Working with a designer

[AndyRonLI]

Folks,
I am a full time engineer in a field that doesn't require a license. Inside the walls doing CFD. However I do have my New York stamp and would like to start using it.

I have been approached by a "designer" who has been working with another PE who is retiring. I do not know the details of their arrangement. The designer does custom homes (can you say bad timing on my part ) He has made an informal inquiry as to whether I would be willing to work with him.

Clearly I cannot "rubber stamp" his drawings. So to have them "under my direction" I think I would need to be able to red-line them, and the final copies would need to end up on my computer hard drive. I think that would meet the requirements of NYS.

Now the tricky bit. How much do I charge? This will be an ad-hoc relationship so I thought the first few times I would guestimate my hours to review and look for a flat fee.

Clearly the hours to generate the working drawings will far exceed the hours to do the code check stuff. But the liability is all mine.

Any thoughts on this?? Anyone done any similar work? In NYS?

Thanks

- Andy R

 

[DonPhillips]

I do some similar work occaisionally, along with some drafting. I know 3 residential drafters who sometimes bring me their projects and in some rare cases, I do it all.

Unless they want a firm proposal, I charge by the hour: $100 for strucutral, $80 for MEP, $75 for code consulting, and $45 for drafting. I markup up those rates by 15% for what I perceive is riskier work.

I also carry $1M of professional liability insurance, insist on written contracts, and limit my liability to the value of the contract or $50,000.

Most of my contracts are less than $5000.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Agree w/Don.

However - my minimun is now $500 and usually I push closer to $1000 per house because of the IRC2006/IBC2006 codes.

Make sure you have written agreement with the designers that they DO NOT COPY an architect's or others work. I once got nailed by an architect for copying his work. But when I showed him the agreement and the fact that I sealed an oringal copy and had changed some of HIS beam sizes because they were wrong - he realized what happened and went after the designer. I had supervised the designer but he basically copied plans bought to him by the homeowner.

 

[AndyRonLI]

Gentlemen,
Thanks for your responses. I'll be talking to my Homeowners insurance about at least a liability rider.

Any advice on a good source for contract boilerplates?

Do either of you actually stamp these drawings? Do you control the "release" copy?

Thanks again
- Andy

 

[DonPhillips]

Professional liability insurance is not the same a general liability insurance. My coverage runs over $3000 a year.

I use the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee standard documents. You can download a Word doc and modify to meet your needs. The abbreviated form is 4 pages and you can do lump sum, hourly, etc.

Yes, I stemp them, if needed. In Ohio, 1-, 2-, and 3-family does not require a seal but if your design is something more than simply supported beams, some jurisdictions will require a seal. All commercial require seals.


Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[AndyRonLI]

Don,
Got a link to those documents?
Thanks
- Andy

 

[DonPhillips]

Andy,

Try this:

http://content.asce.org/ejcdc/

and if you are a member of one of those organizations, you can get a discount.

My insurance carrier gave me an excellent manual to ensure your contracts cover key issues including liability limitations. My carrier is XL and so far, have been very supportive.

Good luck.



Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com