Innovation-Nov-Dec-2023

DISCIPLINE AND ENFORCEMENT

Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s website contains information on the complaint, investigation, and discipline processes. You can contact us at 604.558.6647 or toll-free at 1.888.430.8035 ext. 6647, or by email at complaints@egbc.ca . The full text of the Consent Order can be found in the Disciplinary Notices section of our website, at egbc.ca/Discipline-Notices .

DISCIPLINE NOTICE: VIJAY KUMAR BAINS, P.ENG.

In an October 20, 2023, Consent Order, Vijay Kumar Bains, P.Eng., admitted that he demonstrated unprofessional conduct by authenticating deficient design drawings prepared for a tenant improvement building permit. As of October 23, 2023, Mr. Bains’ registration with Engineers and Geoscientists BC is suspended for a period of two months. Mr. Bains is restricted from performing any engineering work requiring the application of Part 3 of the BC Building Code. Mr. Bains agreed to pay $7,000 toward the legal costs of Engineers and Geoscientists BC. On January 15, 2015, Mr. Bains authenticated and submitted drawings for a tenant improvement building permit to the City of Surrey (the Drawings). The Drawings contained serious errors including incorrect seismic-force calculations and snow-load factors. The Drawings also failed to incorporate sufficient design details including the vertical and lateral load paths and included irrelevant details not applicable to this project. The City of Surrey advised that the deficiencies in the Drawings needed to be remedied and did not issue the tenant

◾ accepted professional responsibility for a Part 3 building project in circumstances where he was not qualified by training or experience to fulfill that role; ◾ failed to incorporate sufficient design details and used incorrect calculations; ◾ failed to maintain adequate documentation for the project; and ◾ failed to undertake an appropriate design process to the reasonable standard expected of a professional engineer. As outlined in the Consent Order, Mr. Bains is restricted from performing any engineering work requiring the application of Part 3 of the BC Building Code (Practice Restriction). There are several conditions set out in the Order should Mr. Bains wish to lift or modify the Practice Restriction including educational courses and a peer review of all applicable projects for a minimum period of six months. During the suspension period, Mr. Bains must complete the Professional Engineering and Geoscientists Practice in BC Online Seminar. Mr. Bains must also undergo a practice review conducted by the Audit and Practice Review Committee within 12 months of the effective date of the Consent Order. Mr. Bains paid $7,000 toward the legal costs of Engineers and Geoscientists BC. The full text of the Consent Order can be found in the Disciplinary Notices section of our website, at egbc.ca/Discipline-Notices .

improvement building permit. In the Consent Order, Mr. Bains admitted that he demonstrated

unprofessional conduct related to the Drawings and acted contrary to the Bylaws of Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Mr. Bains agreed that, among other things, he:

INNOVATION

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

35