New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE)

The New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) represents the interests of professional engineers, totaling more than 25,000 licensees in New York State, practicing in all disciplines.

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PE Members are Invited to Network with NYS Town Officials and Town Engineers and to attend an exhibition and seminar in NYC – 6 PDH Opportunity:

February 8, 2023 By nysspe Leave a Comment

NYSSPE Members are invited to network with NY State Town Officials, Town Engineers and to attend a conference and exhibition event with several engineering presentations (6-PDH) which will be held at the Times Square Marriott hotel in Manhattan, NY on Monday February 20, 2023.  The New York State Association of towns conference and exhibition event attracts town officials, town engineers and registrants from 62 New York counties and about one-third of all New York towns.   The event will be held on Monday February 20th, 2023, at the Times Square Marriott hotel in Manhattan, NY. For more information and to register to the 6-PDH seminar, <Click Here>

The 6-PDH engineering seminar at the conference will include presentations by Woodward & Curran, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, PSI Process, Collado Engineering, as well as the NYC Department of Buildings.  Topics will include Storm Drainage Deficiencies and Flood Risk Determination, Building Energy Efficiency Planning and Design Solutions, Evolving Challenges and Solutions or upgrades of  Water & Sewage Plants and Rock Stabilization for Slopes and Excavations.  Robert Holub, RA; Executive Director of Code Development at the NYC Department of Buildings will present an Overview of the new 2022 New York City Construction Codes.   For more information and to register to the 6-PDH seminar, <Click Here> [Read more…]

Filed Under: NYSSPE News, PEC News

NYSSPE Remembers Past President- Dolph Rotfeld, PE, F.NPSE

December 7, 2022 By nysspe Leave a Comment

With sadness, The New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) has learned of the passing of Dolph Rotfeld, PE, F.NPSE at the age of 91.  Dolph served as NYSSPE’s State President 1979 to 1980. He also served as President of the Westchester/Putnam Chapter.  He was awarded the 1976  Meritorious Service Award and received NSPE Fellow Membership in 2004.Dolph was the Principal Owner of Dolph Rotfeld Engineering, established in 1979 and now a Division of Al Engineers, Inc., P.C. providing consulting services to several municipal clients, including the City of New Rochelle, the Villages of Ardsley, Elmsford, Pelham, Rye Brook; the Towns of New Castle, North Castle, Harrison, Greenburgh, Eastchester; Westchester Joint Water Works and Westchester County.  The firm also currently serves as Village Engineer for Mount Kisco, Port Chester, Pelham Manor, Sleepy Hollow and as Town Engineer for the Town of Mamaroneck.

Filed Under: NYSSPE News

Open Scholarships for NYSSPE Student Members

March 4, 2022 By nysspe Leave a Comment

OPEN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NYSSPE STUDENT MEMBERS – APPLY BY APRIL 1ST 2022

Applications for the 2022 scholarships are now available to NYSSPE student members via a new online submission platform that streamlines the application process. Current engineering students can now apply for the following scholarships by April 1:

  • The Maureen L. and Howard N. Blitman, P.E., Scholarship to Promote Diversity in Engineering is awarded annually to a high school senior from an ethnic minority who has been accepted into an ABET-accredited engineering program. The award is $5,000.
  • The Auxiliary Legacy Scholarship is awarded annually to a female undergraduate entering or continuing their junior year of a four-year ABET-accredited engineering program. The scholarship is awarded in one disbursement of $5,000 at the beginning of the junior year. Multiple awards are potentially available.
  • The Steinman Scholarship is awarded annually to undergraduates entering or continuing their junior year in a four-year ABET-accredited engineering program. This award is for $5000, with multiple awards potentially available.
  • The George B. Hightower, P.E. Fellowship is awarded annually to a current engineering undergraduate or graduate student who is enrolled in, or graduated from, an ABET-accredited engineering program. The scholarship is awarded in one disbursement of $3,000 at the beginning of the Fall semester.
  • Coming soon! The Swadesh and Om P. Popli, P.E., P.L.S. Scholarship will be a multi-year award, providing $5,000 each year for a recipient’s four-year education. Applicants must be a female high school senior from an ethnic minority pursuing an engineering degree at an ABET-accredited program.

Filed Under: NYSSPE News

NYSSPE Annual Fall Conference 2021

November 18, 2021 By nysspe Leave a Comment

The New York State Society of Professional Engineers held their annual Fall conference in Saratoga Springs, NY October 29, 2021.  The conference was hosted at the Holiday Inn in downtown Saratoga Springs.  Over 60 attendees were able to attend in person and participate in PDH seminars, a luncheon and meet with sponsors and exhibitors in the industry.

Thank you to everyone who made the effort to join in person!  NYSSPE appreciates the support of all the speakers, engineers and their guests that attended our conferences and continue to support the society and its mission.  See you in June 2022.

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

 

Filed Under: NYSSPE Events, NYSSPE News

NYCDOB: Energy Efficiency Report Must be filed by a Registered Design Professional beginning January 1, 2022.

October 18, 2021 By nysspe Leave a Comment

Registered energy auditors and retro-commissioning agents who are not registered design professionals may continue to submit an EER to DOB until their registrations expire or until December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier. Registrations will not be renewed once expired.

Please review the attached Service Notice that speaks to the issue.  The Service Notice can also be viewed at:  Click Here
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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

Filed Under: NYC Metro Area Information, NYSSPE News

NYCDOB: Recently amended Facade Rule 1RCNY 103-04 will be in effect on 11/12/2021.

October 18, 2021 By nysspe Leave a Comment

All amendments to the rule, including the most recent ones, can be found at:  Click Here

Beginning October 8, 2021, all supporting documents submitted with an accepted façade compliance filing in DOB NOW: Safety can be viewed by the public in the DOB NOW Public Portal. Please see our Service Notice regarding this portal: Click Here

If you have administrative or technical façade questions, please continue to contact facades@buildings.nyc.gov
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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

Filed Under: NYC Metro Area Information, NYSSPE News

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Signed by Governor Hochul

October 11, 2021 By nysspe 1 Comment

NYSSPE is pleased to announce that GOVERNOR HOCHUL on Friday, October 8th signed Senate bill 3541 into law which is now NY chapter 465 of the laws of 2021. The law requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (or it’s substantial equivalent) to secure a license to practice Professional Engineering in New York State. President Joe Pasaturo, PE sincerely thanks all of the members of the Society who have worked on securing support for this legislation.  New York joins the majority of other states which have a similar threshold for licensure.  https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s3541

(The law contains a two-year window for those seeking to secure a license utilizing the 12 – year experience ladder to apply for a transitional exemption. It is not expected that many applicants will avail themselves of this grandfather provision.)

Please contact Mark Kriss, NYSSPE legislative and Legal Counsel if you have any questions mkriss@krisslaw.com

 

  • Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

Filed Under: Legislative News, NYSSPE News

SWEEPING UPDATES TO NYC CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING REGULATIONS

October 11, 2021 By nysspe Leave a Comment

Bill Passed by City Council to Update Construction Codes Keeps NYC at The Forefront of Building Safety and Innovation

The New York City Department of Buildings today marked the official passage of major legislation in the City Council to update the city’s Construction Codes. This comprehensive revision to the Codes contains over 600 major updates, and thousands of smaller changes, intended to improve safety for our fellow New Yorkers, and incorporate the latest in building technologies. The new Codes use the highest international standards for the design, construction and maintenance of buildings as a baseline, while continuing our city’s proud tradition of implementing additional enhancements to ensure we have among the strongest building regulations anywhere in the world.

“These updated Codes provide a solid foundation on which the future of our city will be built,” said Buildings Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca. “I want to thank my colleagues at DOB, along with the hundreds of government and industry experts that volunteered their time on our Code Revision Committees, who worked tirelessly to advance these Codes. Those efforts will make our built environment safer for everyone living, working and visiting in our great city. Looking further afield, it is my hope that these Codes will also serve as a model for other cities, looking to build their own more resilient and sustainable future.”

New York City’s Building Code is one of the nation’s earliest and most comprehensive set of rules regarding construction in both new and existing buildings. Updated regularly, our Codes set a strong framework for how buildings are designed and maintained in our unique urban environment. The code revisions approved today are the first holistic update to the entire set of NYC Administrative, Plumbing, Building, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes since 2014. The revisions were drafted by technical committees comprised of engineers, architects, attorneys, planners, tradespeople, representatives of the construction industry, labor, real estate industry, utility companies, as well as DOB and interagency stakeholders. Regulations in our Codes here in New York City frequently inform model codes on the national and international levels.

