Engineer without an architect & vise versa

Question

Engineer without an architect & vise versa

richburton (Specifier/Regulator)

(OP)

23 Aug 10 11:11

I am serving on a committee to discuss cross-discipline practice among engineers and architects. What allowance does your state provide for incidental design on projects that require at least one design professional?

For example, Alabama and Alaska allow incidental practice among professionals for less complicated design of buildings with minor importance.

Iowa does not allow any cross-discipline practice but will allow any CAD monkey to design a 1 story 10,000 S.F. office building.

Texas just finished a dramatic legal debate and they are now trying to define overlapping services.

Virginia does not allow architects to perform engineering and West Virginia enforces laws that are biased in favor of engineers.

What about your state?

Thanks!

Ron (Structural) · Answer 1 · 2010-08-23 12:18:50

Florida allows incidental crossover between architects and engineers.

casseopeia (Structural) · Answer 2 · 2010-08-23 12:30:44

At least Iowa requires a CAD monkey! Out here on the left coast, you can get whole subdivisions designed by pot-smoking ex hippies that never got their GED. Well, not quite. I'm not sure it matters. There are plenty of cases I've worked on testifying as to 'standard of care,' where the architect provided 'stamping' services for a buck without so much as a glance at the contractor-designed drawings. I know I've used the line something like, "standard of care!? I don't think the architect followed a standard of sanity."

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

MiketheEngineer (Structural) · Answer 3 · 2010-08-23 16:43:57

Seems to me that Wyoming (I think it was WY) has a pretty good idea. Basially - by training and/or experience - you feel up to it - then knock your socks off. You are the one who is going to get sued when things go wrong.

Here in MO - they fight about it all the time - but seems to be in the Architects' favor - or maybe I am just biased.

brandoncdg (Civil/Environmental) · Answer 4 · 2010-09-16 00:52:34

Some of the cities over here near Los Angeles allow Architects to design grading/drainage plans. It's only when the city forces a Civil stamped plan do we come in and redesign the original poor design.

Lately Architects seem to be getting away with doing their own civil plans a lot more than even a year ago.

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading
http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com
http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com/blog

desnov74 (Electrical) · Answer 5 · 2010-09-16 11:53:54

Here in Illinois architects can stamp whatever they want practically.

MiketheEngineer (Structural) · Answer 6 · 2010-09-16 13:06:31

If I remember correctly - Wyoming had one of the best that basically said "If by experience or training - you think you can handle it - have a go"

I guess they let the courts resolve the ultimate qustion..

Most states seem to wimp out by using the word "incidental" which means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

brandoncdg (Civil/Environmental) · Answer 7 · 2010-09-18 01:03:41

The odd thing about all of this is you don't have to be a licensed Architect to design certain sized buildings. Kind of a useless system if you really think about it closely.

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading
http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com
http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com/blog

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Engineer without an architect & vise versa