In the state of Hawaii, all professional engineers are required to use a Hawaii professional engineer embosser seal or stamp. It must be acquired at the engineer’s own expense, and it must meet certain stringent requirements.
The Requirements
The seal or stamp must measure 1 ½ inches in diameter, and consist of a second circle inside the perimeter measuring 1 1/8 inches in diameter. The licensee’s name and the phrase “Hawaii, U.S.A.” must appear in the outer space, and the words “Licensed Professional Engineer” along with the licensee’s number in the inner space. The inner space must also include an abbreviation designating the engineer’s area of practice, as follows:
- Ag – indicating agricultural
- Ch – indicating chemical
- C – indicating civil
- E – indicating electrical
- I – indicating industrial
- M – indicating mechanical
- S – indicating structural
If you are licensed in more than one area, then you will require a Hawaii professional embosser seal or stamp for each discipline.
Using the Seal or Stamp
Whenever you submit a report, survey, map, specifications or descriptions to public officials, they have to be stamped or sealed and authenticated with your signature. Every sheet in your design drawings must be stamped and sealed, and below your signature you must include the phrase “This work was prepared by me under my supervision.” You also have to include the expiry date of your license.
If you are applying for a construction or building permit that involves public health or safety, all specifications and plans must bear your authorized Hawaii professional embosser seal or stamp. Below the stamp, the authentication must state, “Construction of this project will be under my observation.”
If you are not actually performing the work, but you are responsible for it, then the authentication should read, “This work was prepared by me or under my supervision and construction of this project will be under my observation.”
Stopping Work
If for any reason you stop work on the project, or you have been removed, or you are for any reason no longer able to discharge your duties as a licensee, then you must notify the appropriate public official within no more than fifteen days, in writing. This notification should include the name of the professional engineer who will be continuing with the project.
In none of the above cases can you use a rubber stamp, a CAD generated seal, or a facsimile of your signature or seal. The embosser seal is the only tool that can be used in the instance of a work stoppage for any reason.
Security
It is important that you keep your Hawaii professional engineer embosser seal or stamp in a safe place at all times. Although it doesn’t happen often, it hasn’t been unheard of for unscrupulous people to appropriate legitimate seals and use them for their own purposes, and you are responsible for anything that is filed under your seal. If you have lost your seal, or you suspect that it has been stolen or otherwise misappropriated, it is vital that you get in touch with the board immediately. You could be held liable for anything that goes wrong with work done under your seal, even if you weren’t aware that your seal had been improperly used.
Products to Keep You in Compliance
Acorn Sales Company Incorporated has all the products you need to fulfill your sealing requirements in the state of Hawaii, including:
- Handheld seal embosser
- Extended long reach seal embosser
- Long reach seal embosser
- Desk seal embosser
- Soft seal embosser
- Regular hand rubber stamp
- Slim pre-inked stamp
- MaxLight pre-inked stamp
- Self-inking stamp
To learn more about the requirements for professional engineers in the state of Hawaii, visit the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Hawaii Professional Engineer seal requirements?
In Hawaii, a professional engineer seal or stamp must be 1 ½ inches in diameter with a second inner circle measuring 1 1/8 inches in diameter. It must include the engineer’s name, “Hawaii, U.S.A.,” the words “Licensed Professional Engineer,” the license number, and the discipline abbreviation such as C, E, M, or S.
Do Hawaii professional engineers need a separate seal for each discipline?
Yes. If you are licensed in more than one area of engineering, Hawaii requires a separate professional engineer embosser seal or stamp for each discipline you hold a license in.
When must a Hawaii PE seal or stamp be used on documents?
A Hawaii PE seal or stamp must be used on reports, surveys, maps, specifications, descriptions, and every sheet of design drawings submitted to public officials. It is also required on plans and specifications for construction or building permits involving public health or safety.
What wording must appear with a Hawaii professional engineer seal?
The required authentication language depends on the project. Common required wording includes “This work was prepared by me under my supervision,” “Construction of this project will be under my observation,” or a combined statement if you are responsible for the work but not performing it directly.
Can I use a rubber stamp, CAD seal, or digital facsimile in Hawaii?
No. For Hawaii PE compliance, you cannot use a rubber stamp, CAD-generated seal, or facsimile of your signature or seal in the situations covered by state requirements. The correct seal or embosser must be used as required by law.
What should I do if my Hawaii PE seal is lost or stolen?
You should notify the Hawaii board immediately if your seal is lost, stolen, or misappropriated. Because you may be held responsible for documents filed under your seal, it is important to report the issue as soon as possible and keep your seal stored securely.
