huangyhg

architect or not?
i am seeing more and more architects signing and sealing structural drawings for townhomes, clubhouses and single family homes. am i mistaken in thinking that they are not supposed to be doing this?
architects can sign and seal their drawings except in some specific cases in california, (public occupancy or greater than 35 feet tall, etc.). in texas, various city reviewers require a civil engineer seal for storm water drainage and retention designs. most states require licensed surveyors to set property boundary corners but the architect can either stake the building or require the contractor to provide line and grade. architects in the midwest get "architectural engineering" degrees and are usually competent to design beams, slabs, cladding, columns, footings, hvac, plumbing, fire sprinkler systems and electrical plans. specialists are hired for complex or specialized roles, i.e. soil reports, wind testing, seismic connection details, etc.
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it depends on the jurisdiction. in oklahoma, the answer is "no". they are practicing engineering without proper licensure.
it might also be limited by building cost. in new york, some builidng additions costing less than $20k may not require a seal at all.
it's all in the name of expediency. i suppose i can understand it, but i don't like it.
the question as to whether or not you need a license to stamp 'engineering drawings' usually comes down to local practice, precedent, and sometimes the architect's professional judgment about their own comfort level with the building type. that's part of what being licensed is all about.
building type r-3 (single family residential or townhomes in conventional wood framing) is most commonly stamped by architects with enough experience. beyond that, architects really do rely on engineers for special case conditions, connections, etc. even if a building is "pre-engineered." very often an engineer (usually a trusted friend of the architect) is hired on a limited basis for consultation/ review only, and the engineer's name won't show up on the final print.
so help those architects when they ask about conventional wood frame engineering issues and don't worry about teaching them too much!
check your state rules, usually available online. the extent of work they can do, the requirements for who seals what, and the rules concerning sealing work that doesn't require a seal may vary from state to state.
in virginia, architects are permitted to seal drawings that include incidental structural components and engineers are permitted to seal drawings where the architecture is incidental to the engineering work. who defines incidental?? i'm sure it is a lawyer with neither an architectural nor engineering license.
oklahoma definition of the practice of architecture:
"b. the "practice of architecture" shall be defined as rendering or offering to render certain services, in connection with the design and construction, enlargement or alteration of a building or a group of buildings and the space surrounding such buildings, including buildings which have as their principal purpose human occupancy or habitation; the services referred to include planning, providing preliminary studies, designs, drawings, specifications and other technical submissions, the administration of construction contracts, and the coordination of any elements of technical submissions prepared by others including, as appropriate and without limitation, consulting engineers and landscape architects; provided, that the practice of architecture shall include such other professional services as may be necessary for the rendering of or offering to render architectural services."
archeng59's criteria is more stringent than this passage seems to allow.

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