Ethics for Engineers and Rules of Ethics for Engineers and Rules of Professional ConductProfessional Conduct

IntroductionIntroduction Honesty, justice and courtesy form a moral philosophy which, Honesty, justice and courtesy form a moral philosophy which,

asso ciated with mutual interest among men, constitutes the asso ciated with mutual interest among men, constitutes the foundation of ethics. The engineer should recognize such a foundation of ethics. The engineer should recognize such a standard, not in passive observance, but as a set of dynamic standard, not in passive observance, but as a set of dynamic principles guiding his conduct and way of life. It is his duty to principles guiding his conduct and way of life. It is his duty to practice his profession according to these principles of Ethics. practice his profession according to these principles of Ethics.

As the keystone of professional conduct is integrity, the engineer As the keystone of professional conduct is integrity, the engineer will discharge his duties with fidelity to the public, his employers will discharge his duties with fidelity to the public, his employers and clients and with fairness and impartiality to all. It is his duty and clients and with fairness and impartiality to all. It is his duty to interest himself in public welfare and to be ready to apply his to interest himself in public welfare and to be ready to apply his special knowledge for the benefit of mankind. He should uphold special knowledge for the benefit of mankind. He should uphold the honor and dignity of his profession and avoid association with the honor and dignity of his profession and avoid association with any enter prise of questionable character. In his dealings with any enter prise of questionable character. In his dealings with fellow engineers he should be fair and tolerant. fellow engineers he should be fair and tolerant.

Professional LifeProfessional Life

The engineer will cooperate in extending the The engineer will cooperate in extending the effectiveness of the engineering profession by effectiveness of the engineering profession by interchanging information and ex perience interchanging information and ex perience with other engineers and students and by with other engineers and students and by contributing to the work of engineering contributing to the work of engineering societies, schools and the scientific and engi societies, schools and the scientific and engi neering press.neering press.

He will be guided in all his relations by the highest He will be guided in all his relations by the highest standards. standards.

He will not lend his name to any enterprise about He will not lend his name to any enterprise about which he is not thoroughly informed and in which he which he is not thoroughly informed and in which he does not have a positive belief. does not have a positive belief.

He should seek opportunities to be of constructive He should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs and work for the advancement service in civic affairs and work for the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of his community. of the safety, health and well-being of his community.

He will not offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, He will not offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, or a gift, or any commission, political contribution, or a gift, or other considera tion in order to secure work, exclusive other considera tion in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment of securing salaried positions through employment agencies. agencies.

He will not advertise his work or merit in a self-lauda tory He will not advertise his work or merit in a self-lauda tory manner and he will avoid all conduct or practice likely to manner and he will avoid all conduct or practice likely to discredit or do injury to the dignity and honor of his discredit or do injury to the dignity and honor of his profession. profession.

Circumspect advertising may be properly employed by the Circumspect advertising may be properly employed by the engineer to announce his practice and availability. The form engineer to announce his practice and availability. The form and manner of such "advertising shall satisfy in all respects the and manner of such "advertising shall satisfy in all respects the dictate and intent of the principles. Only those media shall be dictate and intent of the principles. Only those media shall be used as are necessary to reach directly an interested and used as are necessary to reach directly an interested and potential client or employer, and such media shall in potential client or employer, and such media shall in themselves be dignified, reputable and characteristically free themselves be dignified, reputable and characteristically free of any factor or circumstance that would bring disrepute to the of any factor or circumstance that would bring disrepute to the profession or to the professional using them. The substance of profession or to the professional using them. The substance of such advertising shall be limited to fact and shall contain no such advertising shall be limited to fact and shall contain no statement or offer intended to discredit or displace another statement or offer intended to discredit or displace another engineer, either specifically or by implication. engineer, either specifically or by implication.

Telephone listings shall be limited to name, Telephone listings shall be limited to name, address and telephone number under each address and telephone number under each branch listing in which he qualifies. branch listing in which he qualifies.

He will not allow himself to be listed for He will not allow himself to be listed for employment using exaggerated statements of employment using exaggerated statements of his qualifications. his qualifications.

