A Partial Practice Act for Structural Engineering in Florida Proposed by the Florida Structural Engineers Association

A Partial Practice Act for Structural Engineering in

FloridaProposed by the

Florida Structural Engineers Association

History of Structures

The Code of Hammurabi, written around 1762 BC, included three laws related to the strength

of structures, including:

“If a builder builds a house for a man and does not make its construction firm, and the house

which he has built collapses and causes the death of the owner of the house,

that builder shall be put to death.” Florida Structural Engineers Association

History of Separate Licensing• In 1907, Wyoming enacted the first Professional Engineers

Act in the United States.

• In 1915, Illinois established the first Structural Engineers Act:

. . . compelled to keep “fools and rascals” from building unsafe structures.

• Currently 55 jurisdictions license engineers.

• 18 states currently have some form of separate licensing for structural engineers.


Why create a Practice Act for Structural Engineering?


To protect the health, safety and welfare of our

public.

Protect from what?

• Unqualified Professionals

• Inexperienced Professionals

• Professionals not familiar with current/new codes

• Costly Failures Florida Structural Engineers Association

Other Reasons

• Decrease in engineering education requirements

• Advanced design software used by less-qualified engineers

• Inadequate structural plan reviews


What states have separate licensing?Currently, 17 states and one territory have some form of SE licensing:

Alaska Arizona California GuamHawaii Idaho Illinois Louisiana MassachusettsNebraska Nevada New Mex. Oklahoma Oregon Texas Utah Vermont Washington

Requirements vary from state to state as to the amount and type of experience required beyond the normal PE licensing, and the examinations that must be passed to obtain licensure.


Which Project Types Require an SE?

• Type of structures vary from state to state.

• “All” structures (IL, HA)

• Structures based on height, area, occupancy category, span (if a bridge) and number of occupants (CA, NV, OR, UT, WA, Guam)


• Roster Designation

• Title Designation

• Partial Practice Restriction

• Full Practice Restriction

• Title Designation

• Partial Practice Designation

Types of Separate Licensing


What are other states doing?Full Practice Restriction: Hawaii, Illinois

Partial Practice Restriction: California, Guam, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Title Designation: Idaho, Nebraska

Roster Designation: Alaska, Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont


What are other states doing?

States working on initiating SE Licensure:

California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine,

Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas


Structural Failures in Florida

Berkman Plaza II Parking Garage, Jacksonville, FL: A.A. Pittman & Sons Concrete Co. had been pouring the top level of a six-story, post-tensioned concrete garage for about four hours when it collapsed at about 6 a.m. on December 6, 2007.



The Harbour Cay Condominium, Cocoa Beach, FL: A five-story flat-plate reinforced concrete building under construction, collapsed shortly after 3 pm on March 27, 1981, killing 11 workers and injuring another 23.


Structural Failures in FloridaTurner Agri-Civic Center in Arcadia, FL: On August 12, 2004, a two-year-old, steel-frame building, designed for 140 mph winds, that was supposed to serve as a shelter for 1,400 people, was a twisted ruin that collapsed in estimated 100 to 110 mph winds.


Sea Base Boy Scout Camp,

Islamorada, FL: On

February 2, 1988 this 6,000

square foot dormitory

addition collapsed during

construction. No one was

injured.



National Structural Failures

Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, CT: : January 18, 1978, six hours after a college basketball game ended, the roof collapsed after snow and ice had accumulated from a 10-day snow storm.


http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/slide/Hartford%20Studies/HtfdStud_disasterweb/default.html



Hyatt Regency Hotel, Kansas City, MO: On July 17, 1981, an interior suspended skywalk system collapsed, killing 114 people and injuring 216.


Skyline Plaza, Bailey’s Crossroads, VA: On March 2, 1973, the center section of the 26-story building gave way, killing 14 people and injuring 34 others.


Will currently licensed professional engineers be affected?

• No, current professional engineers will not be affected at all.

• They will submit their application to the FBPE for review, together with an affidavit attesting to their competency and experience.

• A one-year transition period will allow professional engineers to apply for structural engineering licensure without having to take the new S.E. exam.


How will the Act be implemented?

• Beginning in January 1, 2014, PE’s licensed in Florida will have a 12-month transition period to make application to the FBPE to obtain an SE license.

• After January, 2015, licensing as a structural engineer in Florida will follow the requirements established by the Act and administered by the FBPE.


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A Partial Practice Act for Structural Engineering in

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A Partial Practice Act for Structural Engineering in Florida Proposed by the Florida Structural Engineers Association