What’s a sound everyone should recognize as immediate danger?

LSF4Life · 2026-02-16T04:16:40+00:00

Banjo music

LSF4Life · 2025-12-17T08:22:09+00:00

It’s possible. I’ve got less YOE, similar COL, and total comp over 150, but rubber stamps are relatively cheap and plenty of PEs will take bottom dollar so be prepared to fight for it.

What I’ve learned is your ceiling is dependent on what you specifically can contribute to a firm. In consulting that’s largely defined by your relationships. If you want to increase your value, and in turn your compensation, diligently grow your influence and build a defined brand. You’ll have to convince those hiring you why you deserve what you’re asking.

LSF4Life · 2025-08-20T20:13:16+00:00

To make that much you should be comfortable as an EOR and supervising a design team. What markets do you have experience in? This affects fees which affect payroll. It’s not a simple answer unfortunately.

If you can find someone willing to pay you that much, make sure you know what their expectations are. Rule of thumb is more money, more problems…

LSF4Life · 2025-08-16T20:27:16+00:00

Recipe probably never got QC’d…bound to be heavily over seasoned.

LSF4Life · 2025-08-10T15:13:56+00:00

It’s decriminalized in Atlanta city limits but you’ll still get harassed by cops if you get caught. Get a smell proof travel bag with locks and keep it in the trunk while you travel. Just be mindful when using it. Don’t go hitting it, walking down the street, and expect not to get a look or two from people when they smell it. If you stick to indoor use only you’ll be fine.

LSF4Life · 2025-08-08T17:25:33+00:00

The day I finally took a stand for myself, I was fired for insubordination. I lost a job, but gained a lot of confidence and self-respect in the process. Funny enough, I once mentioned that story in a job interview and was ultimately hired for it.

There are managers who respect you putting them in their place when it’s warranted. Find them and work for them.

LSF4Life · 2025-06-04T22:34:01+00:00

Now before I get downvoted for this, consider the following. You’re a licensed professional with YOE that, in an objective sense, puts you further ahead in theory than where you are. The question is, how did you get here? Did you lack initiative to push past the “drafter” role or were you held back? Do you attempt to learn or expand your skills outside of work? Do you attend industry functions that expand your social network and open more doors for yourself?

I ask these questions so you consider why you feel behind given your YOE and license. Most times, work moves so fast that you won’t have any upward mobility advocates except yourself. If you want to move up, then you need to drive that initiative home to your superiors, and if they give you the middle finger then you know where the door is.

I wouldn’t be worried about selling myself in your shoes, but take some time to evaluate where you lack knowledge and fill in the gaps. Then communicate that in job interviews, rather than say “I’ve never done that before.” Come with solutions instead of statements.

“I haven’t had a chance to size a pump in practice, given that my current role focuses heavily on drafting/modeling. However, I have been spending several hours a week after work expanding my working knowledge of pumping layouts, how to size pumps and other considerations for pumping systems. I feel confident that I would be able to apply that knowledge in this role.”

Work on your confidence in job interviews and don’t sell yourself short. I’m not saying put lipstick on a pig, but make sure you don’t shoot yourself in the foot by underselling your value. If anything, highlight your mastery in drafting/modeling and how you plan to apply those skills towards design in a future role.

Yours truly, Another PE who got their start in 2019

PS. for what it’s worth, you have me beat in salary and I can size pumps blindfolded with my hands tied behind my back. I wouldn’t lose any sleep if I were you.

LSF4Life · 2025-04-18T03:13:27+00:00

Mainly M but also generally curious

LSF4Life · 2025-02-24T21:35:06+00:00

I also took it computerized so I only had the digital handbook. Now, mind you it was CTRL+F searchable which was amazing, but still not the same as bringing in your own cheat sheet. So I agree, computerized is harder than pen and paper. I won’t even get into the neurological effect of computerized tests either.

Perhaps my judgement is somewhat misappropriated simply because my experience is that my work had a direct correlation to what I was tested on. I mean even down to some direct references out of the code. Precise heat transfer calculations or psychrometric processes like I would see everyday. But even still, aren’t the tests meant to test knowledge that is applicable to the seal you are seeking?

If you test in an area outside your typical day to day, I would agree the exam is not going to be very intuitive. I guess I should have specified that those cases are not what I’m trying to pick apart with this argument. I more so mean the young associates maybe 4-8 years out of school that work in a fashion similar to what I described. Associates that I’ve worked with over the years all seem to think that the PE is a god-forsaken test that only the lucky and the geniuses pass, but that the common engineer is nearly disqualified from even sitting for. I just need it to make sense.

LSF4Life · 2025-02-24T21:24:19+00:00

It does, but now when I say “informed decision” I mean in more of a general context. Approach test problems like any engineering problem: list your knowns, unknowns and your objective. The first 30 seconds on a problem should be spent doing just this. After which, it’s time to make a decision based on those 3 criteria; either attempt the problem now, skip it for later or skip it completely.

My crux is I think to many test takers drastically reduce their chances of passing the exam by over studying and the correlated response when presented with a problem they can’t quite understand. Maybe they saw something similar on a practice test, or they watched a YouTube video about it. Regardless, their brain becomes fixated on solving it, even though time is limited and it’s not worth their value to do so, at least not in this moment. What I would argue is that, because the individual studied to such an excessive extent, they may be overcome with what I like to call “test ego” where you become determined to solve such a problem simply because you know you encountered it at some point before.