For more information:  Click Here

  • Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

Filed Under: NYC Metro Area Information, NYSSPE News

Executive Secretary to the State Board for Professional Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology

October 1, 2021 By nysspe Leave a Comment

Career Opportunity

NYSSPE has learned that the New York State Education Department will shortly be conducting a search for a Professional Engineer (or other qualified design professional) to serve as Executive Secretary to the State Board for Professional Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology. With respect to the licensed professions, the Department’s primary charge is the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public.  We’re spreading the word about the forthcoming opening in the hopes that someone with an interest in protecting the P.E. license (as well as licensure in related fields), might be interested in the position.  If you want to learn more, it is recommended that you periodically visit the NYS Education Department website: http://www.nysed.gov/hr/employment/employment-opportunities in the weeks and months ahead.

Once available the job posting will provide details regarding the scope of responsibilities and provide guidance respecting the application process.  Further, NYSSPE’s Legislative Counsel, Mark Kriss, can provide a perspective regarding this opportunity.  He can be reached by phone at (518) 449-2037 (x207). The position falls in the Management Confidential classification.  The Secretary is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Regents.  Historically, the salary for this position has been based on the candidate’s experience.

Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

Filed Under: NYSSPE News

Statutes of Limitations / Statutes of Repose / Who is Suing the PE for Design Errors or Omissions? The Answer Can Make a Hugh Difference in NY.

August 17, 2021 By nysspe 1 Comment

The following article describes the difference between a Statute of Repose and a Statute of Limitations and the distinct treatment of claims by Project Owners versus Third Parties (Occupants, Visitors and Adjacent Property Owners).

New York State stands out from virtually all of the other 49 states for some laudatory reasons. It is home to Wall Street, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Broadway theaters, and many elite institutions of higher education.  It is home to the New York Yankees.  Unfortunately, for the design community, including professional engineers and architects, New York also stands out as one of only two states (the other is Vermont) with no true Statute of Repose for claims alleging faulty design.

The absence of a Statute of Repose gives rise to the possibility that design professionals may be held responsible for personal injury, death and property damage arising decades after they have completed their work on a project. NYSSPE, AIA and others in the design community continue to advocate for adoption of a ten-year Statute of Repose in New York, but relentlessly face the strong opposition from plaintiff trial lawyers.  The purpose of this article is to clarify the nature of the additional risk in New York arising from the absence of a Statute of Repose versus virtually every other state, and also reiterate the availability of proactive alternatives to mitigate this additional risk.

It is important to recognize that in all design liability cases New York does have a Statute of Limitations (to be distinguished from a Statute of Repose) which offers protection against claims for design defects, particularly those property damage claims asserted by a project owner who has hired the licensee to provide design services. In short, an owner, contracting for design services for a building or other project,  is generally subject to a three-year statute of limitations when asserting a claim against a PE or RA for such services*. The three-year Statute of Limitations period runs from when a project is completed.  Essentially this class of cases include claims by a project’s owner for property damage to the building or other structure which was constructed based upon the licensee’s design.

(*The three-year Statute of Limitations can be extended to six years in a very narrow class of cases where the design professional assumes a duty above and beyond the standard of care otherwise applicable to professional design service contracts.)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the absence of a Statute of Repose in New York creates potential significant liabilities for claims by third-parties, including building occupants, visitors and adjacent property owners. While the three-year Statute of Limitations also applies to these third-party claims, the limitation period, in this class of cases, does not begin to run until the third-party is injured or killed or the third-party’s property is damaged or destroyed. The commencement of this clock, (i.e. the date of the injury, death or damage or destruction of property belonging to third party), is dramatically different from the trigger that applies to the project owner who contracted for the delivery of the project design.  As stated above, the Statute of Limitations’ clock, in the case of a project owner, starts to run upon completion of the project.  Accordingly, it is the third-party class of cases which creates the most significant additional risk for projects located in New York.

In order to guard against claims long after services are rendered engineers can purchase tail coverage from their design liability insurance carrier upon their retirement. Tail coverage may be particularly useful in cases where an engineering firm is being dissolved. Unfortunately, tail coverage is usually limited to three years.  In most cases where the firm continues, including cases of merger or acquisition, insurance coverage can continue and be extended to retired licensees indefinitely.  In cases of merger or acquisition, retiring licensees should be careful to expressly include favorable indemnification language and insurance coverage provisions in the merger or acquisition agreement.   However, in all cases, with proper planning, licensees can also protect their assets through the use of a trust, without loss of control over the assets placed in trust by the licensee.

Please feel free to direct any questions regarding the use of a trust, or any other issues raised in this article, to NYSSPE counsel Mark Kriss who can be reached at mkriss@krisslaw.com or calling 518-449-2037 extension 207.

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

Filed Under: NYSSPE News

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