A surveyor, known in Argentina as master of works,[1] is a "qualified technician who intervenes with his own functions in the construction of buildings."[2].
Its name indicates that it is the agent who knows the "Rigging (construction)") of the factories, techniques and means for its execution, that is, who is in charge of the execution tasks and the arrangement of the construction elements and materials on the work. Many quantity surveyors, in fact, perform the functions of construction manager, coordinating teams, directing the work and reviewing the quality of the work as it progresses.
The patron saint of surveyors and technical architects has been, since 1971, Saint Juan de Ortega "Juan de Ortega (saint)"). His name day is celebrated on June 2.
History
The quote corresponds to one of the burials located in the chapels of Santa Clara (Tordesillas) and represents the first historical reference that is preserved about the profession of the surveyor in the Middle Ages. Guillen died in the first half of the century, confirming that this technical profession is one of the oldest in Spain. Its function: Organize the work in technical and economic aspects.
Originally, the term surveyor was the name of a medieval trade dedicated, mainly, to the centering and removing of auxiliary elements, developed in monumental buildings, under the subordination of the architect. At the same time, there were other professions in construction, such as the construction master.
In 1752, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando was created, and on January 24, 1855, the one known as "Luján Decree") instituted the title of Quantity Surveyor, replacing that of Master of Works. The architects claimed for themselves the exclusivity in the project and direction of the works conferred upon them by the royal orders of September 1845 and December 31, 1853, except in towns of less than 2,000 inhabitants and in the others in which there was no architect. Meanwhile, the master builders intended that such exclusivity of the architect's actions be reserved for official and monumental works, with the principle of free competition for professional intervention governing the rest.
The State resolved the conflict with the annulment of the title of Master of Works, replacing it with another new one, that of Surveyor, who could not demand acquired rights or prerogatives, because they had previously well proven the subordination of their activities to those of architects.
History of Surveyors
Introduction
A surveyor, known in Argentina as master of works,[1] is a "qualified technician who intervenes with his own functions in the construction of buildings."[2].
Its name indicates that it is the agent who knows the "Rigging (construction)") of the factories, techniques and means for its execution, that is, who is in charge of the execution tasks and the arrangement of the construction elements and materials on the work. Many quantity surveyors, in fact, perform the functions of construction manager, coordinating teams, directing the work and reviewing the quality of the work as it progresses.
The patron saint of surveyors and technical architects has been, since 1971, Saint Juan de Ortega "Juan de Ortega (saint)"). His name day is celebrated on June 2.
History
The quote corresponds to one of the burials located in the chapels of Santa Clara (Tordesillas) and represents the first historical reference that is preserved about the profession of the surveyor in the Middle Ages. Guillen died in the first half of the century, confirming that this technical profession is one of the oldest in Spain. Its function: Organize the work in technical and economic aspects.
Originally, the term surveyor was the name of a medieval trade dedicated, mainly, to the centering and removing of auxiliary elements, developed in monumental buildings, under the subordination of the architect. At the same time, there were other professions in construction, such as the construction master.
In 1752, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando was created, and on January 24, 1855, the one known as "Luján Decree") instituted the title of Quantity Surveyor, replacing that of Master of Works. The architects claimed for themselves the exclusivity in the project and direction of the works conferred upon them by the royal orders of September 1845 and December 31, 1853, except in towns of less than 2,000 inhabitants and in the others in which there was no architect. Meanwhile, the master builders intended that such exclusivity of the architect's actions be reserved for official and monumental works, with the principle of free competition for professional intervention governing the rest.
The Luján Reform produced a strong reaction from the master builders, whose profession they saw in danger of disappearing. And only two years later, as part of the so-called Moyano Law (1857), the teaching and title of Master of Works was reintroduced, at the same professional level as that of Quantity Surveyor.
The result of the corporate struggle between master builders and architects, which was constantly reproduced until 1871, the year in which the title of Quantity Surveyor was suppressed as a professional qualification, is the Decree of January 8, 1870, which redefines the functions of master builders, whose intervention in official constructions is equated to that of the architect. This situation will change radically only a year later in favor of the architect.
The official reimplantation of the title of Surveyor was produced by a Decree of August 20, 1895. However, the powers corresponding to them were not established until 1902, 1905 and 1912.