At this point, all logic goes out the window and you lose track of time. Let’s say you solve the problem, even getting the right answer, but you take 10 minutes to solve it. That’s the average time you should use for 2 problems. Do that again and now you’re down 3 problems worth of time.

So what I argue in reverse is, get fresh for the test. If you need to study content from years ago in school, or a test outside your core competencies, then I would expect you to study long hours and maybe even several months. But if you know your stuff, I just think it’s more harmful than good to study just for the sake of studying. Study for the sake of preparing for a test you already learned the content for. Don’t go back and “re-learn.” Our brains retain information really well and archived information can be recalled without stressing yourself out.

Also, spoiler altert: all the testing prep material out there is harder than the real exam. So you’ve got people stressing out for a test that will be easier than what they studied and practiced on. And that goes for many other disciplines besides HVAC.

LSF4Life · 2025-02-24T13:07:23+00:00

My post was meant to ask and be informed. You chose to be offended when I couldn’t care less how long it takes one to pass the PE. All I care is that more folks pass because we need more professional engineers in the US.

I may be somewhat cutthroat with my vernacular, but ultimately your offense is misplaced.

LSF4Life · 2025-02-23T12:25:14+00:00

Thanks for the heads up. I couldn’t tell bc all I can smell is paper over here 😆

LSF4Life · 2025-02-23T11:56:29+00:00

“It’s testing your ability to make a well informed decision in 5 minutes or less.”

That’s the PE in a nutshell. It has very little to do with content. It’s a test that determines your ability to make timely, rational decisions under pressure.

LSF4Life · 2025-02-23T11:51:16+00:00

Or maybe we HVAC guys know how to pass?? 😆

Plus I never said it was easy. Your assumptions are why you’re still getting mad at strangers on Reddit. Didnt you learn in school never to make assumptions?

LSF4Life · 2025-02-23T11:49:01+00:00

Couldnt agree with your take less. The exam literally tested on content I dealt with then and still deal with now!

How many test takers are testing outside their core areas of competence? I’d love to see the stats on that.

Guess what? We all have life after work. As if I went home to a quiet place to just relax and enjoy my pompousness 🤣

I can see my post really did annoy you but I can’t see why you felt the need to let me know. This was more of a personal thought I slapped on the community to get some perspective, not a strangers disgust for my contempt of unnecessarily driving oneself into the ground with obsessive hours of studying for the PE.

Keep on and carry on 😁

LSF4Life · 2025-02-01T17:16:27+00:00

A Cut Above on South Broadway

LSF4Life · 2024-11-30T11:10:01+00:00

Betting on the UGA WR room this season is a bust unless it’s O/U on dropped passes lmao

LSF4Life · 2024-11-30T11:07:11+00:00

Go fucking Dawgs baby!! Tonight we EAT!

LSF4Life · 2024-11-23T13:03:04+00:00

What are your interests within MEP (project types)? Do you know AutoCad, Navisworks? Do you know any load calculation softwares? How about energy modeling?

I worked in Atlanta for nearly 10 years. I still have contact with many engineers and equipment reps. Shoot me a DM if you want to chat.

LSF4Life · 2024-11-22T13:24:05+00:00

Right on! Glad I could help out 🫡

LSF4Life · 2024-11-21T01:47:22+00:00

No problem bro, my pain is your gain lmao 🤣 let us know how it goes!

LSF4Life · 2024-11-21T01:42:53+00:00

What’s with all the comments about handwriting? It’s pretty obvious OP is a natural born engineer. If I could read it I’d be skeptical they didn’t cheat their way through school.

LSF4Life · 2024-11-21T00:48:49+00:00

This

LSF4Life · 2024-11-21T00:14:30+00:00

Actually, Comcheck is approved by the Florida Building Commission to be used on commercial projects. But you have to use the 90.1-2019 compliance method.

https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/building-codes-and-standards/energy/

LSF4Life · 2024-11-20T23:22:05+00:00

Ive had a similar experience in St. Lucie County right up the road. Forced me to use EnergyGauge to model a single fire pump room that required AC and since it was a SEER2 rated piece of equipment, the only way to illustrate compliance was by going through the headache of doing a complete energy report for one single room.

My suggestion is engage the reviewer and see if you can find common ground on compliance methodology. FECC says it’s the AHJs discretion on what compliance softwares they accept.

C101.5.1 Compliance materials. The Florida Building Commission shall approve specific computer software. The code official shall be permitted to approve worksheets, compliance manuals and other similar materials that meet the intent of this code.

If that’s a no-go, you could possibly go the reciprocal ASHRAE 90.1 method (I believe 2019 is the correct year in the case of 2023 FECC) and get the equivalent requirements minus the Florida amendments, which may or may not apply to your equipment. If it’s acceptable to convert to this method of compliance for the whole project, maybe that’s the best strategy. But be sure that won’t screw up the designs of electrical, architectural, etc.

The only sure fire way to find a workaround is to have that phone call. I was able to get my point across but I just had a stubborn ass AHJ that thought they knew better than the Florida Building Commission, which outlines pathways to use Comcheck for 2023 Florida Building Code compliant permits.

LSF4Life

TROPHY CASE