One question that comes up all the time on projects when planning lifts is:

does this lift plan need to be PE stamped? 

The answer is:

it depends. 

Most of the items discussed here relate to lifting operations in the United States, please check your local jurisdictions for more information.

A Professional Engineer (PE) is someone whose has been licensed by a state board to practice engineering in a particular state.  To show that the PE has completed the work under their direction and expertise, they apply their PE stamp to project documents to seal them. 

When it comes to lift plans, a PE may be needed if your organization, contract, or local jurisdiction requires a PE stamp on a particular type of lift.  This is usually needed on critical or engineered lift plans rather than standard or non-standard lifts.  As of the writing of this article, there are no United States federal laws or codes that require a PE to stamp a lift plan.  You may have project specific rules or local jurisdictions that have stricter requirements. 

If you do need a PE to review or help you build your lift plan, here are some items to consider. 

First make sure you use a PE that is registered in the state that work is being completed in.  For example, if the work is being completed in Nebraska, you can’t have someone use their Ohio PE stamp on the lift plan.  Most states have laws which state something like, thou shall not practice engineering in this state without being licensed in this particular state. 

Secondly, if this engineer works for a firm, you should check that the firm also has the proper license to practice engineering in the state that the work is being completed.  About 75% of the states require some sort of business engineering license to practice in their state. 

Another item to consider is to make sure that the particular Professional Engineer has experience in lifting operations and construction.  Lift planning is not something that is really taught in schools, but is rather learned through experience, training, and on the job learning. 

Also note that the PE needs to be involved from the beginning of the lift planning process.  Many states have laws against ‘plan stamping’ and just quickly reviewing and stamping a lift plan may fall under the category of ‘plan stamping’. 

It is necessary to plan out every lift.  Even the most standard lift needs a simple lift plan to make sure that the lift is within the limits of the equipment and is accomplished safely. 

We want to make sure you have a successful lift and that starts with proper planning.  We can help in this process by assisting to create a lift plan with you whether it is a standard lift, non-standard lift, or an engineered (critical) lift.  Here at The Dothea Group, we will do our best to meet your schedule needs and we will provide efficient, engineered solutions to better your project, improve safety, and increase your bottom line. 

If you are interested in learning more about our engineering services, contact us today.  We can partner with you to ensure a successful bid or project.