A specialist design project brings together drawings, written documents and technical calculations that develop the architectural design: structures, electricity, water and drainage networks, gas, fire safety and other applicable disciplines. The documents to be submitted depend on the planning operation, the works and the procedure involved. Each design must be accompanied by the relevant designer’s statement of responsibility; for fire safety in buildings (SCIE), ANEPC’s specific rules also apply.
Coordinate your project’s specialist disciplines
Obra Lisboa brings together architecture, engineering and general renovation work to help transform spaces with functional, properly coordinated solutions.
Contents
What a specialist design project includes and how it connects to architecture
The architectural design defines the building’s layout and character. Specialist disciplines develop the technical solutions that allow it to be built and used safely. Each discipline has its own documentation, but all of them must be compatible with one another and with the architectural design.
- Technical and explanatory report: sets out the adopted solutions and the applicable technical framework.
- Drawings: plans, sections, details and diagrams at an appropriate scale.
- Calculations: sizing or verification documents required for the discipline, such as structures or networks.
- Statements of responsibility: signed by the designer responsible for each project.
Depending on the procedure, specialist designs may accompany the initial application or be submitted at a later stage. Check with the relevant council which documents apply to the works and when they must be submitted. National and municipal submission lists should be read together with the rules in force in the municipality where the property is located.
The most common specialist disciplines and what each one covers
Not every project requires every specialist discipline. The list follows from the type and scale of the intervention, the building’s characteristics and the planning procedure. These are some of the most common:
- Structures: stability, foundations, excavations and retaining works, where applicable.
- Electrical installations: distribution boards, circuits, protective devices and other elements relevant to the project.
- Water supply and drainage: supply and drainage of wastewater and rainwater.
- Gas: internal pipework and connections to appliances where gas is used.
- HVAC: heating, cooling and ventilation.
- Telecommunications: the building’s cable and duct infrastructure.
- Fire safety in buildings: the elements required for the applicable use type and risk category.
- Acoustics, lifts and external works: items that may be needed where the building or intervention justifies them.
For a new house, the set of specialist disciplines is usually broader. For an internal refurbishment that does not change the structure or relevant building services, the list may be more limited. This must be confirmed for the specific case.
Who can sign each specialist design and what responsibilities they assume
Each project must be signed by a professional legally qualified for the discipline concerned, such as an architect, engineer or technical engineer, according to the discipline and the relevant professional framework. Through the statement of responsibility, the designer accepts responsibility for compliance with the standards and rules applicable to the design they sign.
Fire safety has its own requirements. For buildings and venues in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th risk categories, responsibility for preparing the design must be assumed by a professional recognised by the relevant professional association and holding a specialist certification declared for that purpose. For ANEPC opinion requests, the project is signed by a designer registered with that authority.
Also check the status of the designer’s professional civil-liability insurance and the documents requested by the council or consulted authority in your procedure. Digital submission, signatures and file formats must follow the current instructions of the municipal portal or competent authority.
Practical note: before starting the process, ask the designer to identify the applicable professional qualification, confirm their professional insurance and provide the statement-of-responsibility model required for the procedure.
Documents and technical materials the council usually requests
The exact list varies according to the municipality, planning operation and applicable specialist disciplines. Municipal procedures often distinguish documents by discipline and may, in certain situations, provide for full designs or technical data sheets.
- A technical and explanatory report for each discipline.
- Drawings at an appropriate scale, signed by the author where applicable.
- Supporting calculations or sizing documents, where required.
- Discipline-specific technical data sheets, where applicable.
- Statements of responsibility and professional documents requested by the procedure.
- Opinions from external bodies and other submission documents, where mandatory.
Do not assume there is a single format for every council. For example, ANEPC currently sets specific presentation conditions for requests for opinions on fire-safety designs in the covered risk categories, including PDF/A and a qualified digital signature. For all other documents, always check the current instructions of the municipality and submission platform.
What deadlines apply when submitting specialist designs
After the architectural design has been assessed, check with the council which deadline applies to submit the specialist designs and whether the procedure allows an extension. The deadline and the consequences of a late submission depend on the applicable regime and the specific processing of the case.
For fire safety, also check whether an opinion from ANEPC or another authority is needed and which documents apply. Technical and procedural rules may change, so verify the version in force on the date of submission and the instructions of the competent council.
How to prepare and submit the designs, step by step
The process becomes clearer when it is organised from the outset.
- Confirm the procedure and the point at which specialist designs must be submitted with the coordinator and the relevant council.
- Organise files by discipline, including the report, drawings, calculations and the relevant statement of responsibility where applicable.
- Gather the professional evidence and external opinions required for the case.
- Prepare file formats, file identification and signatures in accordance with the current instructions of the relevant portal.
- Keep the receipt of submission and monitor communications about the process.
Practical note: decide who will centralise replies to official requests. A coordinator with access to every discipline can more easily check whether a change in one design affects the others.
If you want to understand how this stage fits into the wider process, our guide to building permits explains the main stages before building or renovating.
How to choose a designer or team and the coordinator’s role
Start with qualifications: the professional must be able to sign the discipline concerned and maintain the professional standing required to carry out that activity. Experience in the municipality where the works are located may also help anticipate the submission method and platforms used in the process.
The coordinator brings the documents together, checks their compatibility, identifies any justified omissions and follows procedural communication within the scope of their appointment. Before hiring, ask:
- Which documents are included within the scope of each design?
- In what format will the files be delivered?
- Which statements of responsibility will be signed?
- Who will follow up on official notices and requests for clarification?
Clear answers help define responsibilities and avoid coordination gaps.
Why we support an integrated approach
A coordinated approach makes it possible to identify incompatibilities between architecture and specialist disciplines before submission or construction: a services route that conflicts with a structural element, a ventilation solution without space allowed for it, or a change that requires drawings from several disciplines to be revised. Resolving these matters during design supports better-informed decisions and reduces the risk of rework.
How we can help with your specialist design projects
At Obra Lisboa, architecture, engineering and construction can be brought together in a single process, according to the service commissioned. The team can support the coordination of designers, preparation of the building-permit process and follow-up of communications received. Three-dimensional visualisations can also help validate decisions before work begins.
Explore our architectural design work and support for building permissions and regularisation on our services page.
Request a quote through our services page and tell us what stage your project has reached.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a specialist design project cost?
The cost depends on the type of works, available information, the number of applicable disciplines and the commissioned scope. There is no single price list; ask for a detailed proposal by discipline before hiring.
How long do I have to submit specialist designs to the council?
Check with the council which deadline applies to your procedure and whether an extension is possible. Do not transfer deadlines from another project or municipality without confirming them.
Do I need every specialist discipline for a renovation?
Not necessarily. The list depends on the intervention: a refurbishment that does not change the structure or relevant building services may require fewer documents than a new build. Confirm the applicable disciplines with the designers and competent council.
Who must sign the fire-safety design?
It depends on the building’s framework and the application. In the 2nd, 3rd and 4th risk categories, ANEPC requires preparation to be assumed by a professional recognised by the relevant professional association and holding a specialist certification declared for that purpose.
Sources and procedural checks
- Lisbon City Council: submitting specialist design projects and the applicable framework.
- ANEPC: designers, requests for opinions and submission conditions for fire-safety designs.
Lisbon City Council notes recent changes to the RJUE and adjustments to its procedures. Before submitting, check the current guidance and the documents requested for your specific application.
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