3 ms·

So much for the much vaunted "Professional Engineers".

jessaustin 7y ago
After employing various PEs on various aspects of new buildings, I can't say I'm surprised. Never a straight answer when a convoluted one is available. Never a helpful creative suggestion. Rarely a thought for the needs of the end user. Rarely a plan drawing that clearly explains what contractors are supposed to do. Even worse, never a clear answer to the questions inevitably inspired by those inadequate drawings.
- jaclaz 7y ago
  Yes, and (disclaimer: this is part of my job) often structural engineers have a very "narrow" view which summed up with the (as well often "narrow" views) of the architects, of the plant engineers and of other technicians/designers that are involved in a project create the need of a coordinator/facilitator that helps in the communication among these people, checks the (sometimes not-so-obvious) possible conflicting parts of the various drawings and "translates" the design for the contractor. Particularly lately I have seen an increase of (otherwise very good, smart and qualified) engineers and architects with no or very little on-site experience, that produce beautiful and valid drawings/designs that cannot be "as they are" realized in practice.
  - civeng 7y ago
    Agree. Seems a PE should be required to have a few years experience in the construction field before they are licensed. So much friction in the process would be avoided if the professionals writing and drawing the instructions for a structure had actually performed the work, or physically seen day to day challenges prior to having responsible charge. Structural engineers would be less arrogant as well. I see this happening on a daily basis.
abduhl 7y ago
As I’ve posted before, there’s nothing special about a guy with a PE other than him hanging out there with liability for the lawsuit. Someone with a PE license has met the minimum requirements from the state. Nothing else can be garnered from someone possessing a license. The minimum requirements have, historically, resulted in engineers who put out public facing designs that, more often than not, do not bring harm to the public. I can tell you first hand that sometimes the guy with a license who is actually at “the minimum” does not always put out something that is safe.
- slavik81 7y ago
  Indeed. You can browse through the disciplinary actions taken against engineers by professional associations and you will find all sorts of incompetence and malfeasance. I find the discipline tends to be on the lenient side—lots of fines, suspensions and reexaminations with only the occasional permanent loss of license. Still, I'm glad professional licensure is required. That's what will prevent these folks from quietly rebranding and designing another disasterous bridge tomorrow.

After employing various PEs on various aspects of new buildings, I can't say I'm surprised. Never a straight answer when a convoluted one is available. Never a helpful creative suggestion. Rarely a thought for the needs of the end user. Rarely a plan drawing that clearly explains what contractors are supposed to do. Even worse, never a clear answer to the questions inevitably inspired by those inadequate drawings.

jaclaz 7y ago
Yes, and (disclaimer: this is part of my job) often structural engineers have a very "narrow" view which summed up with the (as well often "narrow" views) of the architects, of the plant engineers and of other technicians/designers that are involved in a project create the need of a coordinator/facilitator that helps in the communication among these people, checks the (sometimes not-so-obvious) possible conflicting parts of the various drawings and "translates" the design for the contractor. Particularly lately I have seen an increase of (otherwise very good, smart and qualified) engineers and architects with no or very little on-site experience, that produce beautiful and valid drawings/designs that cannot be "as they are" realized in practice.
- civeng 7y ago
  Agree. Seems a PE should be required to have a few years experience in the construction field before they are licensed. So much friction in the process would be avoided if the professionals writing and drawing the instructions for a structure had actually performed the work, or physically seen day to day challenges prior to having responsible charge. Structural engineers would be less arrogant as well. I see this happening on a daily basis.

abduhl 7y ago

As I’ve posted before, there’s nothing special about a guy with a PE other than him hanging out there with liability for the lawsuit. Someone with a PE license has met the minimum requirements from the state. Nothing else can be garnered from someone possessing a license. The minimum requirements have, historically, resulted in engineers who put out public facing designs that, more often than not, do not bring harm to the public. I can tell you first hand that sometimes the guy with a license who is actually at “the minimum” does not always put out something that is safe.

slavik81 7y ago
Indeed. You can browse through the disciplinary actions taken against engineers by professional associations and you will find all sorts of incompetence and malfeasance. I find the discipline tends to be on the lenient side—lots of fines, suspensions and reexaminations with only the occasional permanent loss of license. Still, I'm glad professional licensure is required. That's what will prevent these folks from quietly rebranding and designing another disasterous bridge tomorrow.