As a home or building owner have you ever wondered when professional engineering services are required?  Are you aware of what services licensed engineers can provide?

The CALIFORNIA BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS has produced a “Consumer Guide” that provides specific information for residents of California, but also some general principles that others elsewhere can benefit from.

http://www.pels.ca.gov/pubs/consumer_guide.pdf

This guide is designed to help consumers who may need the services of an engineer or land surveyor.  Some of the topics included in this guide are: 
· the services available
· the functions and responsibilities of an engineer
· the kind of projects that require an engineer
· how to select a licensed professional
· how having a written agreement helps avoid misunderstandings later on
· how the Board may help you file a complaint

Here are some of the highlights:

DOES MY PROJECT REQUIRE A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER OR LAND SURVEYOR?

Before you attempt to build, repair, or alter structures, do grading or drainage work, install or repair septic systems, build or repair retaining walls, or have a survey of your property done, consider the following:

• Your city or county building department and county surveyor’s office know about the local conditions, including heavy snow falls, high winds, earthquake activity, or tidal action, among others which could affect your project.
• Your city or county Building and Safety Department, Department of Public Works, Planning Department, or Municipal Utility District will also be able to advise you about building code requirements and what permits, plans, and maps are required, if any. These agencies can also tell you when an engineer or land surveyor is required.
• If your project requires the services of an engineer or land surveyor, be sure that he or she is properly licensed by this Board. Unlicensed persons are allowed to offer or perform professional engineering or land surveying services only if they are working under the direction of a licensed engineer or land surveyor.

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
California state law requires all California-licensed engineers to have many years of education and experience prior to being licensed. Professional Engineers apply their knowledge and skills to provide design, analysis, and evaluation as well as consultation and technical advice on projects.

It is illegal for anyone to practice or offer to practice civil, electrical or mechanical engineering or to use the title “Civil Engineer,” “Electrical Engineer,” “Mechanical Engineer,” “Geotechnical Engineer,” “Soils Engineer,” or “Structural Engineer” in California unless he or she is currently licensed as such by this Board. Other engineering titles regulated by this Board include branch titles, which are not practice regulated.  Anyone may practice these branches of engineering, but only engineers licensed by the Board may use the branch title as a personal title or credential. Title licenses are obtained through a process which includes demonstrating qualifications and experience to the Board. The authority to use the following titles does not permit the person to practice civil, electrical or mechanical engineering:

• Agricultural Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Control Systems Engineer
• Fire Protection Engineer
• Industrial Engineer
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Metallurgical Engineer
• Nuclear Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer
• Traffic Engineer

It is also against the law for anyone other than a professional engineer licensed by this Board to use the titles “Professional Engineer,” “Registered Engineer,” “Licensed Engineer,” or “Consulting Engineer.”

All civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering plans and specifications that are permitted or released for construction and all final calculations and reports must:

• be prepared by a licensed engineer or by a subordinate under his or
  her direction;
• be signed and sealed (or stamped) by the licensed engineer;
• include the expiration date of the license;
• include the date on which the licensed engineer signed and sealed the documents; and
• if the plans have multiple pages or sheets, the signature, seal or stamp, expiration date and date of signing and sealing must appear on each sheet of the plans and on the title sheets, cover sheets, or signature sheet of the specifications, calculations, and reports.

Please check back soon for PART II of this article to see information from the Consumer Guide about the following topics:

• Licensed Engineer’s Seal and Signature Requirements
• Before You Talk to the Engineer or Land Surveyor
• Check License Status and References

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 at 9:16 am and is filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.