Because Tennessee law doesn’t recognize interior designers as licensed professionals, they are prevented from practicing in many non-residential spaces over 5,000 sf and are not allowed to do any work in assembly, institutional or educational occupancies of any size. It also limits work in tenant spaces to the maintenance of finishes or rearrangement of furnishings unless the space is under 5,000 sf AND is separated from other tenants by a minimum 2-hr. rating. This 2-hr restriction, much more stringent than the state building code, effectively eliminating the ability of interior designers to perform the work for which they are trained and qualified. What client wants to unnecessarily pay for extra fire-rated construction costs just to be able to work with an interior designer? Or to pay for the added cost of an additional licensed professional in addition to an Interior Designer? The provisions of this legislation will provide the opportunity for interior designers to compete in the open marketplace, improve consumer choice, and fulfill their professional potential.

The 2006 International Building Code, which governs construction in Tennessee, states that “(t)he construction documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional where required by the statutes of the jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed” (106.1). Since Interior Designers cannot meet this requirement on large commercial and high-risk projects unless they are licensed, they can only produce such work under the guidance and oversight of a licensed architect or engineer.

In a fire, interior materials play a major part in spreading flames and producing toxic gases. Interior Designers are specially trained in interior materials and their properties, including flammability and toxicity. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), interior finishes and furnishings in public assembly spaces impact the protection of life and property during a fire even more than sprinklers, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting and exit signage. In public spaces, over 700 fires per month involve interior content as the first ignition point of the fire, leading to 23 deaths, and 330 injuries, and over $399 million in direct property damage each year.