Have not heard of them. But I don't lift a finger on any of these types of inquiries without a copy of their calculations to check. Nothing wrong with a desk review, and then going back to them and saying "run this all again, but with my local wind and seismic conditions."

I view these things as similar to a PEB. I am willing to design the foundations or accessory elements as long as they are S&S their building. I get it sometimes with pergolas or things like that too.

If you are going to become XYZ company's "guy" to sign and seal their plans in 22 states that's fine too, just not something I am interested in doing personally. But if I was doing it then I'd either come up with the designs or work closely with whoever did from their engineering department so that you are 100% behind whatever they are putting out there with your seal on it.

What I would never do is just S&S someone else's plans JuSt ThIs OnE tImE. If they had a professional engineer design it, then they can apply for a license in that state. I just got 5 more state licenses in the past 3 weeks. Takes minimal effort. But from what I've learned is that often the reason they don't do that is because they don't actually have an engineer designing it. Or designing anything actually. It's just a guy who built pergolas with his dad so he is chief designer. And well they haven't fallen down, yet.

Idk the specifics about Engineering Express, but this is usually how I approach these types of things.

Thanks for the replies

I would be working for a vendor of one of the items they design. It seems in the past, they had an engineer who would review and stamp. To me that's still plan stamping.

If they have engineers, they should be stamping. They seem to make them out as a engineering company for big clients, well stamp your shit. Heck, when you order plans from them, you can pick a state to have it signed.

Looks like I will be passing on this client. Granted, someone else will do it for them, but not gonna be me.

Thanks

More from their website when you order plans:

NOTE: The document(s) you are purchasing are generic performance evaluations. Use of these documents for any site-specific application is the responsibility of others. Installations beyond the performance limitations listed within the purchased document(s), any site-specific designs/certifications, or California-specific projects shall require custom engineering and invalidate the use of the evaluation. Learn more about the use of this document

Click here to request a quote for us to provide these services, which can also be provided by others who would then become responsible for the applicability of this evaluation. Contact Us if there are any questions and always consult with a design professional before using any generic performance evaluations with your project.

Their business model sounds sketchy at best.....Basically "here's a design, do with it what you will"

What a name. It doesn't exactly scream conscientiousness.

It sounds like the person with the seal wouldn't be anywhere near "in responsible charge." Pass.

This sounds just like those "buy a whole house plan here" sites that architects get all the time.

HEADLINE: BUY DRAWINGS AND DESIGNS HERE - PRE-ENGINEERED READY TO GO

fine print: engineering by others

I just got through dealing with a building engineering company that does cheap specialty structures. They're designed by a reputable company in a european country and imported. They need a local engineer, though, to be the engineer of record. There was a bunch of back and forth and it just was never going to work out. On their side they see it as paying you money to provide a regulatory approval. On your side, you are taking responsibility for everything they're doing. The amount they're going to think makes sense from a business standpoint for payment is never going to line up with your liability and labour costs if you do it properly. They think it's already fine, but from your standpoint you basically have to redo all the engineering.

I agree that if you're going to try to approach this sort of thing, you need to see their full documentation before you can quote them a number, and if they're doing anything you don't like it's better to just walk away. They're not going to change their existing philosophy or design strategy for you. Basically, you need to look at what they're doing and agree that it's 95% okay.

I don't think you'll ever be able to compete on these for price if your standard of care is reasonably high.

I'm not sure that even their name is Kosher. Can you offer engineering services (putting "Engineering" right in the name) without a registered engineer on staff? Most States would frown on this and my limited experience with Canadian Provinces tells me that they would be even more strict.

@TLHS, I agree. For me to charge 2500$ to engineer a 6000$ pergola is crazy. Im not sure what the previous engineer was charging, but i cant imagine it was much.

@JLNJ, I think they have engineers, but they are looking to push the stamping to a local engineer. No thanks.

It's also the sort of work that you're always going to look at because it's really tempting to think that this is going to be the one company that has a great design and you're going to set up templates for the engineering and do fixed price contracts that only take two hours of labour and you take home the fat on it. Out of curiosity, has anyone ever actually ended up in that situation or is it just a magical dream?

I'm pretty sure most States won't be satisfied with "we have people we call engineers on staff" when advertising yourself as an engineering firm offering engineering services. You need a registered professional. Just like you can't call your office of nurses "Orthopedic Surgeons R Us" and then just contract an MD in when you feel like you need one.

TLHS, I think it's a dream, but even if it were true, I doubt they're hanging around here to tell us. (Something about the personality required to pull off that kind of a deal and the personality to obsessively post on ET have a small overlap IMO).

I can't speak to their designs, but anything structural engineering related that is done "express" worries me. This subject is not McDonald's franchising, this is life and safety. One of their old websites I found had a slogan of "fastest engineering on the planet". I can't believe that is something a licensed engineer would even brag about. It's like taking the "by others" tag and pasting it all over a section view, and sealing it. No thanks, in my humble opinion.

Love that they offer Support Packages. I really need the premium discounts on purchasing tokens.

Amazing that these things even exist.