There will be appointed the first twenty-three authorized inspectors

A new feature of the building law, which has been in effect since January of this year, is the introduction of the authorized inspector institution. The first inspectors passed their exams in June, and starting in autumn, after being appointed to the position by the Minister for Regional Development, their services can be utilized. The primary task of the inspector will be to oversee the project and issue building permits. Inspectors can thus replace the activities of building authorities and significantly accelerate the entire construction approval process.

The current building permitting process in the Czech Republic is considerably lengthy. With the introduction of the authorized inspector institution, the entire system could become much more flexible and at the same time at a higher professional level. The inspector will verify the project's documentation and its compliance with related administrative decisions, check adherence to all requirements and parameters, and prepare a professional assessment for issuing occupancy permits or for other purposes according to the building law. Unlike the building authority, however, in case of discrepancies, they do not have to stop the proceedings but will systematically attempt to rectify the project's errors, hold necessary meetings, and will continue the approval process seamlessly. This should lead to a fundamental acceleration of the process. It is thus up to the construction investor whether they choose to utilize the paid services of an authorized inspector or turn to the building authority. This model has been influenced by the functioning of the institute in Germany, Sweden, and England.
The current building law allows for the use of accelerated building proceedings, and therefore the utilization of authorized inspector services for all types of buildings undergoing approval at the municipal office level, which have issued zoning decisions, resolved objections, and provided all necessary documentation. For simpler constructions, such as small family houses, investors are likely not to order inspector services, as it is more economically burdensome. On the contrary, it is expected that a developer company repeatedly constructing specific character buildings or a private or state investor undertaking larger projects will hire such an expert. Inspectors will also be applicable for less common buildings, where oversight might be more complex. In time-limited construction projects, they may manage to comprehensively accelerate the entire process through their activities.
A part of such a specialist's activities also includes supervision of construction execution. It is their legal obligation to create a schedule of inspection visits to the construction site and to determine the individual critical phases of construction. Finally, they will express consent to put the building into operation. Therefore, it is advisable to invite the inspector to inspections, even though they are not legally required to be present at them. However, if complications arise during construction, it is only the building authority that may halt the construction. By redistributing part of the building approval activities to the inspector, building authorities could gain sufficient capacity for ongoing oversight of construction sites.
An authorized inspector may be an authorized architect, engineer, or technician who has at least fifteen years of experience in project activities or in the technical management of construction (or work at a building authority). An applicant for this role must demonstrate their orientation in construction and particularly in the field of civil engineering at a demanding examination before a professional committee appointed by the Minister for Regional Development.
In June, the first examinations were held, in which twenty-three individuals passed. They will be appointed to the position by the Minister for Regional Development in the coming days. Further examinations will take place in November, and by the end of the year, several dozen individuals should be authorized. The records of all authorized inspectors will be maintained not only by professional chambers - the Czech Chamber of Architects and the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and MMR CR, but also information will be posted on special websites for authorized inspectors. Potential clients will have the opportunity to find contact information for the desired inspector in the database and hire their paid services. The estimated hourly fee for services rendered is approximately 1000 CZK.
The implementation of the authorized inspector institution into practice has been entrusted to a twelve-member coordination council, which was appointed in January with leading experts in the field of construction from our country - representatives of the Czech Chamber of Architects, the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers, lawyers from the Czech Society for Construction Law, and other specialists. Although the Council has been functioning for more than nine months, the stance of the ministry responsible for the building law, the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic, regarding this Council and the role of the authorized inspector is not yet clear. The state inserted a paragraph into the building law, but has not yet created sufficiently high-quality conditions for its fulfillment. The Council operates at the level of state administration and should therefore be funded from the MMR's resources. However, all related activities, including financing, have so far been shifted to professional chambers.

Markéta Pražanová
Spokesperson for the Czech Chamber of Architects

In Prague, 8 October 2007

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For more information on applications, examinations, and the register of inspectors, see Act No. 183/2006 Coll., on spatial planning and building regulations, §§ 143 - 151, Decree No. 498/2006 Coll., on authorized inspectors and www.autorizovaniinspektori.cz