Appropriate to base stamp/letter off of information provided by others? 10

[thejonster]

A new client missed an inspection and needs an engineering stamp so they don't have to tear a deck down / rebuild etc.

This city official/inspector wants a letter from an engineer stating at a minimum that I am OK with how it's constructed because it's not the normal way that decks are built.

I don't want a business where I am personally inspecting construction and the guys pictures look perfectly fine and this is a low risk deck that's only 18 inches off the ground, and it has a stable load path grav & lateral and calcs out fine, so I AM okay with how I'm TOLD it's constructed but pictures aren't the same as being there. But even if I was there, am I going to look at every nail? I really don't want to crawl under the deck. Do you guys write any letters based off of other people's pictures? Would this meet the standard of care for structural engineering?

Is there any other way to do this?
Option 2: I could draw a detail as if it was new construction and have the city inspect, but this guy is running into a deadline and going back and forth between the engineer and the city and if my idea doesn't work he's in a bind.

Personal experience in similar situations preferred in reply, thank you in advance.

 

[BAretired]

I don't write letters attesting to things I can't see or verify. On one occasion, a building official complained to my professional association about my refusal to write such a letter about a project of mine in Alberta. He wouldn't accept the assurances of the Contractor that everything was done in accordance with the drawings. It went to a hearing of the Discipline Committee, but I continued to refuse to write the letter.

BA

 

[thejonster]

Pham,

I would love to hear what everyone thinks about that, I think that deserves its own thread and you would get a lot more responses if it had another title.
Would you start a new thread and Link this discussion to it and vice versa?

 

[thejonster]

For those interested in the new thread:
thread507-491184

 

[dik]

This is from one of my standard templates:

"This report has been based on a non-intrusive review and is not an exhaustive study and should not be interpreted as such. No opinion can be rendered regarding obscured items. If a more definitive statement is required, it will be necessary to undertake additional study.

At the Client’s request, [date], we reviewed the subject structure at the above address.

The report is a compendium of information, including that obtained from others. The writer has not necessarily been able to verify data from others. Where there is a discrepancy in information obtained, this has been noted."

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik