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P.E. Stamp on Steel Joist Shop Drawings

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Berniedog

Structural
Joined
Dec 19, 2005
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200
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US
Frequently I specify steel joists. Typically, we do not require that the shop drawings be sealed by a licensed engineer. Is this typical in the industry? Does anyone require this?

Should I be requiring this?
 
We don't generally require it unless the joists have some unique features, long spans, special loading conditions, etc.

 
I don't require a PE seal and signature on the joist shops or calcs to be submitted with the shops unless the joists are special.
 
Some jurisdictions have required me to get joist cut sheets stamped, but getting them stamped doesn't get the SER off the hook if the joist fails.

 
I always require it. The shop drawings come back with structural design of the members, loads, dimensions and, in many cases, connections. None of this has been performed by me personally and I won't accept the responsibility.
It's just like requiring sealed shop drawings for general steel members on a job - you want them to be sealed because someone else designed all the connections. Why would you accept the liability for that?
From my experience in the Southeast, it is typical in commercial construction to require sealed shop drawings. Only once have I had a problem with this requirement. I'm not sure about other parts of the country.
 
I have always been told that as the SER, you are responsible for all of the structural engineering performed for the project, including the Specialty Engineered work. Just because the Specialty Engineer sealed and signed the shop drawings, doesn't mean you are not responsible for the liability if something fails. I design and detail all framing connections and don't leave it up to the fabricator's detailer. For joists, as long as the joists specified on the drawings are uniformly loaded members specified using the standard SJI specifications, I don't require seals and signatures on the shop drawings because I sized the joists. For joists with special loadings where KSC type joists won't work, I require a seal and signature for the special joist designs.
 
In most jurisdictions, something like that would be required to be sealed by state engineering laws, regardless of whether you require it.
 
Even though the SER does carry the responsibility of specifying a joist or joist girder size, and, in many cases provides loading diagrams, I still prefer to have the shop dwgs sealed. I am more comfortable approving shop drawings when another engineer has put their seal on it, certifying the adequacy of their work.
 
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