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Colorado Interior Design Coalition P.O. Box 3187 Denver, CO 80201-3187
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Definitions |
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Click the links below to go to that category of definitions:· Types of Legislation· Legislative Terminology· Profession of Interior Design· The 3 E’s
Types of LegislationPermitting Statute – Colorado’s law is classified as a Permitting Statute. There is no board and there is no title that is regulated. The law is an amendment to the architectural statute, adding an exemption for interior designers who have met the education, experience and examination requirements to submit plans to a building department.
Title Act – A Title Act regulates the use of a title, such as “registered interior designer” or “certified interior designer.” Titles differ from state to state, and some title acts grant interior designers permitting privileges that enable them to submit their drawings to building departments for permits. Title acts do not require individuals to become “licensed” to practice interior design. Title acts govern use of a title only. An individual can practice interior design in a title act state as long as the regulated title is not used. Title acts benefit the public by providing an identifiable choice when hiring a designer; consumers can be confident that state registered interior designers have met the minimum level of professional qualifications.
Practice Act – Practice Acts, in addition to regulating who can call themselves interior designers, require individuals practicing interior design to become licensed. In virtually all such laws, individuals practicing under the direct supervision of licensed designers are not required to be licensed. This particular provision allows people new to the profession to practice under a qualified practitioner while accumulating the requisite years of experience and professional skills to become licensed.
Self-certification – California’s interior design law is a title act that regulates the use of the title “certified interior designer.” The distinction is that there is no state-run accountable board that oversees the profession. The California Council for Interior Design Certification is an independent self-certifying agency specifically referred to in the law as an “interior design organization,” and its members are not appointed by nor are they accountable to the state. There is a state board in every other state with an interior design law (except Colorado), and Board members are usually appointed by the Governor and/or Speaker of the Senate.
Legislative TerminologySunrise Review – the process by which the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) determines whether proposed regulation meets three requirements and should be recommended for legislation:
· Whether the unregulated practice of the occupation or profession clearly harms or endangers the health, safety or welfare of the public, and whether the potential for harm is easily recognizable and not remote or dependent on tenuous argument · Whether the public needs, and can be reasonably expected to benefit from, an assurance of initial and continuing professional or occupational competence · Whether the public can be adequately protected by other means in a more cost-effective manner
Sunset Review – the periodic review of each regulated entity by DORA, who then makes a recommendation to the General Assembly as to whether or not to continue such regulation.
The Profession of Interior DesignThe professional interior designer is qualified by education, experience and examination to enhance the function, safety and quality of interior spaces. Interior design combines knowledge of building codes, critical and creative thinking, communication and technology for the purposes of improving the quality of life, increasing productivity, and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public. Interior design includes specialties in residential, commercial and institutional interiors, including homes, hotels, restaurants, schools and universities, dormitories, office and industrial interiors, health care facilities and nursing homes.
Interior designers’ services include consultations, programming, space planning, design analysis, concept and construction drawings, specification of fixtures and their locations, furnishings, reflected ceiling plans, and the fabrication of non-load-bearing elements of building interiors. All drawings and documents prepared relative to the design of interior spaces are done so in compliance with applicable building and safety codes.
Interior designers have comprehensive professional training and technical responsibilities and must have an understanding of flame spread ratings and fire rating classification of materials; space planning for public and private facilities; national, state and local building codes and standards; requirements of elderly and other special needs groups of the population; lighting quality and quantity; acoustics and sound transmission.
Every decision made by an interior designer involves life safety and quality of life, in one way or another. Some of those decisions include specifying furniture and flooring that comply with fire codes, complying with other applicable building codes, designing ergonomic work spaces, planning spaces that provide proper means of egress and providing solutions for persons with special needs.
The 3 E’s – Education, Examination, and Experience – constitute the minimum level of qualifications a designer must meet in order to be licensed or registered in states that have enacted legislation. A combination of Education and Experience must be obtained in order to qualify for the Examination. (For more details about the requirements, please go to www.ncidq.org and click on Qualification Requirements. |