SAM COLE
PE No. 49262
Case No. 2018000206
Licensee was charged with violating Section 471.033(1)(g), Florida Statutes; negligence in the practice of engineering. Licensee signed, dated, and sealed engineering design documents for a restaurant. Licensee acted as the Electrical and Mechanical (HVAC & Plumbing) Engineer of Record. The electrical design documents contained material deficiencies. The deficiencies include, but are not limited to, no short circuit values and no voltage drop calculations for the feeders and customer-owned conductors, no conductor ampacities or insulation types or any power or lighting circuit, or for the utility service to the main breaker and the panel, no panel schedule is shown, no surge protective devices are shown, no circuitry is designated or shown for any electrical equipment, etc. The mechanical design documents contained material deficiencies. The deficiencies include, but are not limited to, there are no aid condition equipment schedules shown, the drawings do not contain key parameters such as electrical sizing and fan air quantities, no outside and inside design dry and wet bulb conditions, outside (fresh) air make-up conditions, cooling coil requirements based on sensible heat, latent heat and total heat gains, nor heating equipment requirements, no equipment schedule to specify plumbing fixtures, no potable water isometric diagram is shown, total water fixture units do not do not appear on the drawings, total sanitary waste fixture units are now shown, no storm water riser diagrams, no area drainage calculations, no piping layouts for cold water, hot water, sanitary drainage or storm drainage, etc.
Ruling: This case was presented to the full Board upon a Motion for Determination that Respondent Forfeited his right to an Administrative Hearing. The Board imposed a Reprimand, a Suspension until licensee appears before the Board and demonstrates the ability to resume practice with reasonable safety to the public, upon reinstatement, probation will be imposed with terms. The terms include project review at six and 18 months, successful completion of the Basic Engineering Professionalism and Ethics course, the Board’s Study Guide, an Administrative Fine of $3,000 and Administrative Costs of $12,263. Final Order was issued on July 16, 2019.
Violation: Section 471.033(1)(g), Florida Statutes