The obligation to carry out a design review arises from the provisions of the respective state building regulations (LBO) and/or from the regulations of the transport administration authorities.
For construction projects subject to the LBO, the requirement for a design review is usually declared by the structural engineer responsible for the design (Verfasser), via the Declaration of Structural Stability (Thuringia, Berlin) or the Declaration of the Structural Engineer (Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt).
In Saxony (from the end of 2025 onwards), commissions for special buildings (Sonderbauten) are issued by the responsible building authority. Commissions for other projects subject to design review are issued directly by the client.
Fees for a design review are invoiced in accordance with the applicable fee regulations of the respective federal states.
In federal states with evaluation and clearing departments (Bewertungs- und Verrechnungsstellen – BVS), such as Saxony, Brandenburg, and Berlin, design review services are generally invoiced to the client directly by the BVS. In federal states without a BVS, such as Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, the responsible building authority invoices the design review fees to the client.
Close cooperation with the evaluation and clearing departments (BVS) ensures independent and transparent determination of fees for all supervised construction projects.
For further information, please refer to:
https://www.bvpi.de/bvpi/de/pruefingenieur/abrechnung-der-pruefleistung.php
For design review enquiries regarding new projects, please provide the following documents and information:
- Set of drawings from the planning approval documentation (floor plans, sections, elevations, etc.)
- Brief description of the structural system and design concept
- Information on the applicable building class
- Client contact details
- Indicative planning, design review, and construction schedule
For design review enquiries regarding structural works on existing buildings, please provide the following documents and information:
- Set of drawings from the planning approval documentation (floor plans, sections, elevations, etc.)
- Brief description of the intended intervention and the structural system/concept
- Construction budget (KG 300/400)
- Specification of the applicable building class
- Client contact details
- Indicative planning, design review, and construction schedule