Stamp / Seal on Study Work
Stamp / Seal on Study Work
(OP)
Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone knows off the top of their head or can point to the specific engineering act clause stating what work *specifically* requires the seal of a professional engineer.
The work I'm looking for clarification on is some technical study work not related to any type of construction (although within the industrial sector).
It is obvious that any design calculations for the purposes of constructing require an engineer's seal. However, where I'm not entirely sure is for the case where a technical study is conducted for the purposes of developing operational procedures, business cases, etc. Additionally, where exactly would PLC programming, development of HMI screens, programming of network switches / firewalls, etc. fall?
I'm mainly looking for Texas, Wyoming and Illinois.
Thanks in advance.
I'm wondering if anyone knows off the top of their head or can point to the specific engineering act clause stating what work *specifically* requires the seal of a professional engineer.
The work I'm looking for clarification on is some technical study work not related to any type of construction (although within the industrial sector).
It is obvious that any design calculations for the purposes of constructing require an engineer's seal. However, where I'm not entirely sure is for the case where a technical study is conducted for the purposes of developing operational procedures, business cases, etc. Additionally, where exactly would PLC programming, development of HMI screens, programming of network switches / firewalls, etc. fall?
I'm mainly looking for Texas, Wyoming and Illinois.
Thanks in advance.
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
ANYTHING produced by someone calling themselves an "engineer" "engaged in the professional practice of rendering service or creative work requiring education, training and experience in engineering sciences and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences in such professional or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning or design of public or private utilities, structures, machines, processes, circuits, buildings, equipment or projects, and supervision of construction for the purpose of securing compliance with specifications and design for any such work" requires a license, and ostensibly, a seal or signature.
Case in point is the self-proclaimed "engineer" who published an analysis of incorrect traffic light timing:
https://ij.org/press-release/oregon-engineer-wins-...
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
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RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
I've gone through several state engineering acts and yes, the provisions are generally congruent.
However, where I'm not getting a clear consensus on is where the industrial exemptions apply. I have rarely, if ever, seen study work (ex. FEED, risk assessments, budgetary evaluations, etc.) with a stamp within the mining and petrochemical sectors.
Would anyone have insight into the industrial exemptions and how they apply to employers vs. consultants?
The below threads provide some good info but I'm not able to draw a concrete conclusion:
https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=189187
https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=416389
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
The industrial exemption is not about the the type work (e.g. studies vs. designs), it address who is the engineer's employer.
If the engineer is an employee of the industrial company and the work is for in-house purposes, the industrial exemption applies no matter what it is (designs, studies, modifications, etc.).
A possible exception: If work for the in-house project affects another party, the industrial exemption may or may not apply.
If the engineer is a consultant's employee, the industrial exemption does not apply for any work. The fact that the consultant's client is the industrial company does not qualify the consultant for the industrial exemption.
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers Entire Forum list http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
Incorrect. The industrial exemption applies to all consulting not offered directly to the public (private citizens) or municipalities. Most consultants in industry do not have have a PE.
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
If you take this napkin and use it to get a building permit, the building inspection office will tell you it needs to be stamped (when the building is large enough to require so).
An example would be soil borings. the soil boring study itself doesn't have to be stamped. the foundation design that is based on that has to be stamped to get the permit. The foundation designer COULD request the soil boring study to be stamped as a CYA measure, but there is no legal requirement. Ultimately it is the foundation designer's responsibility.
The above may be wrong, but is till made this statement as a PE. But I'm not stamping this thread
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
I work for a consulting firm that works for a large number of industrial clients. nearly all our engineers are registered.
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
The first statement is true in some states and not true in others.
The second statement is true in some states and not true in others.
In the structural realm I would guess that almost all consultants for any industry do have PE's on staff that are stamping their drawings and reports (I haven't come across one that doesn't yet). I believe most states consider engineering consultants to be providing engineering to the public whether their client(s) is an industrial client or not - at least in the structural scope.
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
What is the actual thing you are looking at? It's a little hard to discuss in the abstract.
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
Study work in question would be for power system related analyses (harmonic studies, transient motor starting, loadflow, short circuit calculations, reliability assessments, etc.). The study work is not directly related to an installation, but produced mainly to give an industrial customer direction in where to put funding.
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
The above is a specific case obviously, however I'd expect that most Engineering Boards would consider that such a study would constitute professional engineering advice and thus be required to be undertaken by a suitably credentialed professional. Details of who and how PLC Code, HMI presentation for machines and processes are undertaken is a lot more grey, unfortunately.
EDMS Australia
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
This is only a planning study and detailed calculations are not completed. Even though big decisions might be based on this, a PE stamp implies a level of granularity of the calculations and engineering which have not been completed.
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
RE: Stamp / Seal on Study Work
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers Entire Forum list http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm