HKIA/ARB PA Paper 5 flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Building Authority

The Director of Buildings under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123); approves building plans, issues consents, and may make closure or demolition orders for unauthorised works.

Section 24 order

A removal or alteration order served by the Building Authority on the owner of an unauthorised building work; it takes effect on service and non-compliance is an offence.

Minor works designation

Under Cap 123N, designated minor works follow simplified requirements; Schedule 1 works need notification before commencement rather than full plan approval.

Limitation period

Six years for simple contract and tort claims, twelve years for deeds, under the Limitation Ordinance (Cap 347); time runs from the cause of action.

Negligence elements

Duty of care, breach measured against a reasonably competent architect, causation of the loss, and recoverable damage; all four must be established.

Fire Safety Code 2011

The Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011 addresses means of escape, fire-resisting construction, and means of access for firefighting and rescue.

Authorised person

A person appointed by the Building Authority under s.3 of the Buildings Ordinance to supervise building works and certify compliance on the Authority's behalf.

Occupation approval

The Building Authority's approval permitting occupation of a new building; it follows notice of completion and precedes lawful occupation under the Buildings Ordinance.

Architects Registration Ordinance

Cap 408 establishes the Architects Registration Board, the register of architects, and the restriction on using the title 'architect' without registration.

Professional misconduct

A breach of the professional code or standards that the Architects Registration Board may investigate, with sanctions including reprimand, conditions, suspension or removal.

Plan refusal appeal

Under s.16 of the Buildings Ordinance, a person aggrieved by a refusal of plans may appeal to the Appeal Tribunal within the period prescribed.

Form BA14

The notice of commencement of building works given to the Building Authority; works must not start before the notice and any required consent are in place.

Conflict of interest

A personal or financial interest that could bias professional judgement; the architect must disclose it and, where necessary, decline the engagement.

PDPO access request

Under Cap 486, a data subject may request access to personal data; the data user must comply within 40 days, subject to statutory exemptions.

HKIA Conditions of Engagement

The professional institute's standard terms for architect appointments, covering scope, fees, and the division of responsibilities between client and architect.

Competence limit

A professional obligation not to accept work outside the architect's field of expertise without obtaining specialist advice or associating a qualified specialist.

Lump-sum contract

A contract where the contractor agrees a fixed price for defined works; the employer bears design risk and the contractor bears construction risk.

Design-and-build

A procurement route where one contractor is responsible for both design and construction, bearing design risk for the works it designs.

Extension of time

An award of additional time for completion where a relevant event delays the works; it protects the contractor from liquidated damages for that period.

Liquidated damages

A pre-agreed sum payable for delay; it must be a genuine pre-estimate of loss, otherwise it is an unenforceable penalty.

Variation valuation

Valued first at contract rates, then at rates derived from them, then by fair valuation; the instruction should precede the work unless urgency applies.

Interim certificate

The architect's periodic certification of work done and sums due; it must be issued within the contract period and supports progress payment.

Practical completion

The stage when the works are complete except for minor defects; it starts the defects liability period and releases part of the retention.

Security of payment

The Construction Industry Council regime requiring a payment response within the contract period and providing adjudication where the response is unpaid.

Novation

The replacement of one party to a contract by another with consent of all parties; common when the employer's architect transfers to a design-and-build contractor.

OTTV

Overall thermal transfer value: a measure of heat gain through the building envelope, capped for prescribed buildings under the Building (Energy Efficiency) Regulation.

BEAM Plus

A Hong Kong green building assessment covering site aspects, energy, water, materials, indoor environmental quality and innovations, with a provisional design-stage rating.

Fire resistance period

The period in minutes for which an element resists fire, determined by element type, building height and use; distinct from a tested assembly's rating.

Concrete grade

Specified by cube strength at 28 days; the grade, cover and exposure class must be consistent with the Code of Practice for Structural Use of Concrete.

Curtain wall testing

Performance tests for air permeability, watertightness and wind resistance; design wind pressure is taken from the Code of Practice on Wind Effects.

Sustainable Building Design Guidelines

Practice notes APP-151 and APP-152 set requirements on building separation, setback, site coverage and greenery, with gross floor area concessions for compliance.