Virgina (and most states) allows Certified Interior Designers to prepare construction documents for permit for interior construction.  Certified Interior Designers are, by statute,  professionals.  Certified Interior Designers, by regulation, have seals and are required to stamp construction documents.  There are many practicing Certified Interior Designers that prepare interior construction documents as a part of the full service of Interior Design offered to the public.

The proposed definition of Registered Design Professional recognizes only Architects and Professional Engineers. The council developing the International Building Code conducted hundreds of meeting all over the country and decided to accepted a broad definition of Registered Design Professional and did not limit it to Licensed Architect and Professional Engineer for this very reason.

I have practiced commercial Interior Design for over 30 years.  I prepare construction documents for permit for many localities in Virginia.  It is already very confusing to clerks and inspectors at the permit counter.  Typically, they may turn the drawings away.  Then I have to call back to explain that we are allowed to submit these drawings as these are not structural documents and do not involve a change of use. Then they are accepted, reviewed and approved for construction.

Certified Landscape Architects also submit drawings for permit.  They too are excluded from the narrow definition.  This is our livelyhood and we offer these services as a part of our full design services to the public.  This narrow definition may limit the work we now provide to Architects and Engineers.  This will not only restrict trade and limit the choices for the public but also put many Certified Interior Designers out of business.   

Thank you for your consideration. I would be glad to meet and discuss this further.   

Barbara G. Goodwin, Certified Interior Designer # 0412-000001                                        

804-752-2523