PE Endorsement
& Design Review

What a PE endorsement actually is

Under Singapore's Professional Engineers Act 1991, certain classes of electrical engineering work must be performed by — or under the direct supervision of — a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) whose name appears on the PE Register and who holds a current Practising Certificate. The PE's signature and stamp on a drawing, calculation or report is the legal mechanism by which a competent professional accepts personal liability for the work.

An endorsement is not a rubber stamp. It is an assumption of professional responsibility — for the design's compliance with the Electricity Act, SS-CP 5, BCA requirements, EMA technical regulations, SCDF fire safety standards, and SP PowerGrid intake conditions, where applicable.

When you need a PE Electrical endorsement

You will typically need a PE Electrical endorsement when your project involves any of the following:

• Electrical installation works above prescribed thresholds requiring statutory submission (e.g. HT/22 kV intakes via SP PowerGrid).
• BCA submissions where electrical works form part of the building works approval chain.
• LTA submissions for railway-, road-, depot- or station-related electrical infrastructure.
• SCDF fire safety submissions involving emergency power, fire pumps, voice alarm systems and the like.
• Lightning protection design submissions per SS 555.
• Solar PV installations of regulated capacity (BCA / EMA / SP route).
• Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) electrical sign-offs where an in-house engineer is unavailable.

Many consultancy firms maintain their own QPs (Qualified Persons) in-house, but engage an independent PE for second-opinion reviews, for projects outside their usual sector, or simply to manage liability across complex multi-disciplinary submissions.

What we deliver

• Reviewed and endorsed drawings — single-line diagrams, schematics, layouts, earthing schemes, lightning protection plans.
• Endorsed calculations — load schedules, short-circuit calculations, voltage drop, protection co-ordination studies, earth fault loop impedance, lightning protection risk assessment per IEC 62305-2.
• Endorsed specifications — switchgear, transformer, cable, busbar trunking, UPS and generator specifications.
• Design review report — written report identifying non-compliances, risks, omissions and recommended actions.
• Submission support — accompaniment to authority meetings where required, response to RFIs and clarification rounds.
• Statutory endorsement — application of the PE stamp and signature in line with Section 10 of the Professional Engineers Act.

How we work

1. Brief intake. You send the design package — drawings, calculations, specifications, project context. We screen for completeness and confirm scope, programme and fee.
2. Independent review. We work through the package against applicable Singapore standards and authority requirements. Findings are logged in a structured review register.
3. Review session. We walk you through the findings — what is acceptable, what requires revision, what carries residual risk and how to close it.
4. Revisions. Your designers revise. We re-review only the changed items.
5. Endorsement. Once the package is acceptable, we apply the PE stamp and signature on the final drawings, calculations and specifications. A formal letter of endorsement accompanies the submission where required.
6. RFI support. We respond to authority queries during the approval cycle and re-endorse any revised drawings up to the as-built stage.

Standards we work against

• Professional Engineers Act 1991 — the statutory basis for PE registration and endorsement.
• Electricity Act and the Electricity (Electrical Installations) Regulations.
• SS 638 — Code of Practice for Electrical Installations (formerly CP 5).
• SS 555 — Code of Practice for Protection Against Lightning.
• SS 551 — Code of Practice for Earthing.
• IEC 62305 — Lightning Protection (international reference).
• SP PowerGrid Service Connection Document — for HT/LT intake works.
• EMA Technical Regulations for electrical installations.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a PE endorsement take?

A first-pass review of a typical industrial or commercial submission takes one to two weeks depending on the size and quality of the design package. Re-reviews after revision are faster. Complex infrastructure or HT submissions can take longer. We give a realistic timeline up-front.

Can we get an endorsement on a design we've already submitted?

Yes — but we still perform an independent review first. We do not retrospectively endorse a design we have not satisfied ourselves about. If revisions are needed before endorsement, we will say so plainly.

Do you endorse designs prepared by overseas consultants?

Yes, provided we have full visibility of the design intent and the Singapore-specific compliance gaps are addressed. We've worked on projects where the base design came from international consultants and the local adaptation needed both review and endorsement.

What's the difference between QP and PE?

QP — Qualified Person — is the role recognised by BCA under the Building Control Act. A PE (Electrical) registered with the PE Board is qualified to act as the QP for electrical works on a building project. The PE registration is the underlying credential; "QP" is the role on the project.

Can you act as our PE for a project we're already running?

Yes — we regularly join projects partway through to provide the electrical PE endorsement when the original consultant cannot. We will need to catch up on design history before we sign anything.