The Spanish Act’s (LOE) "express aim is to regulate basic aspects of the construction process, setting out the obligations and responsibilities of the all those involved in the process, as well as the necessary guarantees for it proper implementation, in order to safeguard the quality of buildings via compliance with these basic requirements and to ensure the adequate protection of users’ interests”.

According to the LOE “to be considered buildings... and requiring architectural plans project... are all new building works, ...extensions, modifications, repairs and rehabilitation works..., all major works on registered buildings or other designated as having environmental or historical-artistic protection...”, and regards as “included in the building its permanent installations as well as the building elements which remain attached to the building”.

The LOE establishes the following basic requirements which must be satisfied in order to guarantee the safety of people, the welfare of society, and the protection of the environment:

• those relating to functionality (use, accessibility and access to telecommunication, audio-visual and information services).

• those relating to safety (structural, in case of fire, and of use).

• those relating to habitability (hygiene, health and protection of the environment, protection from noise, energy conservation, heat insulation and other functional aspects).

In its Second Final Provision the LOE authorises the government to approve a Technical Building Code, setting the mandatory standards required to ensure safety and habitability.

For further information, please consult the Building Act 38/1999 of 5th of November 1999