CIVIL ENGINEERING 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 environment;
2. Being honest and impartial, and serving with 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.

Instruction: Write on the space provided the principle number of which the following acts belongs
to.

________ 1. The Civil Engineer shall avoid any potential conflicts of interest with their clients or
their employers.

________ 2. Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified
by education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.

________ 3. Civil Engineers in public services as members, advisors or employees of a governmental

________ 4. 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.

________ 5. Civil Engineers shall not use the Specialty Engineering Title such as Structural Engineer,
Transportation Engineer, Water Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, and Construction
Engineer without PICE Specialist Accreditation.

________ 6. 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.

________ 7. 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.

________ 8. 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.

________ 9. Civil Engineer shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general
public are dependent upon engineering judgements, decisions and practices incorporated
into structures, machines, products, processes and devices.

_______ 10. Civil Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their studies,
they believe a project will not be successful.
_______ 11. Civil Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is
due, and shall recognize the proprietary interest of others. Whenever possible, they shall
name the person or persons who may be responsible for the designs, interventions,
writings or other accomplishments.

_______ 12. 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.

_______ 13. 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
interest of their clients, employers or the public.

_______ 14. Civil Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at
the earliest possible date.

_______ 15. 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.

_______ 16. 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 judgement
or the quality of their services.

_______ 17. 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.

_______ 18. 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.

_______ 19. Civil Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at
the earliest possible date.

_______ 20. 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.

_______ 21. 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.

_______ 22. 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.

_______ 23. 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.

_______ 24. 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

_______ 25. 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.

_______ 26. 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.

_______ 27. Civil Engineers shall no use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office facilities of their
employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of their employers.

_______ 28. Civil Engineers shall not falsify or permit misinterpretation of their academic or
professional qualifications or experience.

_______ 29. 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.

_______ 30. Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified
by education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.

_______ 31. 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.

_______ 32. Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified
by education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.

_______ 33. 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 position through employment agencies.

_______ 34. Civil Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express civil engineering
opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of facts, upon a background
of technical competence, and upon honest conviction.

_______ 35. Civil Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at
professional and technical society meetings.

_______ 36. 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.

_______ 37. 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 the protection of the environment through the practice of sustainable development.

_______ 38. 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.
_______ 39. 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.

_______ 40. 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.

_______ 41. 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.
.
_______ 42. 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.