Engineer seal?

[petersonra]

If your state's PE board is happy, I'm happy.

The West Virginia PE Laws, Rules, and Regulations state that: "The seal and signature shall be used by registrants only when the work being stamped was under the registrant's complete direction and control." That doesn't leave much of a gray area in my mind, but if I wasn't sure I'd do what you did and call them.

It seems to me that a literal interpretation of that rule would preclude any input from anyone that did not work directly for the PE (including the customer), which is an absurd conclusion, even if literally it is what the rule says.

 

[charlie b]

Others can have input. But the engineer of record has to be able to decide what to do with the input. The engineer must control the design.

 

[mayanees]

In Delaware it's called "responsible charge".
As long as the engineer is in responsible charge of the design, he/she can seal the prints.
That's to say that a design firm or an EC can do the design, and bring it to the engineer for his blessing.
Responsible charge means they have the power/authority to modify the design any way they see fit to meet code requirements.

I suppose it also means the engineer could make discretionary changes to the design that the design/EC firm may not have planned on, perhaps based on their experience, which might present risk to a bidder who plans on designing to a certain standard and then gets hit with extras based on the engineers requirements.

But the underlying premise is that the engineer owns the design if he/she seals it - and I'll throw in an added twist - or people working under him - in his responsible charge - are competent.

John M

 

[jrohe]

I sure hope you are not quoting the specs accurately. I would venture to bet the price of a beer that what you have described is a violation of the law in every state in the union. I consider it to also be a serious breach of professional ethics to even suggest that the contractor do what you have described.

If an engineer does not get involved in the design process until it is completed, if the engineer is handed a set of completed plans, then that engineer is forbidden, by law and by our code of ethics, to apply the PE seal, and to sign the plans. Period. End. No discussion.

The only thing a PE can do with a set of completed plans is to perform a review, write a report that describes the results of the review, and apply the seal and signature to the review report.

A PE seal is not, Not, NOT a certification that the plans are OK, that they meet code, or that the PE agrees with the design. A PE seal means one thing, and one thing only. It means, and I quote, In order to be able to make that assertion, the PE?s brain must be engaged in the design process well before the design work is completed.

I agree 100%. "Plan stamping" is illegal and disciplinary action by the State's Board of Engineers can be taken against any PE who stamps anything (drawings, calculations, reports, etc.) that was not prepared under his/her direct supervision. Disciplinary action can range from a reprimand to a fine to revocation of the license or any combination thereof. Additionally, once one State disciplines a PE, any other States the PE may be licensed in will follow suit.