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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMISC PAPPERSFLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS RECENT RULE CHANGES FOR Special Inspectors of Threshold Buildings lorida Statute 553.71(11), Building Construction Standards— Definitions defines a threshold building as one that is greater than three stories or 50 feet in height, or that has an assembly occupancy classification that exceeds 5,000 square feet in area and occupant content greater than 500 persons. In accordance with Florida Statute 553.79(5)a, Building Construction Standards —Permits; Applications; Issuance, Inspections: £' "The enforcing agency shall require a special inspector to perform structural inspections on a threshold building pursuant to a structural inspection plan prepared by the engineer or architect of record The structural inspection plan must be submitted to and t approved by the enforcing agency prior to the issuance of a building permit for the construction of a threshold building. The purpose of the structural inspection plan is to provide specific inspection procedures and schedules so that the building can be adequately inspected for compliance with the permitted documents. The special inspector may not serve as a surrogate in carrying out the responsibilities of the building official, the architect, or the engineer of record. The contractor's contractual or statutory obligations are not relieved by any action of the special inspector. The special inspector shall determine that a professional engineer who specializes in sh oring design has inspected llte shoring and reshoring for conformance with the shoring and reshoring plans submitted to the enforcing agency. A fee simple title owner of a building, which does not meet the minimum size, height, occupancy, occupancy classification, or number -of -stories criteria which would result in classification as a threshold building under F.S. 553.71(7), may designate such building as a threshold building, subject to i _ t more than the minimum number of inspections required by the Florida 9 c Building Coda fee owner of a threshold building shall select and pay all costs of vloying a special inspector, but the special inspector shall be responsible he enforcement agency. The inspector shall be a person certified, used, or registered under Chapter 471 as an engineer or under Chapter ' as an architect. architect or engineer of record may act as the special inspector provided or he is on the Board of Professional Engineers' or the Board of (Continued on page 6) r FBPE fL0RIDK60ARU0F Connection PRi1iL5510.V Al NGItifl R5 Connection FEATURES 1 Recent Rule Changes for Special WHAT'S INSIDE... Inspectors of Threshold Buildings 8 Construction Certifications - Adopting the i Work of Unlicensed Professionals 10 When Sound Engineering & Design is the Goal ... Awards Will Follow 11 The Importance & Value of Joining a Professional Association 13 Records Retention - New Update 14 ASCE 2012 Florida Infrastructure Report Card i 16 Imminent Threats to Public Safety 26 What's on the Minds ... of Students? FBPE Department NEWS LICENSURE 22 Special Recognition LEGAL 20 Recent Engineer Discipline 2 In This ISSUE 3 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3 CHAIRMAN'S CORNER 4 NOTEWORTHY NEWS - With a New Year Comes New Changes - FBPE Announced a Winner of RunSmarter® Award - MCCi Reveals FBPE as Excellence Award Winner 5 MARK YOUR CALENDAR 18 EMBRY RIDDLE'S AEROSPACE PROGRAM NAMED BEST IN NATION FOR 13TH STRAIGHT YEAR 21 FBPE & FEMC ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2011-2012 24 LATEST NEWS FROM NCEES - New Records Requirement Approved byNCEES - 2013 Approved Calculator List Announced 25 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT 28 FIU DISCOVERY LAB TELEBOTS COULD HELP DISABLED OFFICERS, VETERANS 31 EVENT UPDATES - Engineers Week 2013 - USF 2013 Engineering Expo - MUEngmeeringExpo2013 - FAMU/FSU College of Engineering Spring 2013 Engineering Day - 2013 ASCE Southeast Student Conference - UCF E-Week & Anniversary Celebrations 0 40 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR It Was a Very Good Year! Looking back on the last year at FBPE, we have made some great improvements and continue to move forward to provide vital services to those in the engineering profession. Along with enhancements to the FBPE website, making it even more user-friendly and easier to navigate, we have implemented a workflow system that will enable us to move into a paperless work environment. Through the use of Laserfiche®, FBPE staff now works all exam and licensure applications in a digital format, thereby allowing for automatic permanent digital retention following completion of the file review. This process has greatly improved productivity and decreased the possibility for errors. During the past year, FBPE has made strides to reach out to the engineering community via appearances at conferences and university events. FBPE staff was able to attend the annual BOAF and FES Conferences this past year, as well as make contact with engineering students at the 2012 ASCE Southeast Student Conference and the 2012 Fall Engineering Day at FSU/FAMU. FBPE has plans to continue outreach efforts well into 2013 with visits to Embry Riddle, UCF, FIU and USF during E-Week in February, as well as participation at