Florida State Board of Engineers Rules, Laws (2021-2023) - Quiz

Mr. Doe can:

These drawings need:

The Engineer of Record (EOR); The process begins when the Engineer of Record (EOR) [61G15-30.002(1)] designs and issues Structural Engineering Documents [61G15-31.002(5)] that also serve as Engineering Documents Prepared for Public Record (Permit Plans) [61G15- 30.002(7)]. These Permit Plans while required to depict among other things the location, orientation, shape, layout, support and structural connections of the prefabricated wood trusses [61G15-30.003], do not always depict the design of the trusses themselves. Therefore, when the EOR indicates within the Permit Plans that the prefabricated wood trusses are to be “designed by others”, the EOR is choosing to delegate their design to a Delegated Engineer [61G15-30.002(3)]. Obligations of the Engineer of Record requires the EOR among other things to communicate in writing all of the engineering requirements to the Delegated Engineer.

1. For each Threshold Building, a notice shall be filed for public record, bearing the name, address, signature, date and seal of the Special Inspector, certifying that the Special Inspector is competent to provide the engineering services for the specific type of structure.
2. Special Inspectors utilizing Authorized Representatives shall ensure the Authorized Representative is qualified by education, licensure, or training to perform the duties assigned by the Special Inspector.

1. Only the following seals are authorized to be used pursuant to Section 471.025, F.S.;
   1. Wet Seals: A Wet Seal is any seal physically applied to a printed document capable of leaving a permanent ink representation or other form of opaque permanent impression on the printed document that complies with subsection 61G15-23.002(2), F.A.C.;
   2. Embossing Seals: An Embossing Seal is any seal physically applied to a printed document capable of leaving a permanent crimped representation or other form of permanent raised impression on the printed document that complies with subsection 61G15-23.002(2), F.A.C.; or
   3. Digitally Created Seals: A Digitally Created Seal is any seal created as part of the document and not physically applied that is an opaque permanent representation that complies with subsection 61G15-23.002(2), F.A.C.
2. Wet Seals, Embossing Seals and Digitally Created Seals shall be a minimum of 1-7/8 inches in diameter and shall be of a design similar to those set forth in subsections (a), (b) and (c) below. When utilizing Digitally Created Seals, the requirement of a minimum diameter of 1-7/8 inches shall be met when the image is represented in native (unreduced) document size.
   1. The seal must contain the licensee’s given name, the licensee’s license number immediately preceded by the designation “No”, the words “PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER” and the words “STATE OF FLORIDA” similar to that depicted here:

      

   2. If the seal is for a temporary license it must also contain the words “TEMPORARY LICENSE” and the date that the license expires in the form of “Month – Day – Year” immediately preceded by the word “EXPIRES” similar to that depicted here:

      

   3. For Professional Engineers who are in good standing under both Chapters 471 and 472, F.S., a seal similar to that depicted here may be used.

      

   4. Seals may contain an abbreviated form of the licensee’s given name or a combination of initials representing the licensee’s given name provided the surname listed with the Board appears on the seal and in the signature.

      Rulemaking Authority 471.025, 471.033(2) FS. Law Implemented 471.025, 471.033(1)(a) FS. History–New 1-8-80, Amended 1-20-85, Formerly 21H-23.02, Amended 5-14-86, Formerly 21H-23.002, Amended 11-15-94, 8-18-98, 2-3-00, 2-22-01, 2-5-04, 1-31-08, 5-6-09, 11-3-15, 11-16-20.

1. Engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents which must be signed, dated and sealed in accordance with the provisions of Section 471.025, F.S., and Rule 61G15-23.001, F.A.C., may be signed digitally as provided herein by the professional engineer in responsible charge. As used herein, the terms “certification authority,” and “digital signature” shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Sections 668.003(2) and (3), F.S.
2. A professional engineer utilizing a digital signature to electronically sign and seal engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents shall have their identity authenticated by a certification authority and shall assure that the digital signature is:
   1. Unique to the person using it;
   2. Capable of verification;
   3. Under the sole control of the person using it; and,
   4. Linked to a document in such a manner that the digital signature and correspondingly the document is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.
3. The affixing of a digital signature to engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents as provided herein shall constitute the signing and sealing of such items.
   1. A digitally created seal as set forth in Rule 61G15-23.002, F.A.C., may be placed where it would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed.
   2. The date that the digital signature was placed into the document must appear on the document in accordance with subsection 61G15-23.001(4), F.A.C., and where it would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed.
   3. The engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents being digitally signed and sealed shall include text to indicate the following and place it where an original signature would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed:
      1. The same information required by subsection 61G15-23.002(2), F.A.C., if a digitally created image of the seal is not use;
      2. The item has been digitally signed and sealed; and,
      3. Printed copies of this document are not considered signed and sealed and all signatures must be verified on any electronic copies.
   4. ormatting of seals and text similar to that depicted below shall be used. While the formatting may be altered, the text must remain identical.
      1. When a digitally created seal is used:

         

      2. When a digitally created seal is not used:

         

   5. When engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents contain multiple sheets or pages, the licensee may apply a single digital signature per electronically transmitted item as set out in Rule 61G15-23.001, F.A.C. A digital signature applied to an item in electronic form shall have the same force and effect as signing all of the individual sheets or pages contained within that item unless otherwise limited as specified in subsection 61G15-30.003(3), F.A.C.
   6. In the case where multiple licensees sign and seal a single item, each licensee shall apply their digital signature and include qualifying language with those items required in paragraph (e) of this rule, thoroughly describing what portions the licensee is taking responsibility for.
   7. Beginning on the effective date of this rule amendment, November 2, 2020, and continuing until December 31, 2020, the restriction contained in subparagraph (3)(c)3., above, and the text of required language illustrated in subparagraphs (3)(d)1. and 2., that printed copies of digitally signed and sealed plans or documents are not considered signed and sealed is removed, and printed copies of said plans or documents are deemed validly signed and sealed for any purpose allowed by law. After December 31, 2020, the existing restriction is reinstated. Any licensee seeking to use printed copies of digitally signed and sealed plans or documents must retain an original copy of the signed and sealed plans.

      Rulemaking Authority 471.025(1), 471.033(2), 471.008 FS. Law Implemented 471.025, 471.033(1)(j), 668.003, 668.006 FS. History–New 11-3-15, Amended 9-7-17, 6-19-18, 11-2-20.

1. Engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents which must be signed, dated and sealed in accordance with the provisions of Section 471.025, F.S., and Rule 61G15-23.001, F.A.C., may be signed electronically as provided herein by the professional engineer in responsible charge. As used herein, the term “electronic signature” shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Sections 668.003(2), (3) and (4), F.S.
2. The SHA or Secure Hash Standard authentication code is described in Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 180-4 “Secure Hash Standard,” August 2015, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference by the Board and can be obtained from the internet website: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05976.
3. A professional engineer utilizing an electronic signature to sign and seal engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents shall:
   1. Create a static electronic version, such as PDF, of the engineering document(s) that is to be electronically transmitted;
   2. Compute an SHA-1 authentication code for each electronic engineering document;
   3. Create a printable “signature report” that contains the licensee’s given name, the licensee’s license number, and a list of the electronic files to be signed and sealed that includes a brief description of each engineering document and the SHA authentication code of each engineering document;
   4. Print and physically sign, date and seal the “signature report” in compliance with Rule 61G15-23.003, F.A.C.; and,
   5. Transmit the signed, dated and sealed “signature report” to the receiving party along with each electronically signed, dated and sealed engineering document either by hardcopy or electronic scan. If scanned and sent electronically, the hardcopy of the signed and sealed report shall be retained by the licensee in accordance with Rule 61G15-30.009, F.A.C. Each engineering document is considered to be electronically signed and sealed if the document’s SHA authentication code matches the SHA authentication code on the physically signed, dated and sealed “signature report.”
4. The affixing of an electronic signature to engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents as provided herein shall constitute the signing and sealing of such items.
   1. A digitally created seal as set forth in Rule 61G15-23.002, F.A.C., may be placed where it would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed.
   2. The date that the electronic signature is to be placed into the document must appear on the document in accordance with subsection 61G15-23.001(5), F.A.C., and where it would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed.
   3. The engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents being electronically signed and sealed shall include text to indicate the following and place it where an original signature would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed:
      1. The same information required by subsection 61G15-23.002(2), F.A.C. if a digitally created seal is not used,
      2. The item has been electronically signed and sealed using a SHA authentication codes; and,
      3. Printed copies of the document are not considered signed and sealed and all SHA authentication code must be verified on any electronic copies.
   4. Formatting of seals and text similar to that depicted below shall be used. While the formatting may be altered, the text must remain identical.
      1. When a digitally created seal is used:

         .

      2. When a digitally created seal is not used:

         

         Printed copies of this document are not considered signed and sealed and the SHA authentication code must be verified on any electronic copies.

   5. Beginning on the effective date of this rule amendment, November 2, 2020, and continuing until December 31, 2020, the restriction contained in subparagraph (4)(c)3., above, and the text of required language illustrated in subparagraphs (4)(d)1. and 2., that printed copies of electronically signed and sealed plans or documents are not considered signed and sealed is removed, and printed copies of said plans or documents are deemed validly signed and sealed for any purpose allowed by law. After December 31, 2020, the existing restriction is reinstated. Any licensee seeking to use printed copies of electronically signed and sealed plans or documents must retain an original copy of the signed and sealed plans.

      Rulemaking Authority 471.025(1), 471.033(2), 471.008 FS. Law Implemented 471.025, 668.006 FS. History–New 11-3-15, Amended 2-3-16, 10-26-16, 9-7-17, 6-19-18, 11-2-20.