PE work advice...Elevators: Mechanical or Civil? 1

[AXNRXN]

Hi all, just looking for an opinion.

I've been approached by a client asking for FEA work on an elevator system that needs to be approved by a PE. The analysis deals with the loading and structure of the elevator system, not surrounding building structure.

I have my certification in Mechanical Engineering and the work seems directly in-line with my discipline. I wanted to double-check opinions for other P.E.s about whether this work would indeed be classified as Mechanical Engineering work and not Civil Engineering since it deals with equipment installed directly into a building. I'd hate to accept the work only to find that it had to be certified by a different discipline.

Thanks for any opinions,
---> Karl

 

[Hassanakhlaq]

Offcourse elevator system installation is something to be supervised by a mechanical engineer.But beforw that civil engineer has to ensure the required structural clearances including machine room size, hoistway dimensions,pit depth, overhead clearances, to match with the respective elevator that is going to be installed.Further the capacity and type of the elevators are mostly decideed by architects.Hope it helps

 

[Ron]

If you are dealing only with the structure of the elevator support system, incidental to the mechanical operation of the elevator, then a mechanical engineer can do the design and provide reactions to the structural engineer for the building structure. The structural engineer could also do the work, but would have to make sure that structural interfaces would work with the mechanical system

In short, this is one of those somewhat gray areas that state boards will usually not criticize either way as long as the engineer is competent to do the work.

 

[jte]

I agree with what the above two replies say. In addition, one thought is whether your work falls within the scope of any of the ASME elevator codes:

http://catalog.asme.org/home.cfm?CATEGORY=CS&TaxonomyItemID=2990

If the work is within the scope of an ASME code, I think you have your answer.

jt

 

[AXNRXN]

Thanks!

jte, thanks for that information. I agree that that would be a good way of looking at it.

---> Karl