Structural Engineer Inspection – San Antonio, Texas

Posted on 05/15/2012 by Jeff Lineberger, P. E.

Structural Engineer Inspection-San Antonio, Texas

Structural Engineer Inspection – San Antonio, Texas

ASCEQ. What is the standard, if any, for evaluating residential foundations in the San Antonio, Texas area?

A. Technically, none. However, in May 2009, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) adopted the “Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations” version 2”. It is widely accepted by most practicing professionals as the “de facto” standard for evaluating residential foundation systems in the San Antonio, Texas area.

Q. What do mean by “de facto”?

A. To date, a method for evaluating residential foundations that combines the various civil, geotechnical, and structural evaluation aspects of residential foundation systems into one concise document geared for Texas soils has not been authored. With its wide acceptance and ongoing use by most professionals, the “Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations” version 2” thus becomes an accepted structural inspection standard in San Antonio, Texas.

Q. Why was there a need to establish a standard for inspecting residential foundation systems in San Antonio, Texas?

A. The need grew out of the response of many Section members to the Policy Advisory issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE, Austin, Texas) in 1998.

Q. What did the Policy Advisory address?

A. Residential foundation engineering. Many ASCE practitioners expressed the opinion that technical guidelines should more rightly be created by a technical society such as ASCE rather than by the TBPE. One goal of the guidelines has been to provide the TBPE with guidance in their evaluation of complaints brought against engineers practicing residential foundation engineering. The Guidelines help to assure foundations are evaluated against a common standard. In doing so, the same evaluation standard is applied to multiple foundation systems throughout Texas, including Austin. This provides the end user (customer) of the engineering opinion an objective measure of the structural status (strength and performance) of a particular foundation system. In other words, regardless of the size, geometry, or geographical location of the foundation system, the foundation evaluation findings can be relied upon because there is an “apples to apples” comparison between different foundations and the ASCE guidelines.

Q. Who wrote the guidelines?

A. Experienced engineers. Civil, structural, forensic, and other types of engineers. Several of theses engineers testified as experts in the Texas courts.

Q. How were the guidelines put together?

A. One committee and two subcommittees were formed to address the raised concerns. One subcommittee addressed “Recommended Practice for the Design of Residential Foundations”, and the other worked to develop “The Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations”. The Residential Foundation Oversight (“Oversight”) Committee provided review guidance to the two previously mentioned subcommittees.

Q. Were the committee members licensed engineers?

A. Yes. The Oversight Committee and both subcommittees were composed entirely of ASCE members who were licensed engineers. Subcommittee membership was open to any Texas Section member who wished to participate. The dollar value of the professional services donated to the effort is conservatively estimated to exceed $1,000,000.

Q. Are the Guidelines mandatory or optional?

A. The Guidelines are not intended to be Standards, but are guidelines only, reflecting the engineering opinions and practices of the committee members. They in no way replace the basic need for good engineering judgment based on appropriate education, experience, wisdom, and ethics in any particular engineering application. Thus, they are primarily suited as an aid for and use by engineers.

Q. What type of engineer can perform a residential foundation evaluation?

A. According to an advisory opinion (EAOR #16) issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers on 2-24-2006, “There is no requirement in the Texas Engineering Practice Act (the Act) to practice engineering only in the area that was tested for during the Principles and Practice exam”. And, “…the Texas Legislature has only identified the licensing of an engineer, not specific disciplines”. Finally, “…All engineers are required under the Act to practice only in their area(s) of competence…”

 

Structural Engineer Inspection-San Antonio, Texas  Structural Engineer Inspection-San Antonio, Texas  Structural Engineer Inspection-San Antonio, Texas

Posted in Continuing Education Series | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Structural Engineer Inspection – San Antonio, Texas
ASCEThe following Q & A is an excerpt from an interview with Jeff Lineberger, P. E., Principal Engineer, Lineberger Consulting Engineers, Inc. Mr. Lineberger has 30 years engineering experience both domestically and internationally. Mr. Lineberger practices civil/structural engineering throughout Texas, and testifies as an expert in both the Federal and Texas court systems.

Q. Is there a standard in Texas for evaluating residential foundations?

A. Technically, no. However, in May 2009, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) adopted the “Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations” version 2. It is widely accepted by most practicing professionals as the “de facto” standard for evaluating residential foundation systems.

Q. What do mean by “de facto”?

A. To date, a method for evaluating residential foundations that combines the various civil, geotechnical, and structural evaluation aspects of residential foundation systems into one concise document geared for Texas soils has not been authored. With its wide acceptance and ongoing use by most professionals, and in the absence of any known foundation evaluation standard or guideline, the “Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations” version 2” has thus becomes an accepted and indispensable structural foundation inspection guideline or “de facto standard” in Texas.

Q. Why was there a need to establish a standard for inspecting residential foundation systems?

A. The need grew out of the response of many Section members to the Policy Advisory issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) in 1998.