Relations with the PublicRelations with the Public

The engineer will endeavor to extend public The engineer will endeavor to extend public knowledge of engineering, and will discourage the knowledge of engineering, and will discourage the spreading of untrue, unfair and exaggerated spreading of untrue, unfair and exaggerated statements regarding engineering. statements regarding engineering.

He will avoid belittling the necessity for engineering He will avoid belittling the necessity for engineering services. services.

He will have due regard for the safety of life and He will have due regard for the safety of life and health of public and employees who may be affected health of public and employees who may be affected by the work for which he is responsible. by the work for which he is responsible.

He will regard his duty to the public welfare as para He will regard his duty to the public welfare as para mount. mount.

He will express an opinion only when it is founded on adequate He will express an opinion only when it is founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction while he is serving as a knowledge and honest conviction while he is serving as a witness before a court, commission or other tribunal. witness before a court, commission or other tribunal.

He will not issue ex parte statements, criticisms or argu ments He will not issue ex parte statements, criticisms or argu ments on matters connected with public policy which are inspired on matters connected with public policy which are inspired or paid for by private interests, unless he indicates on whose or paid for by private interests, unless he indicates on whose behalf he is making the statement. behalf he is making the statement.

He will not advocate or support enactment of com munity laws, He will not advocate or support enactment of com munity laws, rules, or regulations that he believes are not in the public rules, or regulations that he believes are not in the public interest. interest.

He will refrain from expressing publicly an opinion on He will refrain from expressing publicly an opinion on an engineering subject unless he is informed as to an engineering subject unless he is informed as to the facts relating thereto.the facts relating thereto.

Relations with Clients and Relations with Clients and EmployersEmployers

The engineer will act in professional matters for each The engineer will act in professional matters for each client or employer as a faithful agent or trustee. client or employer as a faithful agent or trustee.

He will not undertake or agree to perform any engi He will not undertake or agree to perform any engi neering service on a free basis. neering service on a free basis.

He will be conservative and honest in all estimates, re He will be conservative and honest in all estimates, re ports, statements, and testimony. ports, statements, and testimony.

He will advise his client when he believes a project will He will advise his client when he believes a project will not be successful. not be successful.

His plans or specifications will not be such as to limit free His plans or specifications will not be such as to limit free competition, except with his client's consent. competition, except with his client's consent.

He will associate himself only with projects of a legiti He will associate himself only with projects of a legiti mate character. mate character.

He will not solicit or accept employment to the detri He will not solicit or accept employment to the detri ment of his regular work or interest. ment of his regular work or interest.

An engineer in private practice may be employed by An engineer in private practice may be employed by more than one party when the interests and time more than one party when the interests and time schedules of the several parties do not conflict. schedules of the several parties do not conflict.

While in the employ of others, he will not enter into While in the employ of others, he will not enter into promotional efforts or negotiations for work or make promotional efforts or negotiations for work or make arrangements for other employment as a principal or to arrangements for other employment as a principal or to practice in connection with a specific project for which practice in connection with a specific project for which he has gained particular and specialized knowledge he has gained particular and specialized knowledge without the consent of all interested parties. without the consent of all interested parties.

He will act with fairness and justice between He will act with fairness and justice between his client or employer and the contractor his client or employer and the contractor when dealing with contracts. when dealing with contracts.

He will insist on contractor compliance with He will insist on contractor compliance with plans and specifications. plans and specifications.

He will make his status clear to his client or He will make his status clear to his client or employer before undertaking an engagement employer before undertaking an engagement if he may be called upon to decide on the use if he may be called upon to decide on the use of inventions, apparatus, or any other thing of inventions, apparatus, or any other thing in which he may have a financial interest.in which he may have a financial interest.

Before undertaking work for others in connection Before undertaking work for others in connection with which he may make improvements, plans, with which he may make improvements, plans, designs, inventions or other records which may designs, inventions or other records which may justify copyrights or patents, the engineer should justify copyrights or patents, the engineer should enter into a positive agreement regarding the enter into a positive agreement regarding the ownership. ownership.

