If you are a professional engineer in the state of Florida, then you know that you need to have your seals and stamps on file with the state. But what are these things, and what do they mean? In this quick guide, we will discuss the Florida engineering seals and Florida professional engineer stamps, what they are used for, and how to get them. Stay tuned for more information!
The Florida Board of Professional Engineers oversees the licensing and regulation of engineers in the state. In order to become a licensed professional engineer in Florida, you must meet certain requirements, including completing an accredited engineering program and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
Once you have met these requirements, you can apply for your license with the board. As part of the application process, you will need to submit your engineering seals and stamps. These are used to confirm your identity and qualifications as a professional engineer.
Florida Professional Engineer Stamp requirements and specifications
In the state of Florida, engineers are required to have a professional engineer stamp or seal. The stamp or embossing seal must be a minimum of 1-7/8 inches, and it may contain an abbreviated form of the licensee's name or a combination of initials. A temporary license seal is also available for those who need it. The setup for the seal is different, but it still meets all the requirements of the state. By having a professional engineer stamp or seal, Floridians can rest assured that their engineer is licensed and qualified to practice in the state.
Sealing and signing engineering rules
In order to ensure the accuracy and validity of engineering documents, they must be properly sealed and signed. The Florida Administrative Code states the following regarding sealing and signing documents:
"Other Documents that have been prepared by a licensed professional engineer or that are required by law to have the signature of a licensed professional engineer may be signed or stamped with the seal of the professional engineer who prepared them. A facsimile of the seal may be used on typed or computer-generated documents."
In other words, all engineering documents must be signed and/or stamped by the Florida engineer who created them. The seal or stamp must include the name of the engineer, and it must be applicable to Florida law.
Sealing engineering documents
Aside from signing documents, engineers also use seals to officially stamp or emboss their work. This is done to show that the document has been reviewed and approved by a professional engineer. In Florida, all seals must meet certain requirements, as specified in by the Florida state board. By using an appropriate seal on your engineering documents, you can ensure that they will be taken seriously by others.
Florida PE Seals and Stamps
In the state of Florida, you can use either an embossing seal, rubber stamp or digitally created seal. It must be at least 1-7/8" in diameter. As we’ve stated, you can use any method that delivers a permanent ink color representation. This means that you can even use a CAD-generated seal on any of your hard copy documents. As Florida PE seals and a self-inking stamp contain the required information, they are acceptable to the Board and meet the signing and sealing rules.
Types of Florida Engineering Seal Products Available
Electronic seals
A digitally created seal can typically be created by a stamp company within a single business day. Electronic seals are perfect for electronically signing and sealing electronically transmitted plans. There are a wide variety of file types available for digital seals but the ones that work best typically are PNG files or other vector types of files that will also include a transparent background. These files can typically be sent in email messages if you are in a time crunch to seal plans.
Florida engineers also use electronic seals to sign and stamp other documents, such as plans that are transmitted electronically. This helps to ensure the validity of the documents and confirm the engineer's identity. In order to electronically sign a document, the engineer must use a digital seal or stamp that meets Florida's requirements. By doing so, the engineer can be sure that the document will be taken seriously by others.
Self-Inking and Pre-Inked Stamps
If electronically signing is not an option to put your signature on plans physical products such as a pre-inked stamp or a self-inking Florida professional engineer stamp are other great options. Stamps are available in a wide variety of colors such as black ink, blue ink or red ink and typically are made right to state specifications to ensure they will meet the various rules by the state board provides. These stamps can be used on any size document and will provide a clean and consistent look each time they are used. Ink refills for these types of stamps are also readily available should you run out of ink in the future.
Embossers
If you need to add an embossed seal to your engineering documents, you can do so with a hand-held embosser or a desk embosser. Embossers are available in a variety of sizes, so you can choose the one that best meets your needs. You can also find them in different colors, such as silver and gold.
When it comes to Florida engineering seals and stamps, there are a few different methods that can be used for verification. The most common methods include using an embossing seal, rubber stamp or digitally created seal. All of these seals must meet certain requirements in order to be applicable in the state of Florida. If you're looking for a professional engineer stamp or seal, we have a wide variety of products available that will meet your needs. Please contact us or click the links below.
