Calfornia Civil PE vs GE

[Adrock]

What geotechnical designs (ie soil reports) can you sign off on as a Civil PE and what designs must only signed off by a GE. A few GE"s i work for stated that you only need to be a GE to do sensitive projects including schools and hospitals. But I have not been able to find somewhere that says that online. In addition alot of cities require GE's for anything geotechnical. Can anyone help with this?

 

[kevo_55]

Adrock,

In CA, what you are talking about are one in the same. (somewhat)

In the "Civil" section of the licensure proccess there are two extra subcategories: GE (geotechnical) and SE (structural).

As a general rule of thumb, GE's can label and categorize fault lines and "normal" CE's can not. This may very well also go into the school & hospital portion of the geotechnical specifics too. I do know that for a structural design of a school or hospital an SE is required.

Think of a "GE" as an add on license to a civil license.

 

[Tark62]

California requires engineering geology & geotechnical reports for public schools, hospitals, and essential services buildings. These are commonly submitted as one document, which has to be stamped by a GE (not an ordinary Civil PE) *and* by a CEG (Certified Engineering Geologist; not an ordinary PG). See the 2007 California Building Code, sec. 1802.7.2 and 1802.8. If a supplemental ground-response report is required, then a GE, CEG, or PGp (Professional Geophysicist) is needed, as per sec. 1802.8.2. The CBC is not online, but any library should have it.

I believe that some local governments require a GE stamp for certain geotech issues, but there must be hundreds of city and county governments in the state, so it would be hard to get a comprehensive listing.

 

[Adrock]

An example is the city of Moraga, CA. They require a GE for any and every project. Is that legal? There isn't anymore hazards there than any other bay area city.

 

[Tark62]

An example is the city of Moraga, CA. They require a GE for any and every project. Is that legal?

Since Moraga is an incorporated City, with the power to enact its own local laws, then yes, presumably it is legal.

There could be a legal problem if the City law conflicted with State law. However, it's my understanding that cities can enact laws that differ from State law, as long as the City laws are more stringent. A City cannot enact a law that is "looser" than State law; the State law represents a "minimum standard" that Cities must adhere to. But a City can go beyond the "minimum standard" of State law, if it wants to.

Suppose State law requires a California-licensed Civil PE in certain situations, and the City of Moraga requires a California-licensed GE instead. In California, the Civil PE is a prerequisite for the GE, which means that all GEs are also Civil PEs. So if Moraga requires a GE, the state requirement for a Civil PE is automatically met as well, and there is no conflict. The Moraga law may or may not be really necessary, but it would appear to be legal.

 

[Adrock]

So it sounds like if I want to be a consultant in the geotechnical field I probably will have to get my GE.