition to ČKAIT and ČKA, have pointed out the shortage of workers in construction. Data from the Czech Statistical Office indicates that in 2005, about 60,000 people were studying fields in the group of engineering, manufacturing, and construction, which accounted for approximately 21 percent of all university students; last year, it was about 12 percent, or approximately 39,800 students.