Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the AO Engineers, LLC website and the provision of professional structural engineering consulting services by AO Engineers, LLC ("AO Engineers," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. Please read them carefully.

1. Website Use

Permitted Use

You may use the AO Engineers website for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree not to use the website in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair our servers or networks, or interfere with any other party's use of the website.

Intellectual Property

All content on the AO Engineers website, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of AO Engineers, LLC or its content suppliers and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, publicly display, republish, download, store, or transmit any content from our website without our prior written consent, except for your own personal, non-commercial use.

Disclaimer of Warranties

The information on the AO Engineers website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. While we strive to keep the information accurate and current, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information on the website. Reliance on website content without engaging our professional services is at your own risk.

2. Professional Engineering Services

Engagement Agreement Required

No professional engineer-client relationship is established by visiting our website, submitting a contact form, or engaging in preliminary discussions with our staff. A formal written engagement agreement, executed by both parties, is required before any professional engineering services commence. The terms of any specific engineering engagement are governed by the engagement agreement for that project.

Scope of Services

The scope of professional engineering services provided by AO Engineers is defined in the written engagement agreement for each project. Services are limited to those explicitly described in the engagement agreement. Any services beyond the agreed scope must be authorized in writing before they are performed.

Standard of Care

AO Engineers will perform professional engineering services in accordance with the standard of care applicable to licensed structural engineers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky at the time the services are performed. This standard requires the exercise of the degree of skill and care ordinarily employed by competent structural engineers under similar circumstances. AO Engineers does not warrant or guarantee specific outcomes, results, or the absence of defects in the structures we evaluate or design.

Visual Inspections

Unless otherwise specified in the engagement agreement, structural inspections performed by AO Engineers are visual in nature and are limited to accessible areas and components. We do not perform destructive testing, remove finishes, or access areas that are unsafe or inaccessible without prior arrangement. Our inspection reports reflect conditions observed at the time of the inspection and do not constitute a warranty or guarantee of the structural condition of the property.

Reliance on Information Provided

AO Engineers relies on information provided by clients, property owners, and other parties in connection with engineering engagements. We are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of information provided by others, and our services and opinions are based on the information available at the time of our engagement.

3. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, AO Engineers' liability to any client or third party arising from or related to professional engineering services shall be limited to the fees paid to AO Engineers for the specific services giving rise to the claim. AO Engineers shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of data, loss of use, or business interruption, arising from or related to our services or website, regardless of the theory of liability.

This limitation of liability reflects the allocation of risk between the parties and the fees charged for professional services. If you do not agree with this limitation, please do not engage our services.

4. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless AO Engineers, LLC and its officers, employees, agents, and successors from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to: (a) your use of our website in violation of these Terms; (b) your misrepresentation of any information provided to AO Engineers; (c) your breach of any agreement with AO Engineers; or (d) the use of our engineering work product in a manner inconsistent with the intended purpose described in the engagement agreement.

5. Fees and Payment

Fees for professional engineering services are set forth in the engagement agreement for each project. Payment terms are as specified in the engagement agreement. AO Engineers reserves the right to withhold delivery of reports and other work product pending receipt of payment. Overdue accounts may be subject to interest charges as specified in the engagement agreement. All fees are stated in United States dollars.

6. Confidentiality

AO Engineers will maintain the confidentiality of client information and project-related information in accordance with applicable professional engineering ethical standards and as described in our Privacy Policy. Clients agree to maintain the confidentiality of AO Engineers' proprietary methods, tools, and non-public business information.

7. Third-Party Reports and Reliance

Engineering reports and other work product prepared by AO Engineers are intended for the use of the client identified in the engagement agreement and for the specific purpose described therein. Third parties who rely on AO Engineers' work product without our written authorization do so at their own risk. AO Engineers assumes no duty or responsibility to third parties who access or rely on our work product without authorization. If you wish to share our work product with a third party who intends to rely on it, please contact us to discuss the appropriate scope of authorization.

8. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute arising from or related to these Terms or any professional engineering engagement, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the dispute through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation is unsuccessful within thirty (30) days, the parties agree to submit the dispute to non-binding mediation before a mutually agreed mediator before initiating litigation or arbitration. The costs of mediation shall be shared equally. Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking emergency injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.

9. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any disputes arising from or related to AO Engineers' services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Campbell County, Kentucky, and the parties hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

10. Professional Licensing

AO Engineers, LLC provides engineering services through licensed professional engineers. Our engineers maintain current licensure in Kentucky and, where applicable, other states in which we provide services. Clients requiring engineering services in a specific state should confirm current licensure status with AO Engineers prior to engaging services for projects in that state.

11. Force Majeure

AO Engineers shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under an engagement agreement to the extent that such delay or failure is caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic, government orders, or other force majeure events. In such circumstances, we will notify the client promptly and resume performance as soon as reasonably practicable.

12. Modifications to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. Your continued use of our website following the posting of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. For professional engineering engagements, the Terms in effect at the time of the engagement agreement govern that engagement.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

14. Entire Agreement

For website use, these Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and AO Engineers regarding your use of the website. For professional engineering services, these Terms are supplemented by the written engagement agreement for each project, which governs in the event of any conflict with these Terms.

15. Contact Information

Questions regarding these Terms should be directed to: