The laws and regulations regarding Tennessee architectural seals and embossers are fairly straightforward and simple. They follow the basic, common sense guidelines that most states follow. You cannot allow anyone to use your architectural seal, nor can you use it to approve work that you did not do, or that is not related directly to your field. For example, you cannot let a coworker borrow your architectural seals or embossers to get a blueprint approved you had nothing to do with, nor can you use your architectural seals or embossers to approve your friend the electrical engineer's plans. In addition, your seal is only valid for work in Tennessee, and it cannot validate out of state work inside Tennessee, so if you collaborate with someone outside of the state, contact the board regarding the legality of who can give the final approval on it. As for the seal itself, it can be electronically produced using a secure medium, or you can opt to use traditional architectural seals or embossers stamp or embosser, just so long as whichever method you use follows these guidelines:
- The seal must be 2 inches in diameter with an inner circle that has a diameter of 1-1/2 inches. The borders of the circles should be dotted on the interior and dashed on the exterior.
- In the space between circles at the top of the outer ring, the name of the architect should be displayed, while at the bottom it should read “State of Tennessee”.
- In the center of the seal itself, at the top of the inner circle, it should read “Registered Architect”, beneath which should be the state seal.
- At the bottom of the inner circle, centered above the declaration of state, should be the architect's registration number preceded by the prefix “No.”.
How to Use Tennessee Architectural Seals and Embossers:
Aside from only being legally usable by the owner, Tennessee architectural seals and embossers must be used to confirm and approve plan designs that have been completed by the architect themselves or by someone under their direct supervision, such as an apprentice or employee. This includes sealing each page of original planning documents and any duplicate created. Once an architect places their Tennessee architectural seals or embossers upon a document, they become responsible for any design flaws in the structure of the building. It is this burden of responsibility that makes owning physical Tennessee architectural seals and embossers over using electronic copies desirable to most designers.
Where to Purchase Tennessee Architectural Seals and Embossers:
The state only sets the requirements for what the seal must look like and how it is used, where it is purchased from is left up to the individual. When it comes to procuring certifiable Tennessee architectural seals and embossers, it is important to consider using a reliable source that specializes in these tools. Acorn Sales, for example, is one such company that can provide high quality architecture stamp seals and embossers. As it is a specialty of theirs, you can be assured they will produce only up to code products. You can opt to use digital copies in Tennessee, but there are more security risks involved given the rise in cybercrimes. If you want both security and reliability, as well as a guarantee to be in compliance with state laws, then it would be best to use Tennessee architectural seals and embossers from a company like Acorn Sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Tennessee architectural seal requirements?
Tennessee architectural seals must be 2 inches in diameter, with an inner circle 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The outer ring should include the architect’s name at the top and “State of Tennessee” at the bottom. The inner circle should display “Registered Architect,” the state seal, and the architect’s registration number preceded by “No.”
Can I use a Tennessee architectural seal electronically?
Yes. Tennessee allows an electronic architectural seal as long as it is produced using a secure medium and follows the state’s required design and usage rules. If you prefer, you can also use a traditional stamp or embosser.
Who is allowed to use my Tennessee architect seal or embosser?
Only the architect who owns the seal may use it. You cannot let a coworker, employee, or anyone else borrow your Tennessee architectural seal or embosser, and you should only use it on work you completed or supervised directly.
What kinds of documents can be sealed with a Tennessee architectural seal?
A Tennessee architectural seal or embosser should be used to approve architectural plans and design documents that you prepared yourself or that were completed under your direct supervision. It should not be used to approve work outside your architectural responsibility or work from another profession.
Do I need to seal every page of architectural plans in Tennessee?
According to the guidance in the post, each page of original planning documents and any duplicate created should be sealed. This helps confirm authenticity and shows responsibility for the design.
Where can I buy a Tennessee architectural seal or embosser?
The state does not require you to buy from a specific vendor, so you can purchase from any provider as long as the product meets Tennessee’s requirements. For compliance and reliability, many architects choose a specialty vendor that offers Tennessee architect seals and embossers made to code.