The obligatory intervention of the surveyor in all works directed by architects of the state, province or municipality, whose budget exceeds 15,000 pesetas, was achieved in 1919 (R.D. of March 28), establishing that, in towns where there is no architect, surveyors may plan and direct all types of works whose budget does not exceed 10,000 pesetas, except for repairs, in which there is no modification of structure and the external appearance of the facades.
In 1935, based on the Decree of July 16, the mandatory intervention of the surveyor in all works of architecture was established, specifying the functions of the surveyor:
Subsequently, the title of Quantity Surveyor was replaced by that of Technical Architect in execution of works, and its powers were specified in Decree 265/1971, which regulates the powers and professional competencies of technical architects.
Evolution of the profession
At the end of the 1990s, taking advantage of the reform in the building sector based on the Building Planning Law (LOE), his name changed to Technical Architect. Currently, the Technical Architect studies have been replaced by the Graduate in Building qualification (Spain), complying with the Bologna Process.
The term surveyor continues to be used by society today, although the regulated profession of Surveyor as such no longer exists, but was replaced in the legal system by the figure of the Technical Architect and, on the academic level, by the figure of the Graduate in Building.
Professional name and controversy
Currently there is a conflict derived from the Bologna Process, due to which some professional associations unrelated to technical Architecture judicially appealed the official designation of a degree in building engineering. Currently, this problem has not yet been resolved and in the meantime several denominations of the degree survive at the university level: Building Engineering, Technical Architecture and Building Science and Technology, among others. Likewise, the majority of professional associations of technical architects also use the name "surveyor" and "building engineer", both to name their professional association and their profession.
In the rest of Europe, the profession is carried out by figures such as the Ingegnere edile in Italy, the Ingénieur du bâtiment in France, the Ingenieur für Hochbau in Germany. In some Anglo-Saxon countries, the figure of the Building engineer can also be found.
union organization
Many quantity surveyors join the so-called Professional Associations to obtain a series of services for their profession in exchange for a monthly membership fee. These Professional Associations provide services to their members such as continuous training for their members through courses and conferences, the registration of work orders and the approval of technical documentation; voluntary management of fee collection, advice and support in legal, labor and tax aspects; library and documentation services, etc. It is also worth highlighting the insurance, through which surveyors cover professional civil liability risks. The mutual insurance company created by the Colleges of Technical Architects (MUSAAT) is one of the most common insurers among surveyors for these purposes.
The colleges also have among their functions to be intermediaries between the profession and society, advising public administrations, making the profession known, and even acting as intermediaries to attract jobs for professionals. For example, at the initiative of several schools, the ObrasconGarantía.com platform was created in 2016, which allows citizens to contact surveyors to request their services.[3] Likewise, during the confinement due to COVID-19, surveyors from several provinces took the solidarity initiative of helping the population improve the habitability conditions of their homes.[4].
On a more institutional level, Professional Associations also carry out functions such as the organization and control of professional practice and ethics, within their geographical scope. Each College represents the profession in its territorial demarcation, while the General Council of Official Colleges of Surveyors and Technical Architects (CGATE) is the one who does so at a national or international level. The different territorial Colleges of Surveyors and Technical Architects, together with the regional Councils and the CGATE, make up the collegiate organization of Technical Architecture in Spain.
Professional powers
The quantity surveyor, in terms of the modern figure of technical architect or building engineer, has the same professional powers and powers as these. Its main scope of action is the management of building production, and it can carry out the management of works execution, the preparation of energy efficiency certificates, the writing of building evaluation reports, the carrying out of real estate valuations and appraisals, and others. For a complete list of their responsibilities, consult the professional responsibilities of the technical architect.
[2] ↑ Definición de «aparejador» en la página web del Diccionario de la lengua española (versión digital), publicado por la Real Academia Española (consultado viernes 4 de mayo del 2018).: http://dle.rae.es/?id=35NVzKC
The State resolved the conflict with the annulment of the title of Master of Works, replacing it with another new one, that of Surveyor, who could not demand acquired rights or prerogatives, because they had previously well proven the subordination of their activities to those of architects.
The Luján Reform produced a strong reaction from the master builders, whose profession they saw in danger of disappearing. And only two years later, as part of the so-called Moyano Law (1857), the teaching and title of Master of Works was reintroduced, at the same professional level as that of Quantity Surveyor.
