Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
(OP)
I'll offer up several hypotheticals, please offer your opinions, references to engineering law/ethics, etc.
1) Our firm completed a design of a large public timber framed canopy structure and was not hired to perform construction administration. Several years later a structural PE visits the area and notices that lateral braces were never installed. Is the PE required by, morals, ethics, law to report this to the local building official, the structure owner?
2) Repeat scenario #1 except the structural PE's firm did not complete the design of the structure and it is obvious to the PE that braces are needed for lateral stability.
3) Structural PE is hired to do a walk-through evaluation of a public recreational center to provide general recommendations for repairs to bring up to code compliance. If the building is in such disrepair that it could collapse, who does the PE tell? Just the owner, or does the building official need to be informed?
If anyone else has other scenarios please feel free to add.
1) Our firm completed a design of a large public timber framed canopy structure and was not hired to perform construction administration. Several years later a structural PE visits the area and notices that lateral braces were never installed. Is the PE required by, morals, ethics, law to report this to the local building official, the structure owner?
2) Repeat scenario #1 except the structural PE's firm did not complete the design of the structure and it is obvious to the PE that braces are needed for lateral stability.
3) Structural PE is hired to do a walk-through evaluation of a public recreational center to provide general recommendations for repairs to bring up to code compliance. If the building is in such disrepair that it could collapse, who does the PE tell? Just the owner, or does the building official need to be informed?
If anyone else has other scenarios please feel free to add.





RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
I did not let it go.
I would do the same in a shopping center if my guts gave me a bad feeling about the structure.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
1. Owner first, inform him that you will be letting the building official know as well, then do it.
2. Building official (no obligation to owner)
3. Since the building is a public building, tell the director of the building to evacuate and close the building, then call the building official, then follow all in writing.
I was recently driving around the back side of a shopping complex and noticed a natural gas meter behind a dumpster. The dumpster had no enclosure and was the type that has fork slots on either side and is picked up and lifted over the cab of the truck for dumping. It is then set back in place. In engaging the forks to pick up the dumpster, it was obvious that the driver was also sliding the dumpster along the pavement toward the gas meter. There were no protection bollards in front of the meter.
I sent an email to the local building official. A week later there were two bollards in front of the gas meter.
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
To further play devil's advocate:
A) Could I be held liable if I were to walk into a public building with an obvious structural deficiency, not notice it, and then the building collapse?
B) Do I need to closely observe all public structures that I enter to look for deficiencies?
C) What about guards(handrails)? I almost never seen a public guard that was code compliant, do I need to comment on all of those?
Where does this end?
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services
www.infotechpr.net
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
That is different. The engineer in England was a consultant on the job. In sforesman's case A), the engineer was just a visitor to the public building.
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
I have to believe that you are not liable for a building that you didn't design, review, etc. Otherwise, if a building collapses, the ambulance chasers would dig up list of engineers that MIGHT have been in the building and sue them all. I would hope most judges would reasonably toss out such suits, and slap contempt charges on anyone that tried that.
TTFN
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RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
Same thing goes for Construction Admin services. If not specifically hired or paid for CA services, the design engineer is not responsible for it. Same as a doctor is not responsible, if his patient does not buy or take the prescribed medicine.
One is responsible for what he/she is contracted to do and paid for.
Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
We complain about lawyers chasing ambulances just so they can offer a no win no charge (ie, no direct immediate cost)service.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
Regards
Pat
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RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
But a doctor is not supposed to render services to someone who meets on a train, who may have cancer or diabetes, which may eventually be fatal to the patient, without being consulted.
Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
Regards
Pat
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RE: Structural Engineering Law/Ethics/Moral Scenarios
That agreement is nothing to do with RE suggesting you where left of target in another thread.
Regards
Pat
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