lOMoAR cPSD| 11592485

CODE OF ETHICS

Fundamental Principles

Civil engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the civil engineering
profession by:

1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the
environment;
2. Being honest and impartial and serving and fidelity the public, their
employers/employees and clients;
3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil engineering profession; and
4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines

Fundamental Canons

1. Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall
strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their
duties.
2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.
3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statement only in an objective and truthful manner.
4. Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful
agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and
shall not compete unfairly with others.
6. Civil Engineers shall act in such manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and
dignity of the civil engineering profession.
7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and
shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those civil engineers under
their supervision.

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GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF ETHICS

CANON 1. Civil Engineering shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public
and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance
of their professional duties.

a. Civil Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general
public are dependent upon engineering judgements, decisions and practices
incorporated into structures, machine, products, processes and devices.
b. Civil Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed or
prepared by them, which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in
conformity with accepted engineering standards.
c. Civil Engineers whose professional judgement is overruled under circumstances where
the safety, health and welfare of the public are endangered, or the principles of
sustainable development ignored, shall inform their clients or employers of the possible
consequences.
d. Civil Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm
may be in violation of any of the provisions of Canon 1 shall present such information
to the proper authority in writing and shall cooperate with the proper authority in
furnishing such further information or assistance as may be required.
e. Civil Engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs
and work for the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of their communities,
and their protection of the environment through the practice of sustainable
development.
f. Civil Engineers should be committed to improving the environment by adherence to
the principles of sustainable development so as to enhance the quality of life of the
general public.

CANON 2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

a. Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignment only when qualified
by education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.

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b. Civil Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education or experience outside

of their own fields of competence, provided their services are restricted to those phases
of the project in which they are qualified. All other phases of such project shall be
performed by qualified associates, consultants, or employees.
c. Civil Engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to any civil engineering plan or
document dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence by virtue of
education or experience or to any such plan or document not reviewed or prepared
under their supervision and control.
d. Civil Engineers shall not use The Specialty Engineering Title such as Structure
Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Water Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer,
Construction Engineer, etc. without the PICE Specialist Accreditation.

CANON 3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

a. Civil Engineers should endeavor to extend the public knowledge of civil engineering
and sustainable development, and shall not participate in the dissemination of untrue,
unfair or exaggerated statements regarding civil engineering.
b. Civil Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements or
testimony. They shall include or relevant and pertinent information in such reports,
statements, or testimony.
c. Civil Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express civil engineering
opinion only witnesses, shall express civil engineering opinion only when it is founded
upon adequate knowledge of the facts, upon a background of technical competence,
and upon honest conviction.
d. Civil Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on civil engineering
matters which are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless they indicate on
whose behalf the statements are made.
e. Civil Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and merit, and
will avoid any act tending to promote their own interests at the expense of the integrity,
honor and dignity of the civil engineering profession and/or related professions.

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CANON 4. Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employers or clients as
faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

a. Civil Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their
employers or clients and shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any
business associations, interest, or circumstances which could influence their judgement
or the quality of their services.
b. Civil Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than one party for services
on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the
circumstances are fully disclosed to and agreed to, by all interested projects.
c. Civil Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from
contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with their clients or employers in
connection with work for which they are responsible.
d. Civil Engineers in public services as members, advisors or employees of a
governmental body or department shall not participate in consideration or actions with
respect to services solicited or provided by them or their organization in private or
public engineering practice.
e. Civil Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their studies,
they believe a project will not be successful.
f. Civil Engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them in the course of
their assignments as a means of making a personal profit if such action is adverse to
the interest of their clients, employers or the public.
g. Civil Engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular work
of interest without the knowledge of their employers.

CANON 5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services
and shall not compete unfairly with others.

a. Civil Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any
political contribution, gratuity or unlawful consideration in order to secure work,
exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies.

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b. Civil Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly and on the
basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of professional
service required.
c. Civil Engineers may request; propose or accept professional commissions on a
contingent basis only under circumstances in which their professional judgements
would not be compromised.
d. Civil Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic or
professional qualifications or experience.
e. Civil Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom credit
is due, and shall recognize to proprietary interests of others. Whenever possible, they
shall name the person or persons who may be responsible for design, inventions,
writings or other accomplishments.
f. Civil Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not contain
misleading language or is in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the
profession. Examples of permissible advertising are as follows:
1. Professional cars in recognized, dignified publications, and listings in rosters or
directories published by responsible organizations, provided that the card or listings
are consistent in size and content and are in a section of the publication regularly
devoted to such professional cards.
2. Brochures which factually describe experience, facilities, personnel and capacity to
render service, providing they are not misleading with respect to the engineers
participation in projects described.
3. Display advertising in recognized dignified business and professional publications,
providing it is factual and it is not misleading with respect to the engineer’s extent
or participation in projects described.
4. A statement of the engineers’ names or the name of the firm and statement of the
type of service posted on projects for which they render services.
5. Preparation or authorized of descriptive articles for the lay or technical press, which
are factual and dignified. Such articles shall not imply anything more than direct
participation in the project described.

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6. Permission by engineers for their names to be used in commercial

advertisements, such as may be published by contractors, materials suppliers,
etc., only by means of a modest, dignified notation acknowledging the
engineers’ participation in the project described. Such permission shall not
include public endorsement or proprietary products.
g. Civil Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the
professional reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another engineer or
indiscriminately criticize another’s work.
h. Civil Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office facilities of
their employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of their
employers.

CANON 6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor,
integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.

a. Civil Engineers shall not knowingly act in a manner which will be derogatory to the
honor, integrity, or dignity of the civil engineering profession or knowingly engage
in business or professional practices of a fraudulent, dishonest or unethical nature.

CANON 7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their
careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those Civil
Engineers under their supervision.

a. Civil Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in

professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading in the
technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars.
b. Civil Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become
registered at the earliest possible date.
c. Civil Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present
papers at professional and technical society meetings.
d. Civil Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships
between employers and employees with respect to terms of employment including
professional grade descriptions, salary ranges, and fringe benefits.

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