ME LAWS: REPUBLIC ACT 8495 Part 1 (Article I)

Just a refresher for anyone who might not be familiar with the law that governs the practice of Mechanical Engineering in the Philippines.


Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines

Metro Manila

Tenth Congress

February 12, 1998


Republic Act No. 8495

AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::



ARTICLE I


TITLE, STATEMENT OF POLICY AND DEFINITION OF TERMS


Section 1. Title. – This Act stall be known as the "Philippine Mechanical Engineering Act of 1998."

Section 2. Statement of Policy. – The State recognizes the importance of mechanical engineers in nation building and development. Their talents through sustainable human development shall be promoted. Thus, the State shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded mechanical engineers whose standard of professional practice and service shall be excellent, qualitative, world-class and globally competitive through regulatory measures, programs and activities.




Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean as follows:


(a) Practice of Mechanical Engineering – A person shall be deemed to be practicing mechanical engineering or rendering mechanical engineering service within the meaning and intent of this Act when he performs the following:

(1) Consultation, valuation, investigation and management services requiring mechanical engineering knowledge;

(2) Engineering design, preparation of plans, specifications and projects studies or estimates for mechanical equipment, machinery, or processes of any mechanical works, projects or plants;

(3) Management or supervision of the erection installation, alteration, testing and commissioning of mechanical equipment, machinery, or processes in mechanical works, projects or plants;

(4) Management, supervision, operation, tending or maintenance of any mechanical equipment, machinery or processes in mechanical work, projects or plants;

(5) Management or supervision of the manufacture, sale, supply or distribution of mechanical equipment, parts or components;

(6) Teaching of mechanical engineering professional subjects in government recognized and accredited engineering schools; and

(7) Employment in government as a professional mechanical engineer, registered mechanical engineer, or certified plant mechanic if the nature and character of his work is in line with his profession, requiring professional knowledge of the science of mechanical engineering.


(b) Mechanical equipment or machinery. – includes all prime movers such as steam engines and turbines, internal combustion engines and gas engines and turbines; steam generators such as boiler; furnaces; heat exchanger such as cooling towers, kilns and dryers, coolers and heaters; materials handling equipment, such as pumps, cranes, conveyors, hoists, elevators, escalators, mechanized dumb-waters, moving ramps and walkways; heating, air-conditioning, ventilating, and refrigeration equipment and machinery, including compressors and centrifugal fans, mechanical pollution abatement and environmental control system; piping system with a working pressure of not less than 70 kpa., fired and unfired pressure vessels, printing machine; mechanical working machines for metallic and non-metallic materials and other mechanical equipment and machinery whether installed on land, underground, or on board watercraft.


(c) Mechanical processes, works, projects or plants shall include stem plants, geothermal plants, dendro-thermal plants, nuclear plants, ocean thermal energy conservation (OTEC) plants, internal combustion plants hydraulic plants, pumping plants, compressed gas plants, all kinds of mills, shops, factories, shipyards dry docks, heating, air-conditioning, ventilating and refrigeration plants containing any mechanical equipment machinery or process deriving power from steam, fossil fuels, wind, air, gas, water, solar heat, nuclear energy, ocean waves and tides, or other energy sources.


(d) Capacity of process works, project or plant-rated capacity in kilowatt of mechanical works, projects or plants for the purpose of this Act shall be the total kilowatt rating of all engines, motors, boilers, turbines, or other prime movers installed for use in such works, projects or plants, whether in operation or not, and without regard to the number of capacities of the mechanical equipment, machinery or processes receiving power from or intended to be driven by such prime movers.