ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY
BEYOND CATEGORIES:
Rethinking the IDoW in 2026
Linke Ströhmenger
SAIAT
The revised Identification of Work policy gives architectural professionals clearer guidance on competence, complexity, and scope, while allowing room for progression.
The final gazetting of the revised Identification of Work( IDoW) policy as per the South African Council for the Architectural Profession( SACAP) on 27 March 2026, marks a significant moment for the architectural profession. While it is often read as a regulatory framework defining what each category of registration may or may not do, the IDoW is more nuanced, and, in practice, far more flexible, than many assume.
At its core, the IDoW exists to ensure that architectural work is undertaken by competent, appropriately registered professionals. This safeguards public health, safety, and the built environment.
The 2026 revision builds on the 2021 framework, reinforcing a shift away from rigid, prescriptive limitations toward a competencybased system aligned with project complexity.
One of the most important developments in the revised policy is the strengthened relationship between education, professional competencies, and project complexity. The framework links National Qualifications Framework( NQF) levels, SACAP’ s 10 professional competencies, and defined complexity ratings – low, medium, and high – into a structured basis for determining scope of work across all categories of registration.
Compared to the 2021 IDoW, the revised policy places clearer emphasis on competency alignment, more explicit definitions of complexity, and stronger enforcement provisions related to professional responsibility. It also introduces a more deliberate integration of risk, highlighting the potential implications for both the architectural professional and the client when work is undertaken outside of the prescribed scope.
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