10 Tuesday AM Reads

*put Assad back*

The licensing of professional engineers was instituted a century ago in response to disasters that killed people. however, industries and governments pushed hard in the US to have engineers working within industry (mainly manufacturing firms) and government not required to have licensure. So the building that you are working in was most likely designed by Professional Engineers required to personally seal and stamp the drawings and specifications. The car you drive to work does not have that requirement. This is a key reason why responsibility for things like building failures can often go back to an individual whereas manufacturing corporations end up with an amorphous “mistakes were made” as they get hit with a fine.

Some excerpts from NY PE licensing law:

7201. Definition of practice of engineering.

The practice of the profession of engineering is defined as performing professional service such as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design or supervision of construction or operation in connection with any utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, works, or projects wherein the safeguarding of life, health and property is concerned, when such service or work requires the application of engineering principles and data.

7208. *Exempt persons for the professions of engineering and land surveying.

*NB Effective November 21, 2016

This article shall not be construed to affect or prevent the following, provided that no title, sign, card or device shall be used in such manner as to tend to convey the impression that the person rendering such service is a professional engineer or a land surveyor licensed in this state or is practicing engineering or land surveying:

c.Practice of engineering or land surveying, by an employee of a county or town, in the construction, improvement or maintenance of a county road or town highway, or by an employee of a county, city, town or village, in the construction, improvement or maintenance of any public work wherein the contemplated expenditure for the completed project does not exceed five thousand dollars;

k.The practice of engineering by a manufacturing corporation or by employees of such corporation, or use of the title “engineer” by such employees, in connection with or incidental to goods produced by, or sold by, or nonengineering services rendered by, such corporation or its manufacturing affiliates;

l. The practice of engineering or land surveying, or using the title “engineer” or “surveyor” (i) exclusively as an officer or employee of a public service corporation by rendering to such corporation such services in connection with its lines and property which are subject to supervision with respect to the safety and security thereof by the public service commission of this state, the interstate commerce commission or other federal regulatory body and so long as such person is thus actually and exclusively employed and no longer, or (ii) exclusively as an officer or employee of the Long Island power authority or its service provider, as defined under section three-b of the public service law, by rendering to such authority or provider such services in connection with its lines and property which are located in such authority’s service area and so long as such person is thus actually and exclusively employed and no longer;