Taking a position
Please see www.aea.org/pdf/Press_Release_US_Workforce.pdf for our organization’s approved position on the importing of foreign workers, including H-1B workers.
Richard F. Tax
President, American Engineering Association

Respectfully disagree
Having reviewed Mr. Huggett’s and Mr. DeStefano’s responses regarding special inspections vs. structural observation (printed in the "Letters" section of the December 2006 issue of Structural Engineer), both have valid points but both are not fully correct.

I, too, am east of the Mississippi, but I do not fully agree with Mr. DeStefano. Special inspections should be carried out by a testing service unless there is a particular item within the structure that is unusual or requires the level of knowledge that a structural engineer possesses in order to be fully reviewed for compliance with the contract documents.

For example, steel-framed buildings, fabricator certifications, quality control procedures, material certifications, and the like should be reviewed by the structural engineer. Typical bolting testing, typical weld testing, review and testing of shear connectors (in composite construction), and review of the metal-deck fastening should be taken care of by the testing service. Should there be a special situation, such as a complicated rigid-frame connection on the project, both the testing service and the structural engineer should review the in-place condition.

The bottom line is simply that some degree of common sense needs to be applied as to who should inspect or review what and best apply that to the owner’s pocketbook.
Charles L. Bowman II, P.E.

Great job on the redesign
I just read the January issue of Structural Engineer magazine. I really like the new format for the New Year. Great job!
Don Allen, Washington D.C.
Steel Framing Alliance; Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute