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New Jersey seals on engineering reports

New Jersey seals on engineering reports

New Jersey seals on engineering reports

(OP)
For any of you who write engineering reports in NJ, how do you handle electronic transmittal's of your reports to your clients? NJ is still hung up on embossed seals and says you cant allow photocopy/scans of it, but almost all clients want electronic submittals. This means if you email a client a report, NJ says it shouldn't have a seal on it. But can this be construed that the client never received the work product? Do you follow up with a hard copy to the client in every instance?

RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

Well, I'm not licensed in NJ and don't know the actual laws so take this with that in mind...but your idea of sending them a pdf of the sealed document with a statement on it to the effect:

"AN ORIGINAL HARD COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO TRANSMITTED THIS DATE VIA MAIL WITH AN EMBOSSED SEAL PER NJ STATUTES."

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RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

(OP)
I suppose that is one way around it. But still not a fan of having to print and emboss if its not really needed.

RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

(OP)
Maybe my question should be if anyone has dabbled with electronic signatures. I think that is one way of doing it.

RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

We use electronic signatures - there are all sorts of products out there.
It ultimately depends on whether the NJ board allows them or not.

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RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

I was ranting to my lawyer friends about how no lawyers seem to have even a basic understanding of stats and probability; it seems like the same is true for engineers with the law. What difference does it make whether or not a signature and stamp is scanned on the document? And on the flipside, if something isn't stamped but it can be interpreted that you issued for construction, you will likely be found just as liable in court if you were negligent in some manner.

RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

(OP)
In the forensic world, there's often friction between opposing experts or owners, and I can certainly see someone turning you into the board for something piddly like this. This is particularly true when they don't have a leg to stand on.

RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

We do something similar to JAE's.....

Here is the statement that follows the signature block of all of our electronic submittals....

"This report has been transmitted electronically for expedience. A signed/sealed original will be transmitted by mail."

This is for everything OTHER than a true electronic signature, which we also do, but those don't get the statement.

RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

(OP)
Do you actually mail it then? or just prepare to mail in it in the event its really required?

RE: New Jersey seals on engineering reports

I am registered in NJ and I just print my name and NJ License # at the end of my report. PERIOD Jim

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