HOAI work phases 1 to 9: what belongs in each phase.

Work phases (Leistungsphasen, LP) are the stages into which the HOAI, the German fee structure for architects and engineers, divides every type of service. For buildings and interiors, section 34 sets the percentages and Annex 10.1 lists the basic services in each phase. The percentages split the fee from the fee table across the phases, so they also decide what a single phase is worth.

In short: planning up to approval (LP 1 to 4) accounts for 27 percent of the fee for a building, detailed design and tendering (LP 5 to 7) for 39 percent, and site supervision and aftercare (LP 8 and 9) for 34 percent.

LP 1 Basic evaluation (2 %)

The practice clarifies the brief based on the client's requirements or needs assessment, visits the site and advises on the full scope of services and surveys needed. It also helps the client choose other specialist planners and documents the results. A needs assessment, room schedule, site analysis, survey of the existing building or feasibility study counts as a special service and is agreed separately.

LP 2 Preliminary design (7 %)

The basics turn into a first design concept. The practice aligns objectives with the client, flags conflicting goals, develops and evaluates options and works through the key constraints, from urban planning and design to technical, economic and legal ones. Contributions from specialist planners are coordinated and integrated. The phase ends with the first cost estimate under DIN 276, early talks on whether the scheme can be approved and a schedule.

LP 3 Design planning (15 %)

The design is developed in full, together with the specialist planners, as the basis for approval. Drawings for buildings are typically at 1:100, for interiors at 1:50 to 1:20. Add a project description, talks on approval and the cost calculation under DIN 276, compared with the cost estimate. This phase matters twice for the fee: the cost calculation is the basis for the chargeable costs (section 6 (1)).

LP 4 Approval planning (3 %)

The practice prepares the documents and evidence for the public approval, including applications for exemptions, negotiates with the authorities and submits the application. Drawings, descriptions and calculations are amended until approval is granted. Obtaining neighbours' consent or supporting the client in an appeal are special services.

LP 8 Site supervision and documentation (32 %)

The phase with the largest share. The practice checks that construction matches the approval, the contracts, the working drawings and recognised engineering practice, and coordinates everyone else involved in supervision. It keeps the schedule as a bar chart, documents progress in a site diary, measures work jointly with the contractors and checks their invoices. The phase ends with the final cost statement, an organised acceptance with a list of defects, handover, a list of limitation periods and supervision of remedial work. A payment schedule or acting as the responsible site manager under state law are special services.

LP 9 Aftercare (2 %)

After handover the practice assesses defects that appear within the limitation periods, for up to five years after acceptance of its own services. Before the limitation periods against the contractors run out, it inspects the building and helps release security deposits.

For a building, LP 5 brings in a quarter of the fee. Whether the practice also needs only a quarter of its hours for it is not in any fee table. You only see it if hours are logged against the work phase and the actuals sit next to the fee for that phase.

In teamspace, one click turns the accepted quote into an order and the order into the project, with each work phase as a work package. The team logs its hours against the phase, on the move too via the web app. Plan and actuals sit side by side per phase, and the post-calculation compares order, project actuals and invoice. A practice that sees after three projects that detailed design regularly takes 35 rather than 25 percent of the hours will price the next quote differently.