CE356 - CE LAWS, ETHICS AND CONTRACTS

CODE OF
ETHICS
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Civil engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor
and dignity of the civil engineering profession by:
Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human
welfare and the environment.
Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their
employers/employees and clients.
Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil
engineering profession.
Supporting the professional and ethical societies of their disciplines.
 1. Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
FUNDAMENTAL CANONS 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 areas of their competence.
3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements 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 a 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.
GUIDELINES TO
PRACTICE
UNDER THE
FUNDAMENTAL
CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON 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.

1.1 Civil engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general
public are dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions and practices incorporated intro
structures, machines, products, processes and devices.
1.2 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.
1.3 Civil engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the
safety, health and welfare of the public are endangered, or the principle of sustainable
development ignored, shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences.
CANON 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.
1.4 Civil engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm
maybe in violation of any of the provisions of Canon1 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 maybe required.
1.5 Civil engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive services in civic affairs and
work for advancement of the safety, health and well-being of their communities and the
protection of the environment through the practices of sustainable development.
1.6 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 the areas of their competence.
2.1 Civil engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified by
education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.
2.2 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.
2.3 Civil engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to any civil engineering plan or
document dealing with subject matter in which they lack competency by virtue of education
or experience or to any such plan or document not reviewed or prepared under their
supervision and control.
2.4 Civil engineers shall not use The Specialty Engineering Title such as Structural 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.

3.1 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.
3.2 Civil engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements
or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports,
statements or testimony.
3.3 Civil engineers when serving as expert 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.
CANON 3
Civil engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

3.4 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.
3.5 Civil engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and
merit, and will avoid any act tending to promote their own interest at the
expense of the integrity, honor and dignity of the civil engineering profession
and/or related professions.
CANON 4
Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
4.1 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 association,
interests or circumstances which could influence their judgment or the equality of their
services.
4.2 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.
4.3 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.
CANON 4
Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
4.4 Civil engineers in public services are 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.
4.5 Civil engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their studies,
they believe a project will not be successful.
4.6 Civil engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them in the course of
their assignments as a means of making personal profit if such action is adverse to the
interests of their clients, employers or the public .
4.7 Civil engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular work or
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.
5.1 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.
5.2 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.
5.3 Civil engineers may request; propose or accept professional commissions on a contingent
basis only under circumstances in which their professional judgments would not be
compromised.
5.4 Civil engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic or
professional qualifications or experience.
CANON 5
Civil engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall
not compete unfairly with others.

5.5 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.
Example of permissible advertising are as follows:
Professional cards; Brochures;
Display advertising in recognized dignified business and professional publications
Statement of the engineers’ names or the name of the firm posted on projects they
rendered services
Posting descriptive articles for technical press stating the direct participation in the project
Permission by engineers for their names to be used in commercial advertisements such as
maybe published by contractors, suppliers, brands and etc.
CANON 5
Civil engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall
not compete unfairly with others.

5.6 Civil engineers shall give proper credit for engineering works to those to whom credit is
due, and shall recognize the proprietary interests of others. Whenever possible, they shall
name the person or persons who maybe responsible for designs, inventions, writings or other
accomplishments.
5.7 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.
5.8 Civil engineers shall not use equipment, supplies or 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.

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.
7.1 Civil engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional
practices, participating in continuing education courses, reading the technical literature and
attending professional meetings and seminars.
7.2 Civil engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at
the earliest possible date.
7.3 Civil engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at
professional and technical society meetings.
7.4 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.