Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 61G1-16.005 - Procedures for Digitally Signing and Sealing and for Electronically Transmitting Plans, Specifications, Reports or Other Documents

(1) Information stored in electronic files representing plans, specifications, plats, reports, or other documents which must be sealed under the provisions of Chapter 481, F.S., shall be signed, dated and sealed by the architect or interior designer in responsible charge.

(a) A scanned image of an original signature shall not be used in lieu of a digital or electronic signature unless such scanned image of a digital signature is required by any governmental entity as part of its procedure for submitting and accepting the documents identified in this rule during the Covid-19 pandemic.

(b) The date that the electronic signature file was created or the digital signature was placed into the document must appear on the document in the same manner as date is required to be applied when a licensee uses the manual sealing procedure set out in Rule 61G1-16.003, F.A.C.

(2) An architect or interior designer utilizing a digital or electronic signature to seal construction documents shall assure that the signature is:

(a) Unique to the person using it;

(b) Capable of verification within the native software and without use of a third-party;

(c) Under the sole control of the person using it; and

(d) Linked to a document in such a manner that the electronic signature is invalidated if any data in the document are changed.

(3) Each digitally or electronically signed file shall have an authentication code defined as a message digest described in Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 180-4 "Secure Hash Standard," March 2012, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference by the Board and can be obtained from http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-01340 or the internet website: http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips180-4/fips-180-4.pdf.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 61G1-16.005

Rulemaking Authority 481.2055, 481.221(2), (3) FS. Law Implemented 481.221(2), (3) FS.

New 4-23-06, Amended 7-29-12, 11-11-13, Amended by Florida Register Volume 47, Number 101, May 25, 2021 effective 6/9/2021, Amended by Florida Register Volume 50, Number 124, June 25, 2024 effective 7/7/2024.

New 4-23-06, Amended 7-29-12, 11-11-13, 6-9-21.