SIO - Finland
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Submitted by SIO Admin on Sun, 31/05/2009 - 17:19
SIO - Finland
Professional Organization
Name: 

Finnish Association Of Interior Architects

Address: 
Unioninkatu 26
City and Postal Code: 
00130 Helsinki
Telephone: 
+ 358 – (0)9 – 68 777 444
Fax: 
+ 358 – (0)9 – 68 777 468
E-mail: 
office@sio.fi
Website: 
http://www.sio.fi
Membership / Legal aspects
Legal situation, title protection: 

There is no protection for the title of interior architect. Members of SIO use the title “interior architect SIO” being distinguishable from others who have no formal training.

Admittance policy (for regular membership): 

a) MA-level degree in a University approved by SIO b) BA-level degree in a University approved by SIO and minimum of two years of professional practice (via portfolio) c) learning in practice; minimum of ten years of professional practice with excellent skills (via portfolio)

Other categories of membership: 

Student membership, candidate membership, senior membership and honorary membership.

Rules of Conduct: 

SIO has a code of conduct, which is published in Finnish in a yearly members’ guide/calendar. Translation in English can be obtained from SIO’s office.

Contract guidelines: 

SIO has contract guidelines, which are published in a yearly members’ guide/calendar.

Fee guidelines: 

Not legal in Finland. SIO has fee statistics, which is published in a yearly members’ guide/calendar.

Salary guidelines: 

N.A.

Professional liability: 

Interior architects are liable for their design. Insurance is required by some clients like state, community and universities but it is not compulsory.

Copyright / intellectual property rights: 

Copyrights exists on all levels of design (from sketches to final technical drawings) and it is protected by law.

VAT, sales tax: 

In Finnish ALV. Applies to all services by interior architects. The current percentage is 22%.

Professional Practice
Business licensing: 

Licence is not needed, but companies must be registered to National Board Of Patents And Registration Of Finland and to Finnish Tax office for VAT number.

Working permits: 

EU-members have the right to work without any special work permit.

Building permits: 

Building permit is always required for new buildings and alterations to old ones when changes on the facades, structures, building techniques or use of the building is done. Permit for interior alterations is not needed. Interior architects are not according to the new building code able to apply for building permits (since 2004), but local customs vary.

Building code: 

Building code is national. It contains guidelines and regulations on all aspects of architecture.

Additional rules and regulations
Zoning plan: 

Zoning plan affects also interiors and especially the use of interiors (work-habitation). More information from local municipality.

Assembly permit: 

Included in building code.

Accessibility for disabled persons: 

Included in building code.

Durability, environmental design: 

N.A.

Occupational health and safety: 

Included in building code.

HACCP: 

No Information.

Historic preservation: 

Preservation codes doesn’t include interiors. Additional rules and permits for interiors that are considered to be national heritage are given by National Board Of Antiquities, www.nba.fi/en

Health and safety statement for design phase: 

No Information.

Site regulations: 

Included in building code.

Fire regulations: 

Regulations included in building code. Permits from local fire department.

Other specific regulations: 

No Information.

This page is hosted and maintained by SIO - Finland. SIO - Finland and ECIA are in no way responsible for the information provided.