Reviewing calculations by another enginner received as a submission

[PG35]

Our office policy is not to stamp calculations prepared by another engineer with our "submission stamp". We just review them and keep a copy of the calculations. Althought the stamp is a disclaimer to protect us, the owner of our firm tells us not too stamp the calculations with our stamp. Although we are not responsible for errors, this further protects us if something were to go wrong.

Sometimes I get comtractors insisting that we put our review stamp on the calculation package but I always refuse. I'm going to contact our professional association about this to see what they recommend but I was wondering what the policy is on this at other offices around Canada and the USA.

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[Ron]

If you have them submitted to you and they are in your possession, it makes no difference if you stamp them or not....the assumption is that you have reviewed them in accordance with the submittal process. If you receive them and do not review them, then you could be considered negligent. If you review them and have no objection to them, even if they are wrong, your have not been negligent in the discharge of your duty to review them....as a licensed professional you are allowed to rely on the assertions of other licensed professionals.

If it is obvious that they are wrong, then you may have a duty to reject them. If there is nothing obvious about their competence, then you can take them at face value, say you have reviewed them in accordance with the submittal process and rely on their accuracy.

 

[dik]

If something is wrong... doesn't matter if you notice it... you may not be able to avoid litigation... just having them brings you some exposure... depends on the jurisdiction.

Dik

 

[fel3]

At the four places I have worked, all submittals (including calcs) got a sumbittal review stamp before being returned. However, I always added a comment on the first page indicating what I did and didn't review. For example, I always review things like dimensions, code and spec compliance, safety factors, method of calculation, the results of the calculations and whether the results match their drawings, etc. What I don't do is go through the calcs line by line (though I will spot check).

==========
"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

 

[civilman72]

What entity are you doing the review for? They should be ones to direct you on whether or not you need to indicate review and approval. Because there are often numerous stages of submittals, it's standard (and helpful to the reviewing agency and the design engineer) to have the final copy of the plans/reports indicate that they were reviewed and approved.

You should also inquire with your E&E insurance to get their thoughts.

 

[jgailla]

It is common in my discipline (site civil) to review and shop stamp all delegated engineering submittals.

As others have correctly pointed out, your liability is the same if something goes wrong whether or not you have shop stamped the submittal and in fact the lack of a stamp could be harmful to your case.

There are weasel words on the stamp to the effect that "This review is for general conformance to the project plans and specifications. The contractor/engineer is responsible for complying with all provisions of the contract." I doubt this would help if we were named in a lawsuit.

 

[DST148]

We keep one set of calculations for our records and return the other sets. We don't put shop drawing review stamp but just our company stamp - name, address etc. We typically write a note on the top sheet stating that the calculations were reviewed only for the loadings imposed on the building structure. We do spot check and make sure the loadings and the standards conform to the contract documents. Some times we do write a cover letter stating reasons for not accepting the calculations and request for a resubmittal.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Here we go again - asking a bunch of engineers legal questions. CALL your lawyer.

All responses above bring up some great points ---- not sure where the answer lies.

IF given that scenario - I redo ALL the calcs and seal those AND CHARGE for them --- IMHO

 

[wannabeSE]

PG35,
We stamp calculations. However, if you don't stamp them, considers writing this in the specifications. Then, you have something to reference when the contractor asks for stamped calculations.

 

[darthsoilsguy2]

the language on the stamp just restates what usually is in the project specs general conditions.

i've seen a lot of calcs that are in the middle of the submittal with material properties, warranty, etc. How does that get separated and addressed?

our office rule is "if it's not on paper, it didn't happen." seems like not stamping the "no exceptions taken" would be less defensible since everybody else is stamping their submittals.