When an engineer or manufacturer builds apparatus When an engineer or manufacturer builds apparatus from designs supplied to him by a customer, the from designs supplied to him by a customer, the designs remain the property of the customer and designs remain the property of the customer and should not be duplicated by the engi neer or should not be duplicated by the engi neer or manufacturers for others without express permission. manufacturers for others without express permission.

A clear understanding should be reached before the A clear understanding should be reached before the beginning of the work regarding the respective rights beginning of the work regarding the respective rights of ownership when an engineer or manufacturer and a of ownership when an engineer or manufacturer and a customer may jointly work out designs and plans or customer may jointly work out designs and plans or develop inventions. develop inventions.

Designs, data, records, and notes made by an Designs, data, records, and notes made by an employee and referring exclusively to his employer's employee and referring exclusively to his employer's work are his employer's property. work are his employer's property.

A customer, in buying apparatus, does not acquire A customer, in buying apparatus, does not acquire any right in its design but only the use of the any right in its design but only the use of the apparatus purchased. A client does not acquire any apparatus purchased. A client does not acquire any right to the ideas developed and plans made by a right to the ideas developed and plans made by a consulting engineer, except for the specific case for consulting engineer, except for the specific case for which they were made. which they were made.

He will guard against conditions that are dangerous He will guard against conditions that are dangerous or or threatening to life, limb threatening to life, limb or or property on work for property on work for which he is respon sible, which he is respon sible, or or if he is not responsible, if he is not responsible, will promptly call such conditions to the attention of will promptly call such conditions to the attention of those who are responsible. those who are responsible.

He will not complete, sign, or seal plans and/or speci He will not complete, sign, or seal plans and/or speci fications that are not of a design safe to the public fications that are not of a design safe to the public health and wel fare. If the client or employer insists on health and wel fare. If the client or employer insists on such unprofessional conduct, he shall call building such unprofessional conduct, he shall call building authorities' attention to the case and withdraw from authorities' attention to the case and withdraw from further consulting business or service on the project. further consulting business or service on the project.

He will present clearly the consequences to be He will present clearly the consequences to be expected from deviations proposed if his expected from deviations proposed if his engineering judgment is overruled by non-technical engineering judgment is overruled by non-technical authority in cases where he is responsible for the authority in cases where he is responsible for the technical adequacy of engineering work. technical adequacy of engineering work.

He will not apply his signature of approval or seal on He will not apply his signature of approval or seal on plans that do not meet accepted engineering plans that do not meet accepted engineering standards. standards.

He will engage, He will engage, or or advise his client advise his client or or employer to en employer to en gage, and he will cooperate with, other experts and gage, and he will cooperate with, other experts and specialists whenever the client's specialists whenever the client's or or employer's employer's interests are best served by such service.interests are best served by such service.

He will not undertake responsible engineering work He will not undertake responsible engineering work for which he is not qualified by experience and for which he is not qualified by experience and training. training.

He will disclose no information concerning the He will disclose no information concerning the business affairs business affairs or or technical processes of clients technical processes of clients or or employers without their con sent. employers without their con sent.

He will not accept compensation, financial He will not accept compensation, financial or or otherwise, from more than one interested party for otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same service, the same service, or or for services pertaining to the for services pertaining to the same work, without the consent of same work, without the consent of all interested all interested parties. parties.

He will not accept commissions He will not accept commissions or or allowances, directly allowances, directly or or indirectly, from contractors or other parties indirectly, from contractors or other parties dealing with his clients or employer in connection dealing with his clients or employer in connection with work for which he is responsible.with work for which he is responsible.

He will not accept financial or other He will not accept financial or other considerations, in cluding free engineering considerations, in cluding free engineering designs, from material or equipment sup pliers designs, from material or equipment sup pliers for specifying their product. for specifying their product.

He will not be financially interested in the bids He will not be financially interested in the bids as or of a contractor on competitive work for as or of a contractor on competitive work for which he is employed as an engineer unless which he is employed as an engineer unless he has the consent of his client or employer. he has the consent of his client or employer.

He will not accept personal consideration in He will not accept personal consideration in any form. any form.

This assures that his recommendations for the This assures that his recommendations for the award of a contract cannot be influenced. award of a contract cannot be influenced.

