DIR 05/25 | On the Reporting of Measurements in Compliance Checks

1. Purpose

This Directive establishes a uniform standard for the rounding and reporting of measurements by members of the profession when carrying out compliance checks against statutory requirements or regulatory provisions. The purpose is to ensure consistency, clarity, and alignment with the units and precision specified in the applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

 

2. Scope

This Directive applies to all periti undertaking compliance checks, inspections, or certifications where reference is made to dimensional or quantitative requirements established in Maltese law, subsidiary legislation, or official policy documents.

 

3. Principle of Alignment with Regulation

1. Measurements reported in compliance checks shall have the same number of decimal places as prescribed in the referring regulation, policy, or statutory instrument.
2. Where the regulation specifies two decimal places, the measurement shall be reported to two decimal places, irrespective of the precision of the measuring instrument.
3. Where the regulation specifies a single decimal place, the measurement shall be reported to a single decimal place.
4. Where no decimal points are specified in the regulations, the measurement shall be reported to two decimal places.

 Example A:

• • Regulation 15 of the Development Planning (Health and Sanitary) Regulations (S.L. 552.22) prescribes clear internal heights to two decimal places. Accordingly, all reported measurements of internal heights shall be rounded and reported to two decimal places.

 Example B:

• • Sub-regulation 16(1) of the same Regulations prescribes distances in backyards and internal yards to one decimal place in its tabulated provisions. Accordingly, all reported measurements of such distances shall be rounded and reported to one decimal place.

 Example C:

• • Sub-regulation 12(a) of the same Regulations prescribes that the minimum cumulative external aperture of habitable spaces in text with no reference to any decimal places. In such cases, all reported measurements of such distances shall be rounded and reported to two decimal places.

4. Rounding Convention

1. The Kamra tal-Periti is hereby adopting the rounding convention known as “rounding half away from zero” (commercial rounding).
2. Under this system:
   • Values equidistant between two representable numbers shall be rounded to the nearest value away from zero.
3. For clarity:
   • Measurements between 2.591m and 2.594m shall be rounded down to 2.59m.
   • Measurements between 2.595m and 2.599m shall be rounded up to 2.60m.

 

5. Application and Effective Date

1. All compliance reports, including valuation reports and bank forms, submitted by periti after the date of effect of this Directive shall conform to the above principles.
2. This Directive shall enter into force on 1st September 2025.

 

Perit André Pizzuto
President

 

UPDATED ON 29/08/2025 TO INCLUDE FOR SITUATIONS WHERE NO DECIMAL PLACES ARE SPECIFIED.