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Are your engineering documents legitimate and is your engineer fully qualified?
When soliciting and receiving engineering or engineering documents you should always evaluate what you are getting. Improperly sealed documents and unqualified practice are two of the most common infractions committed by engineers in the State of Florida. Aside from exposing the engineer to having his/her license disciplined, the public is potentially placed at risk.
Are the engineering documents legitimate?
Simply put, if the engineering documents are not properly signed and sealed they can not be relied upon and most likely constitute a violation of Florida Statutes. Items to look for when evaluating the legitimacy of engineering documents include:
- Is the document sealed?
- Is the date located below the signature and are they both within the embossed area of the seal?
- Does every page of the plans include a title block?
- Do the engineering specifications include a coversheet?
- Does the engineering report include a signature page or cover letter?
- Does the title block, coversheet, signature page or cover letter include; the printed engineer’s name, the printed company name, an address, the engineer’s license number and the certificate of authorization number for the business?
When Signing & Sealing Documents:
F.S. 471.025 (1) “... All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or documents prepared or issued by the licensee and being filed for public record and all final documents provided to the owner or the owner's representative shall be signed by the licensee, dated, and sealed with said seal. The date that the signature and seal is affixed as provided herein shall be entered on said plans, specifications, reports, or other documents immediately under the signature of the professional engineer.”
* Additional Provisions are listed at the end of this article
Is the engineer fully qualified?
In addition to all of the other licensure requirements, engineers that perform designs in connection with structures or facilities covered by the Florida Building Code must complete core curriculum courses on the Florida Building Code. Given that all aspects of structural engineering are governed by the Florida Building Code, mechanical or geotechnical engineers that have not completed core curriculum courses on the Florida Building Code have no business preparing and/or issuing structural plans or details.
Where this most commonly occurs is in the field of restoration. Two typical examples would include mechanical engineers specifying the attachment of roof top mechanical equipment and geotechnical engineers designing structural underpinning of existing structures.
The following is required of Engineers:
F.S. 471.0195 “... All licensees actively participating in the design of engineering works or systems in connection with buildings, structures, or facilities and systems covered by the Florida Building Code shall take continuing education courses and submit proof to the board, at such times and in such manner as established by the board by rule, that the licensee has completed the core curriculum courses and any specialized or advanced courses on any portion of the Florida Building Code applicable to the licensee's area of practice or has passed the appropriate equivalency test of the Building Code Training Program as required by s. 553.841...”
The following is prohibited to Engineers:
F.S. 471.025 (3) No licensee shall affix or permit to be affixed his or her seal, name, or digital signature to any plan, specification, drawing, final bid document, or other document that depicts work which he or she is not licensed to perform or which is beyond his or her profession or specialty therein.
F.S. 471.033 (1)(j) Affixing or permitting to be affixed his or her seal, name, or digital signature to any final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or documents that were not prepared by him or her or under his or her responsible supervision, direction, or control.
Sealed Engineering Plans:
F.A.C. 61G15-23.002 (2) “Each sheet of plans and prints which must be sealed under the provisions of Chapter 471, F.S., shall be sealed, signed and dated by the professional engineer in responsible charge. A title block shall be used on each sheet containing the printed name, address, and license number of the engineer or if applicable, the name and license number of the engineer, and if practicing through a duly authorized engineering business, the name, address and certificate of authorization number of the engineering business...”
Sealed Engineering Specifications:
F.A.C. 61G15-23.002 (2) "...A cover or index sheet for engineering specifications may be used and that sheet must be signed, sealed and dated by those professional engineers in responsible charge of the production and preparation of each section of the engineering specification, and if practicing through a duly authorized engineering business, the name, address and certificate of authorization number of the engineering business, with sufficient information on the cover sheet or index so that the user will be aware of each portion of the specifications for which each professional engineer is responsible...”
Sealed Engineering Reports:
F.A.C. 61G15-23.002 (2) "...Engineering reports must be signed, sealed and dated on a signature page or cover letter by each professional engineer who is in responsible charge of any portion of the report, and if practicing through a duly authorized engineering business, the name, address and certificate of authorization number of the engineering business. A professional engineer may only seal an engineering report, plan, print or specification if that professional engineer was in responsible charge of the preparation and production of the engineering document and the professional engineer has the expertise in the engineering discipline used in producing the engineering document in question...”
If you are concerned about the legitimacy of a document you have received, our Forensics Group is ready to help. Please contact William Bracken at wbracken@brackenengineering.com.
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