He will promptly disclose to his client or He will promptly disclose to his client or employer any interest in a business which employer any interest in a business which may compete with or affect the business of may compete with or affect the business of his client or employer. He will not allow an his client or employer. He will not allow an interest in any business to affect his decision interest in any business to affect his decision regarding engineering work for which he is regarding engineering work for which he is em ployed, or which he may be called upon to em ployed, or which he may be called upon to perform.perform.

Relations with EngineersRelations with Engineers

The engineer will endeavor to protect the engineering The engineer will endeavor to protect the engineering profession collectively and individually from profession collectively and individually from misrepresentation and misunderstanding. misrepresentation and misunderstanding.

The engineer will insist on the use of facts in The engineer will insist on the use of facts in reference to an engineering project or to an engineer reference to an engineering project or to an engineer in a group discussion, public forum or publication of in a group discussion, public forum or publication of articles. articles.

He will take care that credit for engineering work is He will take care that credit for engineering work is given to those to whom credit is properly due.given to those to whom credit is properly due.

Whenever possible, he will name the person or Whenever possible, he will name the person or persons who may be individually responsible for persons who may be individually responsible for designs, inventions, writ ings, or other designs, inventions, writ ings, or other accomplishments. accomplishments.

He will not accept by voice or silence, credit He will not accept by voice or silence, credit rightfully due another engineer. rightfully due another engineer.

He will not sign or seal plans or specifications He will not sign or seal plans or specifications prepared by someone other than himself or an prepared by someone other than himself or an employee under his super vision employee under his super vision

He will not represent as his own the plans, designs, or He will not represent as his own the plans, designs, or specifications supplied to him by a manufacturer or specifications supplied to him by a manufacturer or supplier of equipment or material. supplier of equipment or material.

He will uphold the principle of appropriate and He will uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for those engaged in adequate compensation for those engaged in engineering work, including those in subordinate engineering work, including those in subordinate capacities, as being in the public interest and capacities, as being in the public interest and maintaining the standards of the profession. maintaining the standards of the profession.

He will not undertake work at a fee or salary that will He will not undertake work at a fee or salary that will not permit professional performance, according to not permit professional performance, according to accepted stand ards of the profession. accepted stand ards of the profession.

He will not accept work in the geographic area in He will not accept work in the geographic area in which he practices or intends to practice at a salary or which he practices or intends to practice at a salary or fee below that recog nized as a basic minimum in that fee below that recog nized as a basic minimum in that area. area.

He will not accept remuneration from either an em He will not accept remuneration from either an em ployee or employment agency for giving ployee or employment agency for giving employment. employment.

When hiring other engineers, he shall offer a salary When hiring other engineers, he shall offer a salary according to the engineer's qualifications and the according to the engineer's qualifications and the recognized stand ards in the particular geographical recognized stand ards in the particular geographical area. area.

He will endeavor to provide opportunity for the pro He will endeavor to provide opportunity for the pro fessional development and advancement of fessional development and advancement of engineers in his employ. engineers in his employ.

He will encourage attendance at professional or tech He will encourage attendance at professional or tech nical society meetings by his engineer employees. nical society meetings by his engineer employees.

He should not unduly restrict the preparation and pres He should not unduly restrict the preparation and pres entation of technical papers by his engineer entation of technical papers by his engineer employees. employees.

He will encourage an employee's efforts to improve He will encourage an employee's efforts to improve his education. his education.

.. He will urge his engineer employees to become He will urge his engineer employees to become regis tered at the earliest possible date. regis tered at the earliest possible date.

He will assign a professional engineer duties of a He will assign a professional engineer duties of a nature to utilize his full training and experience, nature to utilize his full training and experience, insofar as possible, and delegate lesser functions to insofar as possible, and delegate lesser functions to sub-professionals or to technicians. sub-professionals or to technicians.

He will not restrain an employee from obtaining a He will not restrain an employee from obtaining a better position with another employer by offers of better position with another employer by offers of short-term gains or by belittling the employee's short-term gains or by belittling the employee's qualifications. qualifications.

