The professionals of a mosque project
Once the land is spotted, a mosque project is built with people of the trade. Some are imposed by law, others are simple prudence. Here is who steps in at each stage, what each one produces, and the official directory to find them near you.
In the cities of medieval Islam, a magistrate called the muhtasib watched over the markets and the fairness of the trades, down to the building crafts and the quality of their work. Building has always called for people of the art, and someone to answer for it.
In a construction project, the association is the project owner: it decides, orders and bears the responsibility. It surrounds itself with a design team, the architect and the engineering offices that design and follow the works. Around them step in, at each stage, professionals some of whom are required.
1. Buying the land
Before signing, two professionals secure the acquisition: one establishes what you are really buying, the other transfers ownership.
Chartered land surveyor (géomètre-expert)
Legal monopolyThey fix the certain boundaries of the plot and, if you detach a lot from a larger piece of land, they establish its division. Without a boundary survey, you buy an approximate area and lay yourself open to disputes with neighbours.
The only profession empowered to survey boundaries and to divide land, since the law of 7 May 1946. A boundary survey is strongly advised before any purchase, and it becomes necessary to sell a lot arising from a division.
Notary (notaire)
RequiredThey draw up the authenticated deed of sale, the only recognised means of transferring ownership, check that your association has the capacity to acquire, and secure the arrangement: conditions precedent, easements, terms tied to the financing.
Every property sale goes through a notary. They are also a useful adviser on the status of the acquiring association.
2. Surveying the ground
Land is not judged by its area. What lies beneath decides the type of foundations, and so part of the budget.
Geotechnical engineer
Indispensable in practiceThe soil-study office probes the land and determines what the ground can bear. The first study, known as G1, sheds light on feasibility before purchase; the G2 sizes the foundations once the project is drawn.
The ELAN law requires these studies for individual houses built in areas of medium or high clay. A mosque does not fall within that frame, but the soil study remains technically necessary to found the structure, and both the insurer and the technical inspector will call for it. The map of clay areas can be viewed on Géorisques.
3. Designing the project and filing the permit
Design is entrusted to a project-management team, most often an architect surrounded by engineering offices. It is this team that carries the building permit.
Architect (architecte)
RequiredThey design the building, translate the project into plans and sign the building-permit application. For an association, their involvement is required: the 150 square metre exemption applies only to a private individual building for themselves.
The architect of a place of worship carries a particular demand, between function and symbol.
Technical engineering office
Depending on the projectThey calculate the structure, the water, electricity and ventilation systems, the energy performance expected by RE2020 and, often for a place of worship, the acoustics of the prayer hall.
Most often brought together with the architect within a single project-management team.
4. Building by the rules
Once the permit is obtained, several parties ensure the site is safe and the structure covered. Some are imposed by law.
Technical inspection office
Required above 300 peopleThey check the soundness of the structure and the safety of people, and inspect accessibility. For a place of worship receiving more than 300 people, that is a public-access building in categories 1 to 4, their involvement is required; for a smaller hall, in category 5, it is not imposed but remains prudent.
The public-access building rating of your project determines this obligation. The large accredited bodies are present in every region: Apave, Socotec, Bureau Veritas, Qualiconsult, Dekra.
Health and safety coordinator (SPS)
Required from two firms onwardThey organise safety when several firms follow one another or cross paths on the site. As soon as two firms are involved, the project owner must appoint one.
An obligation set by the labour code. The task is often carried out by the same bodies as the technical inspection.
Structural-damage insurance (dommages-ouvrage)
RequiredTaken out before the site opens, it pre-funds repairs falling under the ten-year guarantee without waiting for the outcome of a lawsuit. The association, as project owner, is bound to it just as a private individual would be.
Article L242-1 of the insurance code. If no insurer accepts the risk, the central tariff bureau can be called upon to set the guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Do you really need an architect to build a mosque?
Yes. The exemption that lets you do without an architect below 150 square metres concerns only private individuals who build for themselves. An association that carries a place-of-worship project must use an architect to file its building permit.
Is the technical inspection office always required?
No, it depends on the size. Technical inspection is required for public-access buildings of the 1st to 4th category, that is above 300 people. For a 5th-category prayer hall, below this threshold, it is not imposed by law, but it remains strongly advised for the safety of the structure.
Is the soil study required for a mosque?
Not under the ELAN law, which targets only individual houses built in a medium or high clay zone. But a geotechnical study remains technically indispensable to size the foundations of a public building, and the insurer as well as the technical inspector will request it. In practice, it is always carried out.
Who must take out the structural-damage insurance?
The association, as project owner, must take it out before the works open, whether it falls under the 1901 law or the 1905 law. This insurance, provided by article L242-1 of the insurance code, pre-funds the repairs covered by the ten-year guarantee without waiting for the outcome of a dispute.
In what order should these professionals step in?
By following the project: the surveyor and the notary to acquire the land, the geotechnician to know the soil, the architect and the engineering offices to design and file the permit, then the inspection office, the safety coordinator and the insurance before and during the works. Each stage prepares the next.
To go further
This page complements our overview, Building a mosque in France. To spot land, the tool Finding land crosses floor area and planning zone plot by plot. And to understand the classification that conditions several of these obligations, see the type V public-access building. To find these professionals, or to register your activity, our professionals area brings together those who know these projects.