The toxicity of materials during fires and issues of flammability are dismissed by some states, nor do they regulate the professionals responsible for selecting these materials.

The licensing of interior designers has been a contentious issue for many years. In the meantime, a feeling of apathy has pervaded the field on this issue, which baffles me. Of course, we all recognize a general trend toward deregulation in the United States, and our lawmakers have to be prudent with the resources that are used to regulate professions. However, interior design is a profession that seems to be misunderstood regarding its impacts on health, welfare and safety. How can we better explain the value of our profession and the effect of interior design on our lives?

We have watched in recent years as tragedies related to building safety have unfolded on our TV screens, from the Federal Building in Oklahoma City to 9/11. One of the lessons learned from those tragedies is that trained and educated people need to design spaces to function under the worst circumstances.

We all have been saddened to see a building engulfed by fire while praying that everyone found a safe route out. I have also hoped that a designer was involved who had understood codes and safety regulations that would help save lives in a fire. Every second can count, and every decision is crucial when a building's occupants face an emergency. The materials used and how they protect us are issues where educated designers can provide guidance and expertise during the construction process - even though the occupants of those buildings have no idea that the training and education of the design team can save their lives.

My family once had quite a scare in a beautiful, older hotel when a fire alarm went off in the middle of the night. People have gotten used to false alarms, and that is probably why, when we opened our door, we saw guests were not paying attention to the bells and flashing lights. When my husband saw smoke outside our windows and firemen running in and out, it was evident we needed to evacuate quickly.

Thank God the kitchen fire was small and quickly contained, but I clearly remember hoping the hotel's recent renovation had used a knowledgeable and trained design team. The toxicity of materials during fires and issues of flammability are dismissed by some states, nor do they regulate the professionals responsible for selecting these materials.

It is hard to believe in our day and age that states do not regulate the safety issues we might take for granted. Our firm once worked on a large country club in a state where we had not previously had a project. Our research failed to find the anticipated safety codes. We called various governmental agencies to track down the safety codes for this particular location. We learned there were no state codes or required standards on many of the specified materials. Our project was in a mountainous area a significant distance from any fire station, so we decided to use the highest fire standards for our specifications.

If a design firm had been hired that was not concerned about occupants' safety, the issues might have been ignored. Many owners are not even aware of the decisions that can be made to save lives and property in case of emergencies. This same state also did not license the professionals involved in these decisions, and if a decorating firm rather than an interior design firm had been hired, different decisions could have been made.

Without standards for education, experience and examination, safety and function can be compromised in projects without clients' awareness. On the other hand, the design profession often does not explain to clients the safety issues involved in product selection. It seems our own apathy toward licensure hinders our ability to sell our health, welfare and safety knowledge as part of our required services.

Enhancing the quality of life and functionality within interior environments is a large part of what designers bring to a project. Our projects should be designed so stress can be reduced and people feel their value through the quality of their work environments. Retaining workers, in addition to issues of health such as ergonomics, is a constant concern for industry.

The ability to improve the lives of people in the spaces we design is one of the most valuable assets of our profession. When government agencies are considering ergonomics as a standard for safety, we need to understand that we are the conduits for knowledge on this topic. Businesses and governing bodies are often baffled by the new regulations and information. We are the experts in many fields of study; therefore, we need to be more passionate about ensuring others understand our expertise. How can we expect others to respect us and consider us invaluable, unless we ourselves appreciate the information and expertise we bring to the table?

The public seems to be gaining a better understanding of the complexity of construction issues. Every day, they receive new information about air quality and green design. With the onset of a host of new technologies and new research on human behavior, design decisions require constant education and study to allow for premium results. Without regulation, how can the public be assured that the people hired for their projects have any idea of how to accomplish the goals set before them?

We do not leave other issues of public safety to self-regulation. Our hair is cut by licensed stylists, but in many states our hospitals are designed by people with no required qualifications.

As an industry and profession, we need to be our own loudest advocates, and we need to share the differences we make with others. We cannot sit and let others choose our role, or the lack thereof, in the interiors regulation process. Why do we not challenge others to take and pass the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam?

We do not allow our doctors to simply practice without education and testing. If we are also involved in improving and saving lives with our profession, we need to step up to the plate and prove ourselves through testing. In our profession, the "exams" have become the interior codes, ethics and a host of information that are considered the minimum standards. It is imperative to insist on a real examination. It is not enough to feel confident in our skills; we must be willing to prove it. The NCIDQ exam is important, and regulation is necessary to establish a trustworthy standard within an industry that can have a wide variety of business practices.

We must work toward a day when licensing is a way to assure the public that the interior designer is held to a high standard. We need the teeth of regulation to cull the unethical and unprofessional frithin our field.

I look forward to a future when interior design and professionalism go hand in hand, and we have the full weight of regulation to help promote the highest standards within our field. Our fellow citizens deserve it, and our fellow designers need to work for it. So, apathy: Beware - your days may be numbered.

Juliana M. Catlin, FASID, is founder and president of Catlin Interiors Inc. For more information, call 904-396-5522.