the 2013 Southeast Student Conference in Miami, Florida. Our goal is to reach out to young people to promote licensure and the engineering profession. You should also have noticed major changes to the FBPE Connections newsletter during the past year. We have endeavored to provide more relevant information this year and involve current Board members. You will notice that we have five new Board members, who have shown to be a great benefit to the group. William Bracken, P.E. and Kenneth Todd, P.E. attended the 2012 NCEES Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri in August, along with Chairman John Burke, P.E. Beginning January 1, 2013, Warren Hahn, P.E. will be the new Chair of the FBPE Board and William Bracken, P.E. will become the new Vice Chair. The staff here at FBPE looks forward to the coming year as we complete another renewal cycle and license a brand new group of engineers following the October examinations. During the coming year, FBPE will prepare to move into a new era of testing with the introduction of the NCEES computer based testing for the fundamentals examination. We believe this new form of testing will allow FE candidates to have more flexibility regarding when and where they take their test and allow FBPE analysts to complete applications in a more timely fashion. IF=.. . . The staff at FBPE wishes everyone a safe and happy new year! Zana Raybon FBPE Executive Director s I come to the end of my tenure as Chair of the Florida /� Chairman's Corner Board of Professional Engineers, I would like to reflect on my last nine years as a Board member. It has been extremely rewarding to lead this very talented and dedicated group of Thanks for the Memories, men and women as their Board Chair for the past four years and I. appreciate having had the opportunity to serve. It has taken cooperation and hard work from the entire group to accomplish the goals of the Board and I have always been able to count on my fellow Board members and the FBPE staff to get the job done. I would like to thank past Board Chairs Henn Rebate, P.E., and Bob Mathews, P.E., for their guidance as I started my term as Chair. I would also like to thank Dr. Christian Bauer, Ph.D., P.E., David Charland, P.E., S.I., and Warren Hahn, P.E., for serving as Vice Chairs during the last four years. Others who have offered invaluable service to the Board during my tenure were: Carrie Flynn, former FBPE Executive Director; Frank Rudd, FESNICE Executive Director; Charlie Geer, P.E., FESNICE Representative; Kimberlee DeBosier, P.E., FEMC Board Chair; Roger Jeffery, P.E., former FEMC Board Chair; Robert Lombardo, P.E., former FEMC Board Chair; Gary Kuhl, P.E., former FEMC Board Chair, and Ernest Cox, III, P.E., former FEMC Board Chair. A combination of several of the aforementioned individuals joined me in making up the FEMC Board Operations Committee, a group dedicated to the management and administration of the Board office. Through John C. Burke, P.E. the efforts of this committee, we have seen a host of positive changes over the past several years. The Board FBPEChair office has progressed from several large meeting books in rolling suitcases to iPads with uploaded meeting books, from printed newsletters to online comprehensive newsletters issued on a regular basis, from a difficult to navigate website to an effective, easy to navigate, more polished looking website, and from hard copy licensure and case review to digital review of licensure applications and prosecutorial cases. (Continued on page 5) 0 WITH A NEW YEAR COMES NEW CHANGES nth the ending of 2012, FBPE regrets the conclusion of several Board member's terms and wishes to acknowledge their valued service to the Board and the State of Florida. Former Chair John C. Burke, P.E., who fills the electrical seat, David Charland, P.E., S.I., who fills the structural seat, Christian Bauer, Ph.D., P.E, who fills the industrial seat, as well as Mary Young, who fills one of the Public seats, will all be leaving the Board of Professional Engineers. Mr. Burke completes his second term serving as the FBPE Chair and will continue to serve on the Board until he is replaced. Mr. Burke is a licensed electrical Professional Engineer with Hazen and Sawyer's office located in t Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Burke possesses over 43 years of experience in planning, design and project management of power, control and instrumentation systems associated with water and wastewater facilities. His capabilities range from concept through final design, and extend to construction management and power systems analysis. Upon replacement, Mr. Burke will continue to work as a licensed engineer for Hazen and Sawyer. Mr. Charland, Regional Director for TRC Worldwide Engineering, Inc., from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, has served as a Board member for two consecutive terns since April of 2005, including FBPE Vice Chair in 2010 and as the FEMC Probable Cause Panel (PCP) Chairman. Mr. Charland possesses over 50 years of engineering experience including e structural engineering design and project management of municipal j facilities, high-rise office buildings, hotels and resorts, aviation facilities, educational facilities, libraries, correction centers, heavy marine, roads, bridges, building restoration, industrial plants, and parking garages, and practically