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Colorado Interior Design Coalition P.O. Box 3187 Denver, CO 80201-3187
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Interior Designers Work to Regulate Their Profession
Interior designers throughout the United States and Canada have been working over the past couple of decades to introduce and pass legislation that regulates their profession. Currently, 25 states and all Canadian provinces have legislation in place, and legislation has been introduced in eight other states. It is estimated that there are more than 23,000 interior designers who are regulated in the United States.
Interior design legislation typically is either a “title act” or a “practice act.” A title act regulates the use of a specific title, whereas a practice act requires professionals to obtain a state license to perform any interior design services.
Why is the regulation of interior designers important? Because every decision an interior designer makes involves public health, safety, and welfare in one way or another. Regulation would establish enforceable standards of minimum competency and recognition as a qualified professional.
The standard established in most interior design legislation is comprised of the “Three E’s”: education, experience, and examination. A total of six years of combined education and experience is required for designers to become eligible to take the examination, which is administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. The rigorous, two-day exam covers those aspects of the practice of interior design that affect public health, life safety and welfare, in addition to testing for knowledge of business practice and construction administration.
Registration or certification is not currently required to practice or use the title “interior designer” in Colorado, but there is unique legislation in place in this state. In 2001, legislation was enacted that placed language within the architect’s regulatory statute that allows interior designers who are qualified by education, experience and examination to submit nonstructural construction drawings for building permits. This permitting exemption, the first of its kind in the state, also requires interior designers to carry professional liability insurance. However, there is no method in place to regulate the number of qualified professional interior designers in Colorado, and consequently the statute has been difficult for local building officials to verify.
The professional interior designer who is qualified by education, experience and examination has the knowledge to enhance the function, safety and quality of interior spaces. Professional interior designers have the knowledge and ability to create construction drawings and documents in compliance with applicable building and safety codes.
Interior designers are vital members of building development teams, working hand-in-hand with architects, engineers, contractors, brokers, building owners and facility managers. Their knowledge-based decisions about the properties of furniture, fabric and carpeting that comply with fire and building codes, the ergonomics of work spaces, traffic flow and means of egress, and providing solutions for persons with special needs are essential to the built environment. Designers also bring critical and creative thinking, knowledge of communication and technology for the purposes of improving the quality of life, increasing productivity, and assuring the protection of occupants. Other services provided by interior designers include programming, space planning, design analysis, drawings, project management, and fabrication of nonload-bearing elements of interior spaces in buildings, all of which contribute to the success of a project.
The Colorado Interior Design Coalition is the advocacy group working on behalf of professional designers to advance interior design legislation. CIDC is supported by the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the International Interior Design Association and independent designers throughout the state. For more information about interior design legislation in Colorado, go to www.cidc-colorado.org.
Article by: Stephen Catterall, IIDA Reprinted with permission of Colorado Real Estate Journal
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