Becoming the EOR inadvertently

[FSS]

Suppose a building was originally designed, drawings were sealed and submitted, permits approved, and construction has begun. Now during construction, the original engineer of record can no longer be reached or is unavailable for whatever reason. As this building is being constructed in the real world, something may come up that requires additional engineering input. My question is what can I as an unrelated engineer do without becoming the new EOR (which means adopting the previous engineer's work as my own - a major deal not to be taken lightly).

I realize answer will greatly depend on scope of new work. Say there is a 10,000 square foot home where they are adding one additional post on the porch. If I design the post, did I take on design responsibility for the whole project? I assume the answer may also depend on timing. Ten years after project was completed and then adding the post would hopefully keep me from being the EOR for original project.

As far as I can tell state laws are a little vague on this topic. What are other folks doing in this regard?

 

[whyun]

You can produce drawings for a small portion of the building and be the EOR for that portion only. You should clearly indicate the portion that are new (which you are responsible for) and clearly identify the elements that are existing (portion the EOR for the building is responsible for).

You, as the EOR for the new work shall also be responsible for verifying the adequacy of any existing elements that receive extra loading than they were originally designed for.

I suppose this is true in all areas but never know...