He will not directly or indirectly injure the He will not directly or indirectly injure the professional reputation, prospects or practice professional reputation, prospects or practice of another engineer. However, if he considers of another engineer. However, if he considers that an engineer is guilty of unethical, illegal that an engineer is guilty of unethical, illegal or unfair prac tice, he will present the or unfair prac tice, he will present the information to the proper authority for information to the proper authority for action. action.

He will report unethical practices of another He will report unethical practices of another engineer with substantiating data to his engineer with substantiating data to his professional or technical society, and be professional or technical society, and be willing to appear as a witness. willing to appear as a witness.

He will exercise due restraint in criticizing another He will exercise due restraint in criticizing another engineer's work in public, recognizing the fact that engineer's work in public, recognizing the fact that the engineering societies and the engineering press the engineering societies and the engineering press provide the proper forum for tech nical discussions provide the proper forum for tech nical discussions and criticism. and criticism.

He will not review the work of another engineer for He will not review the work of another engineer for the same client, except with the knowledge or consent the same client, except with the knowledge or consent of such engi neer, or unless the connection of such of such engi neer, or unless the connection of such engineer with the work has been terminated. engineer with the work has been terminated.

He He will not try to supplant another engineer in a par will not try to supplant another engineer in a par ticular employment after becoming aware that ticular employment after becoming aware that definite steps have been taken toward the other's definite steps have been taken toward the other's employment. employment.

He will not attempt to inject his services into a project He will not attempt to inject his services into a project at the expense of another engineer who has been at the expense of another engineer who has been active in develop ing it. active in develop ing it.

He will not compete with another engineer on the basis He will not compete with another engineer on the basis of .charges for work by underbidding, through reducing his of .charges for work by underbidding, through reducing his normal fees after having been informed of the charges normal fees after having been informed of the charges named by the other. named by the other.

The practice of engineering is a learned profession, re quiring The practice of engineering is a learned profession, re quiring of its members sound technical training, broad experience, of its members sound technical training, broad experience, personal ability, honesty and integrity. The selection of personal ability, honesty and integrity. The selection of engineering services by an evaluation of these qualities should engineering services by an evaluation of these qualities should be the basis of comparison rather than competitive bids. be the basis of comparison rather than competitive bids.

Competition between engineers for employment on the basis Competition between engineers for employment on the basis of professional fees or charges is considered unethical practice of professional fees or charges is considered unethical practice by all professional engineering groups. Any engineer who is re by all professional engineering groups. Any engineer who is re quested to submit a competitive bid to an owner or a quested to submit a competitive bid to an owner or a governmental body should remove himself from consideration governmental body should remove himself from consideration for the proposed work. for the proposed work.

It shall be considered ethical for an engineer to solicit It shall be considered ethical for an engineer to solicit an engineering assignment, either verbally or written. an engineering assignment, either verbally or written. Such solici tation may be in the form of a letter or a Such solici tation may be in the form of a letter or a brochure setting forth factual information concerning brochure setting forth factual information concerning the engineer's qualifications by training and the engineer's qualifications by training and experience and reference to past accomplishments experience and reference to past accomplishments and clients. and clients.

Should the engineer be asked for a proposal to Should the engineer be asked for a proposal to perform engineer ing services for a specific project, he perform engineer ing services for a specific project, he should set forth in detail the work he proposes to should set forth in detail the work he proposes to accomplish and an indication of the calendar days accomplish and an indication of the calendar days required for its accomplishment. The engineer's required for its accomplishment. The engineer's qualifications may be included if appropriate. A qualifications may be included if appropriate. A statement of monetary remunera tion expected shall be statement of monetary remunera tion expected shall be avoided until he has been selected for the proposed avoided until he has been selected for the proposed work. work.

Should the owner insist upon a statement regarding Should the owner insist upon a statement regarding remuneration prior to selection of the engineer, the remuneration prior to selection of the engineer, the engineer may designate the recognized professional engineer may designate the recognized professional society minimum fee schedule for the par ticular type society minimum fee schedule for the par ticular type of service required in the state geographical area of service required in the state geographical area where the work is to be done. where the work is to be done.

