North Carolina Board of Examiners
for Engineers and Surveyors

Foundation Repair Guidelines

The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors is providing this document
to serve as an interpretative guide for proper foundation repair with respect to engineering
services to comply with The Engineering and Surveying Licensing Act, G.S. 89C. The variation
in engineering firm organization and services requires that these general guidelines be applied to
the specific facts for each company, taking into account the definition of engineering in G.S.
89C-3(6), the requirement for licensing of business firms in G.S. 89C-24 and the associated
General Statutes for business formation in G.S. 55B (Professional Corporations), and G.S. 57C
(Limited Liability Companies).
The purpose of these guidelines is to assist a Professional Engineer and engineering firm in
complying with the statutes and Board Rules to assure that the public is properly protected
when receiving recommendations for foundation repair and the associated engineering
analysis and recommendations. This starts with the preliminary assessments of foundation
repair services and requires that a Professional Engineer (PE), or an employee of the PE who
is under the direct supervisory control (responsible charge) of the PE, make the preliminary
analysis, recommendations, judgment and calculations as to methods of repair, including
evaluation of the number and location of support piers, continuing through the design of the
repair and the final certification of completion and closeout documentation that certifies
completion in accordance with the plans and specifications. The furnishing of “as-built”
drawings can only be certified by the PE to the extent that the PE, or an employee under the
PE’s responsible charge, verified the field conditions. Otherwise, a disclaimer clearly stating
the source of the field data must be placed on the drawings, such that the client or the
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) can determine adequacy.
A statement that there is a failure of the foundation, or structural repairs are required, should
only be made by a PE who has evaluated the conditions. If such conditions are suspected by
other than a PE, a referral should be made to a PE. The process requires that a Professional
Engineer (PE) be in responsible charge, as required by Board Rule 21-56.0701(c)(3), of the
repair evaluation, analysis, recommendations and design from the beginning.
The process involves various parties that the PE needs to be aware of to assure that the PE does
not aid and abet, or associate with, companies that are not in compliance with the engineering
practice statutes.

• a) Company Engineering License Required. Every company that evaluates a foundation
  and makes a recommendation as to whether repair is needed must have a properly
  licensed Professional Engineer and the company must be licensed with Board of
  Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (the Board) or have a properly licensed engineering
  firm do the evaluation and recommendations. The foundation companies simply not holding
  themselves out as engineers does not avoid the issue. One difficulty is that the Professional
  Corporation Act in G.S. 55B limits the ability of most foundation repair companies (if a corporation
  or limited liability company) to become licensed with the Board), due to ownership requirements
  (G.S. 55B-6) and the limitation on services offered (G.S. 55B-14) . Many companies set up a separate
  associated licensed engineering firm or have an existing engineering firm do the engineering.
• b) The Contractor. Recommending certain foundation repair work based on a company’s
  status and experience as a licensed general contractor is very limited and would not
  encompass the analysis and recommendations typically encountered with foundation
  repair. It is within the realm of a general contractor to recommend certain work to restore
  the prior condition, such as pointing up mortar joints, replacing portions of a foundation
  wall, replacing damaged joists, etc., but not analyzing the reason for failure, making the
  recommendations for a support system, or performing calculations and specifying the
  design for the repair. This does not prevent the foundation repair contractor from
  inspecting a foundation and from that evaluation and preliminary assessment referring the
  client or the matter to a PE if structural issues are suspected. If a foundation failure is
  suspected the client or the matter should be referred to a properly licensed PE and
  engineering firm for an evaluation. There may be reasons for the failure that should be
  addressed. The analysis, recommendation and design of a solution must be done by a PE.
• c) Manufacturers of the Foundation Repair Systems. The foundation repair companies
  cannot simply leave it to the manufacturers of their products (helical piers, grout, etc.) to
  design and test the products, even if using licensed engineers for the product design, and
  simply install the products per the specs of the manufacturer. This does not account for
  making the initial determination that there is foundation failure, the extent of any repair
  required, type of support, spacing and many other conditions, along with taking
  responsibility to protect the client. The PE is required to account for the actual field
  conditions.
• d) Home Inspectors. A licensed Home Inspector may note that there may be an issue with
  a foundation or structural component, but the client should be referred to a properly
  licensed PE and engineering firm for an evaluation as noted above in paragraph b)
  applicable to General Contractors. This is consistent with the Home Inspector Licensure
  Board Rule 11 NCAC 08 .1103(b)(3)(D) and the education provided by that Board.

Link to actual document located on the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers
and Surveyors website.

North Carolina Engineer Foundation Repair Guidelines