all types of structures encountered in the field of civil engineering. Mr. Charland attended his final meeting with the Board in December of 2012 and will continue to pursue his career as a licensed engineer and special threshold inspector in the State of Florida. Ms. Young, Director of the Ziff Career Services Center for the University of Miami's School of Business, and from Coral Gables, Florida, has served on the Board since October of 2008. A former IBM executive, Ms. Young has held a variety of leadership positions and is known for her work in the inner city promoting technology, engineering and business careers for women and girls. She also serves as a lecturer and civic engagement consultant to the University of Miami's Undergraduate School of Business. Ms. Young will attend her final Board meeting in February of 2013 and then plans to pursue further public service in her local municipality. Although he will continue to serve until replaced, Board member, Christian Bauer, Ph.D., P.E., has also completed two terms of Board service since his appointment in April of 2005 and served as Vice Chair in 2009. Dr. Bauer has faithfully chaired the Educational Committee for most of his tenure and has proven to be a tremendous asset with the review of educational requirements for examination and licensure. Dr. Bauer, who fills the industrial seat, is a former Professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida and is a licensed industrial engineer. (Coninued on page 5) l�] (Continuedfrom page 3) - Thanks for the Memories On the national front, I have had the opportunity to participate at meetings and conferences held by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) as well as serve on the NCEES Law Enforcement Committee. Engineers and surveyors at these meetings have discussed such issues as the Masters vs. Bachelors +30 requirement for minimum licensure education, the industrial exemption for PEs, the new computer based test (CBT) for FE candidates and the new 16-hour structural exam. NCEES began this past year offering the two-part, 16-hour structural exam and will launch the CBT in January of 2014. FBPE has made several changes to our rules in order to accommodate the changes to these exams. Other topics we continue to address include a structural engineer (SE) designation in Florida, fire protection responsibility rules, requirements for special inspectors of existing threshold buildings, and the production of publication materials to assist PEs in clarifying the rules pertaining to the electronic signing and sealing of engineering documents. Thank you again for allowing me to serve as Board Chair. (Continued) am page 4) - With a. Nov Year Comes Nov Changes As each of the aforementioned individuals moves to the next phase in their careers, we would like to acknowledge the new appointments of Warren G. Hahn, P.E. as the FBPE Chair and William C. Bracken, P.E., S.I. as the FBPE Vice Chair, which is effective as of the Board meeting held in December 2012. The FEMC Board will also be losing one of its o members —Roger L. Jeffery, P.E. Mr. Jeffery 1 01 has served two terms on the FEMC Board acting as the Board Chair from 2008-2009 and again from 2011-2012. He lives in Orlando, Florida, and is currently employed at AMEC Environment & Infrastructure. He has extensive experience in project design for a full range of publicly and privately funded projects including commercial, institutional, high-rise residential and governmental work. Project designs include structural steel, composite steel, reinforced concrete, post -tensioned concrete, pre -cast concrete, wood and specialty components. In addition to desigrihe has experience with inspections, condition reports, and professional opinions for lending institutions, condominium associations, management companies, real estate firms, attorneys and insurance companies. Mr. Jeffery was appointed in June 2005 and his term ended on October 31, 2012. Board member Kimberlee DeBosier, P.E. has been appointed as the new FEMC Chair and Jeff Arey, P.E. as the FEMC Vice Chair. We lookforward to working with the newly appointed Chairs and Vice Chairs and on behalf of all of the FBPE staff and other Board members, we wish to express our gratitude for the invaluable service these individuals have provided by serving on each of these Boards, as well as, their dedication to their profession. We wish each continued success in their future endeavors and they will all be missed! MORE NOTE{VORTHY NEWS ON PAGES I2 AND 24 ! Mark Your Calendar'. January 2013 FBPE Office Closed —New Year's 8 Application Review & PCP Meeting 11 FEMC Board Ops Conference Call 18 Ratification Conference Call 21 FBPE Office Closed—MLK Day 29 FAMU/FSU College of Engineering Day 31 FAMU/FSU College of Engineering Corporate Networking Night February 2013 7 FAU Spring 2013 Career Day & Technical Fair 13-14 FBPE Board Meeting 17-22 UCF E-Week & Anniversary Celebrations 17-23 National Engineers Week 22 FIU Annual Engineering Expo 22-23 USF's 41st Annual Engineering Expo March 2013 14-16 2013 ASCE Southeast Student Conference 15 FEMC Board Ops Conference Call 19 Application Review & PCP Meeting Board meetings and other scheduled activities can also he found on our calendar located on the Home page of www.tllne.orP. 40 (Continued from page t) Architecture and Interior Design's list of persons qualified to he special inspectors. School boards may utilize employees as special inspectors provided such employees are on one of the professional licensing board's list of persons qualified to be special inspectors. The licensed architect or registered engineer serving as the special inspector shall be permitted to send her or his duly authorized representative to the job site to perform the necessary inspections provided all required written reports are prepared by and bear the seal of the special inspector and are submitted to the enforcement agency." According to F.S. 553.79 5(c), the board shall, by rule, establish a qualification program for special inspectors and shall compile a list of persons qualified to be special inspectors. Special inspectors shall not be required to meet standards for qualification other than those established by the board, nor shall the fee owner of a threshold building be prohibited from selecting any person qualified by the board to be a special inspector. The architect or engineer of record (EOR) may act as the special inspector, provided he or she is on the list of persons qualified to be special inspectors. School boards may utilize employees as special inspectors, provided such employees are on the list of persons qualified to be special inspectors. The licensed architect or engineer serving as the special inspector shall be permitted to send his duly authorized representative to the job site to perform the necessary inspections provided that all required written reports shall be prepared by and bear the seal of the special inspector and those written reports shall be submitted to the enforcement agency. The Board recently amended the qualifications to be a special inspector and his or her duly authorized representative. The rule changes were implemented to provide two tracks to become a special inspector and to allow that person to utilize the designee of his or her choice provided that person meets the requirements discussed below. The aforementioned changes have been bolded, italicized and noted in red. The licensed architect or engineer serving as the special inspector shall be permitted to send his duly authorized representative to the job site to perform the necessary inspections provided that all required written reports shall be prepared by and bear the seal of the special inspector and those written reports shall be submitted to the enforcement agency. Changes to Rule 61G15-35.003-Qualification Program for Special Inspectors of Threshold Buildings The minimum qualifying criteria for Special Inspectors of Threshold Buildings, also referred to as Threshold Inspectors, established by the Board shall be as follows: Proof of current licensure in good standing as a licensed professional engineer in the State of Florida, whose principal practice is structural engineering in the State of Florida or whose principal practice is in performing structural field inspections on threshold buildings. Licensed professional engineers whose principal practice is structural engineering shall also have three years of experience in performing structural field inspections on threshold buildings and two years of experience in the structural design of threshold buildings after having achieved licensure as a professional engineer. Such experience shall be within the seven years preceding submission of the application. For the purpose of these criteria, structural design shall mean the design of all structural components of the building and shall not be limited to specific structural components only, such as foundations, prestressed or post -tensioned concrete, etc. Lieensedprofessional engineers whose principal practice is structural field inspections shall have five years of experience in performing structural field inspections on threshold buildings within the preceding seven years prior to submission of the application and possess certification in each of the following: advanced concrete inspection, advanced structural masonry inspection, advanced post tensioning, basic structural steel and basic soils from a nationally recognized entity such as ACI, ICC, Florida Concrete and Products Association, and Post Tensioning Institute, Florida DOT CTQP or equivalent. 61G15-35.004-Common Requirements to All Engineers Providing Threshold Building Inspection Services as Special Inspectors For each threshold building, a notice shall be filed for public record, bearing the name, address, signature, date and seal of (Continued on page 7) M 40 (Continued from page 6) the special inspector, certifying that the special inspector is competent to provide the engineering services for the specific type of structure. Special Inspectors utlliZl++gAutlforiZed Rep_resentgtiv"es - Mall Ute Autkonzed_Repiesenlntive rs goal fed by, 'education; ezpetience a_n'd/or t�aini_ng_tq perform "tire duties assigned by the Speciallnspeetor and shall maintains respoTtsibTe supervisory cmttioL_ovei the repiesiDilative; ptersuarit to Cl:ajpter 61G75=18011(I) F.AG'The; AutltotiZer/Representativesltnll7taveaminitnrimd v`o,(2) yearsof �elev_rint:esperienceuti(h r tl:e direct stip_ervision of p Speciallnspecfo_r__-Special Inspectors shallbe in: respoiis`_ible charge of tlt-e`_rv_ark of the Authorizedi R_epre""sentative, p cluding PeviewiilgTepo�ts and spat. checks. Inspectors shall institute quality assurance procedures to include, but not be limited to, requiring unscheduled visits, utilization or relevant check lists, use of a Daily Inspection Report and insuring that the Special Inspector or the Authorized Representative is at the project whenever so required by the inspection plan. Florida Statute 553.79 Building Construction Standards — Permits; Applications; Issuance; Inspections, the enforcement agency shall require that, on every threshold building: *The special inspector, upon completion of the building and prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, file a signed and sealed statement with the enforcement agency in substantially the following form: "To the best of my knowledge and belief, the construction of all structural load - bearing components described in the threshold inspection plan complies with the permitted documents, and the specialty shoring design professional engineer has ascertained that the shoring and reshoring conforms with the shoring and reshoring plans submitted to the enforcement agency. " All shoring and reshoring procedures, plans, and details shall be submitted to the enforcement agency for recordkeeping. Each shoring and reshoring installation shall be supervised, inspected, and certified to be in compliance with the shoring documents by the contractor. • All plans for the building that are required to be signed and sealed by the architect or engineer of record contain a statement that, to the best of the architect's or engineer's knowledge, the plans and specifications comply with the applicable minimum building codes and the applicable fire safety standards as determined by the local authority in accordance with this chapter and chapter 633. ONo enforcing agency may issue a building permit for construction of any threshold building except to a licensed general contractor, as defined in F.S. 489.105(3)(a), or to a licensed building contractor, as defined in F.S. 489.105(3) (b), within the scope of his or her license. The named contractor to whom the building permit is issued shall have the responsibility for supervision, direction, management, and control of the construction activities on the project for which the building permit was issued. For More Information You can access all of the Florida Statutes including those mentioned in this article by visiting the official website of the Florida Legislature at http://www.leiz.state.fLus/Statutesl index.c m. For the most current provisions included in Chapter 471, Florida Statutes and the F.A.C. Rules 61G15-18 through 61G15-37 as they relate to the practice of engineering in the State of Florida, go to FBPE's website at hnp:Z www. tbpe. ore/lenallstalues-and-rules. This article was written by FBPE Board member Tony Fiorillo, P.E., CGC, LEED, AP. Mr. Fiorillo is the President ofECS—Florida, LLC, and serves on the Board of Directors for its parent company ECS, Ltd located in Northern Virginia. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified General Contractor in the State of Florida, and also possesses P.E. licensure in several other states. Mr. Fiorillo is currently serving his first term on the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. FBPE FLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS www.fbpe.org a 40 This article is the third in a series intended to address the practice of engineers providing construction certifications. This particular article focuses on engineers providing construction certifications on projects that include delegated engineering provided by an unlicensed design professional. This scenario d fers from the previous scenarios in that this scenario may not include the work of a second licensed engineer. Delegated Engineering Within Florida, an engineer of record for any project is afforded the ability to delegate portions of his or her design to a specialty or delegated engineer. A delegated engineer is specifically defined within F.A.0 61G15- 30.002 as "a Florida professional engineer who undertakes a specialty service and provides services or creative work (delegated engineering document) regarding a portion of the engineering project. " This definition also states that "The delegated engineer is the engineer of record jar that portion of the engineering project. " FAC.610546,1002 Definitions Common la All'Ei girieer, Responsibility Rules, A delegated' I engineer'usually falls into one of the followingewegories., F ,(a), An independent consultant, (b) An employee or ok1cer ofan enii1y ° supplying components to a !T fabricaior,br contractor, sb long as the engineer acts as an. independent So when the permit plans or specifications indicate "DESIGNED BY OTHERS" and "NOT INTHIS CONTRACT" or include notes such as "TO BE CERTIFIED BYA FLORIDA ENGINEER", this is an indication that the engineer of record for the project has delegated that portion of his or her design to a specialty or delegated engineer. The problem arises when the delegated engineer turns out to be an unlicensed design professional. Unlicensed Design Professionals Not all engineers are licensed to provide engineering. In other words, while the delegated engineer may be licensed in another state, if that professional is not properly licensed to provide engineering services in the state of Florida he or she is considered to be unlicensed. This point is made quite clear in Florida Statute 471.003 and 471.023. (Continued on page 9)