How to find a PE for consult and stamping of tower plans

[sheafromme]

I have designed and built a self-supporting guyed lattice tower for use in the oil and gas industry. Several hundred have been sold and installed across NA but have mostly been pilot programs. For larger orders, most companies are (understandably) requiring PE stamps for the design. They had waived the requirement on a case-by-case basis for evaluation but now it's time to take the next steps with it and I am having a lot of trouble finding a PE who works with guyed towers. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to find someone with that speciality? I worked with several PEs to develop the design so I don't have any concerns about whether it will pass muster, but none of them have bandwidth to review the documentation right now. Thanks!

 

[SWComposites]

Offer those PEs more $$ to make time to review the designs.

 

[phamENG]

Also, be aware of regulations in various states. I don't know that there's a lot of oil and gas work going on here in Virginia, but regulations for PEs here dictate that I cannot affix my seal to any work that wasn't performed by me or an individual employed by the same company as me under my direct supervision and control - calculations, specs, drawings, etc. So if you came to me asking for it here, I'd have to essentially start from scratch. I think a lot of the states in 'oil country' are a little more relaxed in that regard, but it's something to watch out for. Or you can just find a PE that either doesn't know their regs or doesn't care. Usually plenty of those hiding under rocks if you want to look for them.

 

[ANE91]

Structurals who work in telecom have this specialty skillset. To name a few such firms I’ve run into:

Selective Site Consultants
SGS Towers
Power Engineers
Jacobs

 

[LOTE]

Also, be aware of regulations in various states. I don't know that there's a lot of oil and gas work going on here in Virginia, but regulations for PEs here dictate that I cannot affix my seal to any work that wasn't performed by me or an individual employed by the same company as me under my direct supervision and control - calculations, specs, drawings, etc. So if you came to me asking for it here, I'd have to essentially start from scratch. I think a lot of the states in 'oil country' are a little more relaxed in that regard, but it's something to watch out for. Or you can just find a PE that either doesn't know their regs or doesn't care. Usually plenty of those hiding under rocks if you want to look for them.

"employed by the same company" is typically not a requirement, at least in the states I operate. I hire a lot of 1099 contractors, and this still falls under the direct supervision and control without them being a rank and file employee.

 

[phamENG]

1099 contractors count here, too, so long as the employer holds the contract. So, if an architect hires me but he does the drawings, I can't put my seal on them. But if I hired the architect and they did the drawings under my direction, I could. A bit convoluted, but hey - I didn't write the rules. I assure you, though, it is the rule here. I bring it up only so the OP is aware that once they cross state lines they'll be dealing with a variety of rules that the engineers they work with will have to adhere to.

 

[CWB1]

I haven't hired them directly, but many customers of a previous employer hired Jacobs to do the site/installation design (rather than us) for our O&G equipment, which included shorter (<50') lattice and guyed structures. I've worked with them around the world and they always seemed competent, and customers were happy.