Q. What did the Policy Advisory address?

A. Residential foundation engineering. Many ASCE practitioners expressed the opinion that technical guidelines should more rightly be created by a technical society such as ASCE rather than by the TBPE. One goal of the guidelines has been to provide the TBPE with guidance in their evaluation of complaints brought against engineers practicing residential foundation engineering.

Q. Who wrote the guidelines?

A. Experienced engineers. Civil, structural, forensic, and other types of engineers. Several of theses engineers testified as experts in the Texas courts.

Q. How were the guidelines put together?

A. One committee and two subcommittees were formed to address the raised concerns. One subcommittee addressed “Recommended Practice for the Design of Residential Foundations”, and the other worked to develop “The Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations”. The Residential Foundation Oversight (“Oversight”) Committee provided review guidance to the two previously mentioned subcommittees.

Q. Were the committee members licensed engineers?

A. Yes. The Oversight Committee and both subcommittees were composed entirely of ASCE members who were licensed engineers. Subcommittee membership was open to any Texas Section member who wished to participate. The dollar value of the professional services donated to the effort is conservatively estimated to exceed $1,000,000.

Q. Are the Guidelines mandatory or optional ?

A. The Guidelines are not intended to be Standards.  They are merely a guide or protocol for conducting Residential foundation evaluations.  They are meant to reflect the engineering opinions and practices of the committee members. They in no way replace the basic need for good engineering judgment based on appropriate education, training, experience, wisdom, and ethics in any particular engineering application. Thus, they are primarily suited as an aid for use by engineers.

Q. What type of engineer can perform a residential foundation evaluation?

A. According to an advisory opinion (EAOR #16) issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers on 2-24-2006, “There is no requirement in the Texas Engineering Practice Act (the Act) to practice engineering only in the area that was tested for during the Principles and Practice exam”.  And, “…the Texas Legislature has only identified the licensing of an engineer, not specific disciplines”. Finally, “…All engineers are required under the Act to practice only in their area(s) of competence…”
Posted on 05/10/2012 by Jeff Lineberger, P. E. | Comments Off on Structural Inspection Continuing Education Series: Does a Standard Exist in Texas for Residential Foundation Structural Inspections?

Fairhaven-Pulte-Schertz, TX Independent Engineer?

Posted on 01/08/2012 by Jeff Lineberger, P. E.

Case Study: Compliance and Professionalism

So, you’re a homeowner concerned about your foundation, your home’s structure, or perhaps your back yard retaining wall.  Your foundation is sinking.  Your walls are cracking.  And, you’re entertaining the idea of getting an unbiased opinion from an “independent” engineer regarding your concerns.    Well, you’re not alone.

Recently, I received a call from a homeowner.  They were seeking an unbiased engineering opinion of some foundation cracks they had recently noticed.  When they mentioned the subdivision name, it sounded vaguely familiar.  After a quick review of my records, I realized that I may have rendered several similar opinions in that subdivision over the past year or so.  To verify, I googled a few key words, clicked on some listings, and eventually found a letter from a builder to homeowners in Fairhaven- a Pulte community in Schertz, Texas.

If you are a resident of Fairhaven, then it’s likely you’ve already received or read Pulte’s Homeowner Letter dated January 3, 2012 as posted on their website www.fairhaventx.com .  The letter basically outlines how Pulte plans to handle homeowner concerns regarding certain homes in the Fairhaven community that have experienced settlement and foundation issues.  However, what struck me as oddly coincidental was the rather confusing statements made in the letter regarding retaining “independent” engineers. Here are two excerpts from the Pulte Letter:

  • “Based on our investigations to-date, it appears that there are a few homes experiencing unusual foundation cracking. Pulte has retained top engineers to help us analyze the situation with each home and assist in implementing a thorough corrective action. All repairs will be paid for by Pulte.”, and
  • “To ensure we properly analyze and repair each warranty issue, we have employed independent, structural and geotechnical engineers with years of experience dealing with Texas soils and home foundations.”

But, can a builder retain or employ “independent” engineers to analyze foundation problems for a particular homeowner or residence?   Or, put another way,  is it professionally ethical for a Texas licensed engineer to accept compensation exclusively from a builder,  yet provide simultaneously “independent” or “unbiased” opinions to both the builder and the homeowner?

Well, you don’t have to go too far to answer these perplexing questions.  You simply refer to the Texas Engineering Practice Act, Chapter 137, Compliance and Professionalism (www.tbpe.state.tx.us).  Engineers, like many other professionals, must maintain the interests and confidentiality of their clients.  In so doing, engineers “shall not accept compensation or benefits from more than one party for services pertaining to the same project or assignment”.  Put simply, unless authorized by the engineer’s client (Builder), an engineer  may not act in the interest of, or reveal any opinions or other information presumed confidential to any third party (homeowner) unless authorized to do so (paraphrased from Chapter 137).

 

This article is part of our continuing case study series in Engineering Ethics. This article is intended for educational purposes only.

 

Posted in Professional Ethics Series | Comments Off on Fairhaven-Pulte-Schertz, TX Independent Engineer?