He will take a professional attitude in negotiations for He will take a professional attitude in negotiations for his services and shall avoid all practices which have a his services and shall avoid all practices which have a tendency to affect adversely the amount,. quality, or tendency to affect adversely the amount,. quality, or disinterested nature of pro fessional services; such as disinterested nature of pro fessional services; such as charging inadequate fees for preliminary work or full charging inadequate fees for preliminary work or full services, competing for an engineering assignment on services, competing for an engineering assignment on a price basis, spending large amounts of money in a price basis, spending large amounts of money in securing business or consenting to furnish monetary securing business or consenting to furnish monetary guarantees of cost estimates. guarantees of cost estimates.

He will not use the advantages of a salaried position to compete He will not use the advantages of a salaried position to compete unfairly with another engineer. unfairly with another engineer.

While in a salaried position, he will accept part-time While in a salaried position, he will accept part-time engineering work only at a salary or fee not less than that engineering work only at a salary or fee not less than that recognized as standard in the area. recognized as standard in the area.

An engineer will not use equipment, supplies, labora tory, or An engineer will not use equipment, supplies, labora tory, or office facilities of his employer to carryon outside private office facilities of his employer to carryon outside private practice without consent. practice without consent.

He will not become associated in responsibility for work with He will not become associated in responsibility for work with engineers who do not conform to ethical practices. engineers who do not conform to ethical practices.

He will conform with registration laws in his practice of He will conform with registration laws in his practice of engineering. engineering.

He will not use association with a non-engineer, a cor poration, He will not use association with a non-engineer, a cor poration, or partnership, as a "cloak" for unethical acts; but must accept or partnership, as a "cloak" for unethical acts; but must accept personal responsibility for his professional acts. personal responsibility for his professional acts.

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous An engineer who is in sales or industrial employ is en titled to An engineer who is in sales or industrial employ is en titled to

make engineering comparisons of the products offered by make engineering comparisons of the products offered by various suppliers, but will avoid aspersions upon their various suppliers, but will avoid aspersions upon their character, standing, or ability. character, standing, or ability.

If, in sales employ, he will not offer, or give engineer ing If, in sales employ, he will not offer, or give engineer ing consultation, or designs, or advice other than specifically ap consultation, or designs, or advice other than specifically ap plying to the operation of the equipment being sold. plying to the operation of the equipment being sold.

No engineer in the employ of equipment or material supply No engineer in the employ of equipment or material supply companies will tender designs, plans, specifications, advice or companies will tender designs, plans, specifications, advice or consultation to operations beyond the limits of a machine or consultation to operations beyond the limits of a machine or item of material or supply, except as is required for proper item of material or supply, except as is required for proper functioning of the particular item. functioning of the particular item.

He will not use his professional affiliations to secure He will not use his professional affiliations to secure the confidence of other engineers in commercial the confidence of other engineers in commercial enterprise and will avoid any act tending to promote enterprise and will avoid any act tending to promote his own interest at the expense of the dignity and his own interest at the expense of the dignity and standing of the profession. standing of the profession.

He will admit and accept his own errors when proven He will admit and accept his own errors when proven obviously wrong and refrain from distorting or obviously wrong and refrain from distorting or altering the facts in an attempt to justify his decision. altering the facts in an attempt to justify his decision.

Any firm offering engineering services must, in con Any firm offering engineering services must, in con formance with the laws of the state in which it formance with the laws of the state in which it operates, have its operations under the direction and operates, have its operations under the direction and responsibility of registered pro fessional engineers. responsibility of registered pro fessional engineers.

He will not attempt to attract an engineer from an He will not attempt to attract an engineer from an other employer by methods such as offering other employer by methods such as offering unjustified salaries or benefits. unjustified salaries or benefits.

Engineers' CreedEngineers' Creed

As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare. human welfare.

I pledge: I pledge: To give the utmost of performance; To give the utmost of performance; To participate in none but honest enterprise; To participate in none but honest enterprise; To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest

standards of professional conduct; standards of professional conduct; To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the

pro fession before personal advantage, and the public welfare pro fession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations. above all other considerations.

In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.pledge.