Removing the Cloak of Invisibility from the Engineer Profession

The engineering profession is one of anonymity, with most
people being unable to define what exactly an engineer does. 

Engineers are responsible for designing some of the world's most fundamental systems. While they may not have made your clothes, the machine that did was most certainly designed by an engineer. Likewise, your home couldn't have been built without the collaboration of an engineer.

The fact is engineers have their hands in just about everything. Still, if you were to ask someone to define the engineer profession, his or her response would be more than lacking. 

So why is the engineer profession such a mystery? 

Alan Werner, P.E. explains that the nature of the engineer's job is partly to blame for the invisibility of the engineer profession.  Think about it.  The engineer's primary objective is to solve problems before they even exist. For the public, this can be difficult to understand. If the problem isn't visible, then the engineer who solved the problem in the first place is by default invisible. 

This issue is perpetuated by the engineering profession as a whole, which seems to prefer being unknown. They are satisfied with simply accomplishing the goal and moving on without the public recognition of a job well done. This likely contributes to the "invisible engineer."

How do we overcome the invisible engineer phenomenon? 

First and foremost, the engineering community must bring awareness to the process that goes in to creating a useful & successful design.  As a society, we so often emphasis the final product rather than the steps it took to get there. This is reinforced in our education system and often in the professional world.

The engineer and the industry must re-emphasize the effort and innovative problem solving that goes into the design process.  But how?  Here are some ways we can bring awareness to the engineering profession:

1. Community Involvement

One of the easiest ways to bring awareness to the engineering profession is by simply getting involved in the community.  Building relationships with others can help debunk stereotypes, while emphasizing the importance of engineering.

2. Education Programs

Encourage education programs that emphasize the design process. This will help students become active problem solvers, while helping them to appreciate the process instead of simply the final product. 

3. Media Exposure 

One of the most effective methods of gaining exposure for the engineering profession is through the media. Particularly the digital media, as the internet can make an message viral. 

More ideas? Leave a comment to let us know! Remember the engineering community plays an integral role in our developing and growing world, by bringing awareness to the engineer profession we can continue to make gains as a society. 

This article was derived from Alan Werner, P.E. N.S.P.E., "Why are Engineers Invisible" originally published in the Magazine for Professional Engineers in August/September 2013.

Generators: What you Need to Know

Nothing is more frustrating than a power outage.

From unpredictable weather to man-made natural disasters your business's operations are in jeopardy of being disrupted. Even more disheartening is the statistic that when businesses are forced to close because of a disaster, at least one in four never opens again.

By having a generator for your facility, you can ensure that your operations can continue to run smoothly no matter the disaster happening around you.

Choosing a Generator 
There are a variety of generators available and knowing the advantages and disadvantages of both can better help you make an informed decision.   One of the first choices you must make is whether or not to invest in a portable or standby generator.

Portable vs. Standby

Portable generators must be
manually hooked to appliances. 

Portable Generators

During a power outage, you must hook up your portable generator and plug it into the appliances you want to power or a subpanel. While portable generator are less money, they have limitations. Your portable generator can only be hooked up to a certain number of appliances at a time.

Standby generators  are wired into
 the building's electrical system.

Standby Generators

Unlike portable generators, standby generators are wired into your building's electrical system through a power switch.  Your standby generator will automatically start during a power outage.  A standby generator isolates your "emergency" electrical wiring and provides power to the selected equipment from the normal power source which then transfers the emergency load to the generator.  When power is restored the switch will also connect "emergency" circuits back to the utility lines and turn off the generator. In addition to the convenience of automatic switching, permanent generators offer higher power levels compared to portable units and longer run times.  

Sizing your Generator 

To choose the appropriate sized generator you must determine what your electrical needs are. Consider all the items you would like to power during an outage. Find the wattage and the year it was made. Add up the wattage of all your appliances and other items you want to power and double it. This can give an estimate of the amount of 

Choosing the Right Fuel

Most generators run on gasoline, but there are also other fuel alternatives that  s depending on your needs.

Natural Gas

Advantages:  Cleaner compared to oil and coal, inexpensive and readily available.

Disadvantages: Extremely explosive and a fire hazard, emits carbon dioxide and it is a limited or non-renewable resources.

Propane

Advantages: Long shelf life, doesn't evaporate overtime, clean burning, quieter engine noise level, and more emission compliant. 

Disadvantages: Pressurized cylinder of flammable gas, fuel system is more complicated, tanks are not as aesthetically pleasing, fuel system plumbing results in higher installation cost, somewhat expensive fuel.

Diesel

Advantages: Higher ratio of costs to energy density, assures steady power,reduces maintenance because there are no spark plugs or wires, long life span and least flammable fuel source.

Disadvantages: Expensive, tends to be nosier, large and bulky and considered a pollutant.

Benefits of Green Building

The green building phenomenon is sweeping across the world, but many doubt the benefits of this movement.

Instead, they believe it is simply a political agenda or a means for more costly construction projects.

The reality is, a green building project can have environmental, economic and social benefits as described below: 

Environmental Benefits 

• Emission Reductions--Green building techniques such as solar powering and daylighting can increase energy efficiency and reduce harmful emissions.
• Water Conservation-Implementing water recycle programs for urinal flow and irrigation can significantly lower water consumption and increase savings.
• Temperature Moderation-Conscientious building designs and site selection can reduce the urban heat island effect caused the heat retention properties of tall buildings and urban materials.

Economic Benefits

• Energy & Water Saving- Green design and technology can drastically reduce operation costs. This can offset any additional project costs, while offering long-term savings. 
• Increased Property Advantages-Low operating costs that come with green facilities can lead to lower vacancy rates and higher property values.
• Increase Employee Productivity & Health-There is a positive correlation between indoor environmental conditions and improved employee health and productivity. 
• Sales Improvements-Studies show stores with more natural light have more sales. 

Social Benefit 

• Improved Health-Poor indoor environment quality can contribute to respiratory problems, allergies, and nausea headaches. Implementing green building features can provide for a healthier and more comfortable living and working environment.  
•  Improved schools-About 40% of the schools in the United States are subject to poor environmental conditions that can affect the health and learning of students.  Studies show that schools utilizing green building techniques often experience a reduction in student absentees and see an improvement in test scores. 
• Healthier Lifestyles & Recreation- Sustainable designs preserve natural environments and provide for more recreation and exercise opportunities. They also promote alternatives to driving such as bicycling and public transport. 

Due Diligence: Why you Need it Before Buying

Buying a building can be a daunting task, but don't let a bad decision haunt you for years to come. Being a pro-active buyer and having a professional engineering firm perform due diligence to your facility prior to

your purchase can significantly decrease problems later down the road.

What is Due Diligence? 

Due Diligence is the process of systematically investigating and verifying the condition of a facility in order to audit the potential investment. If you are considering purchasing a commercial property,  due diligence can confirm that your intended use of the facility is possible.

A professional engineering team can help you evaluate whether or not there are any major issues with the building.  After the analysis of your facility, the firm will produce a report of their findings that will include:

1. Analysis of the structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems' conditions and adequacy. 
2. Estimated life span of existing equipment and structural support. 
3. Recommendations for immediate repairs and replacements.
4. Upgrades for improving existing systems' efficiency and reducing costs.
5. Building Code Violations that needed to be addressed.

Are you looking to Buy?

 Let RGD Consulting Engineers help you get the most of your investment.  While many engineering firms specialize in particular areas, RGD is a multidisciplinary engineering firm and able to evaluate all your structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems.  Contact us to see how we can help you on your next project.

New Liability Laws for Design Professionals in Florida

As of July 1 2013, Florida Design Professionals have liability protection under the condition they follow specific requirements of the new bill.  Previous court decisions have stripped engineers of the right to enforce liability clauses in design professional contracts.

Under Senate Bill No. 286, signed by Governor Rick Scott in April, redefines the term "design professional to include Geologists . It also specifies that individual design professionals employed by a business entity may not be held liable for negligence.  

In order to be protected by this statute, contracts between the business entity and claimant, must exclude mention of specific design professionals, and include a clear statement specifying that the individual employee or agent may not be held liable.   A design professional will not be held liable for negligence for professional services under these conditions:

1. The business entity must execute the contract with a claimant or with another entity for the provision of professional services on behalf of the claimant; 
2. The contract includes a prominent statement, in uppercase font that is at least 5 point sizes larger than the rest of the text, that, pursuant to this section, an individual employee or agent may not be held individually liable for negligence;
3. The contract does not name the individual employee or agent as a party to the contract;  
4. The business entity maintains any professional liability insurance required under the contract; and any damages are solely economic in nature the damages do not extend to personal injuries or property not subject to the contract.
5. The conduct of the design professional giving rise to the damages occurs within the course and scope of the contract; and
6.  The harm does not extend to persons or property not subject in the contract and is exclusively economic in nature.

If a contract fails to meet these specifications, then a licensed engineer employed through a business entity is not except from personal liability for negligence, misconduct and wrongful acts.  

Visit Florida Senate Bill No. 286, to learn more the liability protection for design professionals. 

For the past 35 years, RGD Consulting Engineers has provided Florida and the Caribbean with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and structural engineering services. You can also find RGD on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.