SACAP Policy

Effective Date: 07 June 2026

1. About SACAP

The South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) is a statutory body established under the Architectural Profession Act, 2000 (Act 44 of 2000) to regulate the architectural profession in South Africa.

2. System Access and Membership

The AI Assessor Building Compliance system is restricted to registered SACAP members only.

2.1 Eligibility Requirements

• Valid SACAP registration number (PrArch, PSAT, CSAT, CAD, or CAT)
• Current membership status in good standing
• Compliance with SACAP Code of Conduct

2.2 Membership Verification

All users are verified against the official SACAP member database. Access is automatically:

• Granted: For members in good standing
• Suspended: For members with lapsed registration
• Denied: For non-members or suspended professionals

3. Professional Responsibility

This system provides AI-assisted compliance assessments as a support tool. The responsible architectural professional remains fully accountable for all submissions.

3.1 Professional Obligations

• Independently verify all AI-generated compliance findings
• Exercise professional judgment in accepting or rejecting AI recommendations
• Ensure all plans comply with SANS 10400 and applicable regulations
• Maintain professional indemnity insurance
• Sign and seal all submitted plans in accordance with SACAP requirements

4. Certification and Sign-Off

Only registered professionals with appropriate category registrations may certify plans:

4.1 Professional Categories

• PrArch (Professional Architect): Full certification authority
• PSAT (Professional Senior Architectural Technologist): Certification with limitations
• CSAT (Candidate Senior Architectural Technologist): Requires mentor sign-off
• CAD (Candidate Architectural Draughtsperson): Requires mentor sign-off
• CAT (Candidate Architectural Technologist): Requires mentor sign-off

4.2 Mentor Approval Workflow

Candidate members must obtain approval from a designated SACAP-registered mentor (PrArch or PSAT) before submitting plans to municipalities.

5. Code of Conduct

All system users must comply with the SACAP Code of Conduct for Registered Persons, including:

• Acting with integrity and professional competence
• Maintaining confidentiality of client information
• Avoiding conflicts of interest
• Ensuring public health, safety, and welfare
• Compliance with applicable laws and regulations

6. Data Usage and Confidentiality

Building plans and assessment data are treated as confidential professional information:

• Plans are stored securely and accessible only to the uploading professional and designated mentors
• Anonymized assessment data may be used to improve AI accuracy
• SACAP administrators can view all plans for regulatory oversight purposes
• Data is retained for a minimum of 5 years as required by building regulations

7. System Limitations

Users acknowledge and understand that:

• The AI assessment is a support tool, not a replacement for professional judgment
• AI may produce false positives, false negatives, or miss requirements
• Complex or non-standard designs may not be accurately assessed
• The system is under continuous development and improvement
• Municipality-specific bylaws may not be fully covered

8. Prohibited Use

The following activities are strictly prohibited:

• Sharing login credentials with non-members
• Uploading plans on behalf of unregistered persons
• Submitting AI assessments without professional verification
• Misrepresenting AI findings in professional reports
• Using the system for unlawful purposes
• Attempting to circumvent security measures or access controls

9. Disciplinary Action

Violation of this policy or misuse of the system may result in:

• Immediate suspension of system access
• Referral to SACAP's Professional Conduct Committee
• Potential disciplinary action under the Architectural Profession Act
• Legal action for damages or breach of terms

10. Feedback and Reporting

As this is a prototype system, user feedback is essential. Please report:

• AI assessment inaccuracies or errors
• System bugs or technical issues
• Missing regulations or requirements
• Suggestions for improvement

Send feedback to: munetsi.chiunda@sacapsa.com

11. Amendments

SACAP reserves the right to amend this policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated to registered users via email and system notifications.

12. Contact Information