When used in this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)        Architect. – A person who is duly licensed to practice architecture.

(1a)      Architect Emeritus. – A person who has been duly licensed as an architect by the Board and who chooses to relinquish or not to renew a license to practice architecture and who applies to and is approved by the Board after review of record, including any disciplinary action, to be granted the use of the honorific title “Architect Emeritus.”

(1b)      Architectural firm. – A professional corporation certified by the Board as meeting the requirements under this Chapter for registration for the practice of architecture.

(2)        Board. – The North Carolina Board of Architecture and Registered Interior Designers.

(2a)      CIDQ. – The Council for Interior Design Qualification.

(3)        Firm certificate. – A certificate of firm registration issued by the Board recognizing the firm named in the certificate as meeting the requirements for the firm practice of architecture or interior design.

(4)        Firm practice of architecture. – “Practice of architecture,” as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 83A-1(7) by a firm which is organized or domesticated in this State, and which holds a current “firm certificate” from this Board.

(4a)      Firm practice of interior design. – “Practice of interior design” as defined in subdivision (8) of this section by a registered interior design firm organized or domesticated in this State that holds a current firm certificate from this Board.

(5)        Good moral character. – Character as tends to assure the faithful discharge of the fiduciary duties of an architect or registered interior designer to his or her client. Evidence of lack of such character shall include the willful commission of an offense justifying discipline under this Chapter, the practice of architecture in violation of this Chapter, the practice of interior design in violation of this Chapter, or of the laws of another jurisdiction, or the conviction of a felony.

(5a)      Interior design. – Includes, but is not limited to, the preparation of reflected ceiling plans, space planning, creation or alteration of paths of egress, occupancy calculations, provided no increases in occupancy or number of exits is required, selection of furnishings, and the fabrication of nonstructural elements within and surrounding interior spaces of buildings. The term “interior design” specifically excludes the following:

a.         The design of or the responsibility for architectural and engineering work, except as explicitly provided for within this Chapter.

b.         Altering or affecting the structural system of a building.

c.         Changing the means of access system.

d.         Changing the building’s live or dead load on the structural system.

e.         Changes of use to occupancies not already allowed by the current building.

f.          Changes to life safety plans, including exiting and exit stairs.

(6)        License. – A certificate of registration issued by the Board recognizing the individual or firm named in the certificate as meeting the requirements for registration under this Chapter.

(6a)      Nonstructural element. – An element of a building or structure which does not require structural bracing and is not one or more of the following:

a.         Load-bearing wall.

b.         Load-bearing column.

c.         Beam.

d.         Truss.

e.         Lateral force-resisting component.

f.          Any other load-bearing element of a building or structure which is essential to the structural integrity of the building.

(7)        Practice of architecture. – Performing or offering to perform or holding oneself out as legally qualified to perform professional services in connection with the design, construction, enlargement or alteration of buildings, including consultations, investigations, evaluations, preliminary studies, the preparation of plans, specifications and contract documents, administration of construction contracts and related services or combination of services in connection with the design and construction of buildings, regardless of whether these services are performed in person or as the directing head of an office or organization.

(8)        Practice of interior design. – The preparation of working drawings and documents relative to interior construction, materials, finishes, space planning, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment as defined in subdivision (5a) of this section. Except as provided herein, interior design services do not include services that constitute the practice of architecture as defined in this Chapter or the practice of engineering as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 89C-3

(9)        Reflected ceiling plan. – A ceiling design plan which is laid out as if it were projected downward and which may include lighting and other elements.

(10)      Registered interior design firm. – A business corporation certified by the Board as meeting the requirements for registration under this Chapter for the practice of interior design.

(11)      Registered interior designer. – A person who is duly registered and who is qualified by education, experience, and examination to engage in the practice of interior design as authorized by the Board. A registered interior designer shall possess the authority to sign and seal interior technical submissions covering the scope of the practice of interior design and shall have the authority to submit construction documents where the registered interior designer is the contract holder and Designer of Record to a State or local government entity for the purpose of obtaining requisite permits for an interior construction project. A registered interior designer may only sign and seal interior technical submissions within the scope of the practice of interior design defined by this Chapter.

(12)      Registration. – A certificate of registration issued by the Board recognizing the individual or firm named in the certificate as meeting the requirements for registration under this Chapter.

(13)      Space planning. – The analysis, programming, or design of spatial requirements, including preliminary space layouts and final planning. ?(1915, c. 270, s. 9; C.S., s. 4985; 1941, c. 369, s. 3; 1951, c. 1130, s. 1; 1957, c. 794, ss. 1, 2; 1979, c. 871, s. 1; 2021-81, s. 1.)