The result of the corporate struggle between master builders and architects, which was constantly reproduced until 1871, the year in which the title of Quantity Surveyor was suppressed as a professional qualification, is the Decree of January 8, 1870, which redefines the functions of master builders, whose intervention in official constructions is equated to that of the architect. This situation will change radically only a year later in favor of the architect.
The official reimplantation of the title of Surveyor was produced by a Decree of August 20, 1895. However, the powers corresponding to them were not established until 1902, 1905 and 1912.
The obligatory intervention of the surveyor in all works directed by architects of the state, province or municipality, whose budget exceeds 15,000 pesetas, was achieved in 1919 (R.D. of March 28), establishing that, in towns where there is no architect, surveyors may plan and direct all types of works whose budget does not exceed 10,000 pesetas, except for repairs, in which there is no modification of structure and the external appearance of the facades.
In 1935, based on the Decree of July 16, the mandatory intervention of the surveyor in all works of architecture was established, specifying the functions of the surveyor:
Subsequently, the title of Quantity Surveyor was replaced by that of Technical Architect in execution of works, and its powers were specified in Decree 265/1971, which regulates the powers and professional competencies of technical architects.
Evolution of the profession
At the end of the 1990s, taking advantage of the reform in the building sector based on the Building Planning Law (LOE), his name changed to Technical Architect. Currently, the Technical Architect studies have been replaced by the Graduate in Building qualification (Spain), complying with the Bologna Process.
The term surveyor continues to be used by society today, although the regulated profession of Surveyor as such no longer exists, but was replaced in the legal system by the figure of the Technical Architect and, on the academic level, by the figure of the Graduate in Building.
Professional name and controversy
Currently there is a conflict derived from the Bologna Process, due to which some professional associations unrelated to technical Architecture judicially appealed the official designation of a degree in building engineering. Currently, this problem has not yet been resolved and in the meantime several denominations of the degree survive at the university level: Building Engineering, Technical Architecture and Building Science and Technology, among others. Likewise, the majority of professional associations of technical architects also use the name "surveyor" and "building engineer", both to name their professional association and their profession.
In the rest of Europe, the profession is carried out by figures such as the Ingegnere edile in Italy, the Ingénieur du bâtiment in France, the Ingenieur für Hochbau in Germany. In some Anglo-Saxon countries, the figure of the Building engineer can also be found.
union organization
Many quantity surveyors join the so-called Professional Associations to obtain a series of services for their profession in exchange for a monthly membership fee. These Professional Associations provide services to their members such as continuous training for their members through courses and conferences, the registration of work orders and the approval of technical documentation; voluntary management of fee collection, advice and support in legal, labor and tax aspects; library and documentation services, etc. It is also worth highlighting the insurance, through which surveyors cover professional civil liability risks. The mutual insurance company created by the Colleges of Technical Architects (MUSAAT) is one of the most common insurers among surveyors for these purposes.
The colleges also have among their functions to be intermediaries between the profession and society, advising public administrations, making the profession known, and even acting as intermediaries to attract jobs for professionals. For example, at the initiative of several schools, the ObrasconGarantía.com platform was created in 2016, which allows citizens to contact surveyors to request their services.[3] Likewise, during the confinement due to COVID-19, surveyors from several provinces took the solidarity initiative of helping the population improve the habitability conditions of their homes.[4].
On a more institutional level, Professional Associations also carry out functions such as the organization and control of professional practice and ethics, within their geographical scope. Each College represents the profession in its territorial demarcation, while the General Council of Official Colleges of Surveyors and Technical Architects (CGATE) is the one who does so at a national or international level. The different territorial Colleges of Surveyors and Technical Architects, together with the regional Councils and the CGATE, make up the collegiate organization of Technical Architecture in Spain.
Professional powers
The quantity surveyor, in terms of the modern figure of technical architect or building engineer, has the same professional powers and powers as these. Its main scope of action is the management of building production, and it can carry out the management of works execution, the preparation of energy efficiency certificates, the writing of building evaluation reports, the carrying out of real estate valuations and appraisals, and others. For a complete list of their responsibilities, consult the professional responsibilities of the technical architect.
[2] ↑ Definición de «aparejador» en la página web del Diccionario de la lengua española (versión digital), publicado por la Real Academia Española (consultado viernes 4 de mayo del 2018).: http://dle.rae.es/?id=35NVzKC