Each State has it's own laws. CT recently updated it's statutes to allow electronic seals and signatures by Architects, but the language was no properly edite3d, so way it is worded has been legally interpreted to mean that it only can be used for electronic transfer of documents, where that is the practice / is allowed. If a Building Department required hard copy signed and sealed drawings to be submitted for permit, you cannot print a hard copy including a seal and signature that was inserted electronically. In the latter case each page of the drawings must be hand signed and either rubber stamped or raised sealed. The law allows for the front cover of the specifications only to be so signed and sealed, not every page! (phew)
Below is a letter that was sent to the State Building Inspector from the CT Architectural Licensing Board:
S T A T E O F C O N N E C T I C U T
ARCHITECTURAL LICENSING BOARD
165 CAPITOL AVENUE, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106
January 15, 2016
Department of Administrative Services
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
ATT: Mr. Joseph V. Cassidy
Acting State Building Inspector
Re: Letter dated December 3, 3015 to the Architectural Licensing Board
Dear Mr. Cassidy,
The Architectural Licensing Board discussed your letter to them, dated December 3, 2015, at their
meeting held January 15, 2016 concerning the acceptance of documents with electronic seals by a
Building Official. In response to the questions asked in this letter, the Board offers their
responses as stated below.
Question #1: “When submitting documents requiring a seal in accordance with CGS 20-293 to a local
Building Official, is an electronic seal only acceptable for documents submitted in electronic
form, i.e. via internet upload, email, etc.?”
Board response: Yes.
Question #2: May documents that are generated electronically, but subsequently printed and
submitted as
hard copy to the Building Official have electronic seals or are they required to have live wet
seals?”
Board response: All documents submitted as hard copy must have live seals.
The Board invites you to their March 18, 2016 Board Meeting should you have any additional
questions.
Sincerely,
S. Edward Jeter, Chairman
Architectural Licensing Board
Telephone 860.713.6050 ● Fax 860.713.7243 ● TDD 860.713.7240
Internet Web Site: www.ct.gov/dcp
An Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer
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Bruce Spiewak AIA
Principal
Bruce J. Spiewak, AIA, Consulting Architect, LLC
West Haven CT
Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2016 07:23
From: Kerry Hogue
Subject: Sealing & signing drawings electronically
this blanket question is wrought with ambiguity. the sign and seal requirements are not consistent across jurisdictions. You need to confirm what is allowed by the State where the project is located , and what limitations may or may not be placed on protecting your signature is allowed in electronic format.
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Kerry Hogue AIA
HKS, Inc.
Dallas TX