I did an ALTA survey with topography near the airport for a proposed new building. No question about the benchmarks, and I've compared my contours against those in the Pima County website. I'm sure of my topo. There are height restrictions for the new building based upon the runway slope. I will not be doing the construction staking - not my thing. That is months away.
Here is the catch: The Planning Administrator has stated that he will accept
sealed certification from an Arizona RLS that attests that the highest
point of proposed structure's elevation is at or less than 2634.00
NAVD88.
My first thought is, what's the point. Surely they can read the architectural plans and see the elevations on there. This has nothing to do with a surveyor. The second thought is I have no control over the construction. They could build it to any elevation and I wouldn't know. And if a plane hits the building, the attorneys surely will find my certification in the file and guess who will be dragged in.
So, am I over thinking this, or just being my very cautious self with good reason.
What would you do?
>They could build it to any elevation and I wouldn't know.?
The certification said Proposed Building. (they are not requiring you to certify the As-built elev)
My first thought is that this is something for the DESIGNERS to be attesting to, not the surveyor. However, a case could be made that the topo survey you produce effects the structure's proposed height/elevation. Also, seems like the PA is looking to do "one-stop shopping", rather than have to switch from one set of plans to your survey.
A bit of a disclaimer will probably help here.
Something along the lines of "The highest point of the building proposed for this site is 2634.00 feet above NAVD88, as shown on plans for XYZ Project by ABC Engineers and Architects, dated such and such date".
Certify to the elevation of an existing BM at or near the site. Then plainly state that the proposed floor shall be a minimum of so-many-feet-and-tenths above the existing BM to meet the criteria.
I would just say "no".
I would run it past my E & O provider and see what they say.
I would say no. Let the surveyor in charge of the construction take care of that. What's the upside for you to do it??
"This is a proposed certification of a proposed elevation ....."
Someone is really stretching out to try to add your neck to those on the potential chopping block when something bad happens. The only possible thing you can confirm is that whatever elevation they have as ground level for the structure is consistent with current ground level. They could still raise or lower at a later time when you have no connection with the project whatsoever. But, at least, the reviewer has something from a licensed disinterested party confirming that the starting point is a likely starting point.
If you are showing elevations around 2610 feet above sea level and they show their main floor to be at 2550 feet, someone could ask for clarification as to how that was going to happen.
I thought about it some more and I don't think I would do it.
You have no control over what that elevation will be in the future.
You could identify (not certify) what the proposed elevation is supposed to be, but how can you certify it. You have the potential of getting drawn into a lawsuit or contentious situation over which you have no control.
> I thought about it some more and I don't think I would do it.
>
> You have no control over what that elevation will be in the future.
>
> You could identify (not certify) what the proposed elevation is supposed to be, but how can you certify it. You have the potential of getting drawn into a lawsuit or contentious situation over which you have no control.
what does the future have to do with the issue? They are asking what the proposed height is on the plans that will be submitted. If they change the elevation after that, they didn't follow the plans.
This is a service you can get paid for. Standard Operating Procedure for these projects.
Run through the plans and make sure the highest part of the building is less that the specified height. Prepare your certification showing the proposed building height per the plans by .. dated .. send your bill and take care of your client.
You are right, but if something goes wrong and it turns out that the final elevation is wrong, you will all most assuredly get drawn into the dispute and will have to spend money, waste time, and experience anguish. It's the word "certify" that bothers me. To me it would be a cost benefit issue. I will have no control or ability to influence whether or not the plans are followed. If they aren't I will likely be drawn into the dispute. It it worth it? Not to me. To me it sounds like this is an afterthought. Something they have asked you to do after you have already completed the work they hired you to do.
The PROPOSED height of the building would be based on the ground elevation AFTER site prep grading would it not?
So if they do a bunch of fill, then you would need to set that elevation and do the calcs. OR what if they do a lot of cut? Same scenario? Height of the building is based on the design ground elevation. You know darn good and well they do not intend to just scrub the grass off and start building.
I'd make the engineers do the cert OR I would give them something along the line of "The proposed site ground elevation per the design plans is x.xx feet and the total height of the building per those same plans is y.yy feet, so x.xx + y.yy = z.zz feet is the design elevation of the proposed structure."
