Code of Ethics
• 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.
Fundamental Principles
• 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
• Civil engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence
• Civil engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner
• Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as
faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest
• Civil engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others
• 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 continue their professional development throughout their
careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of
those civil engineers under their supervision
Fundamental Canons
Guidelines to Practice
Under the Fundamental
Canons of Ethics
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• Civil engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that
another person of 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
• 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
• 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 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
• Civil engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only
when qualified by education or experience in the technical field of
engineering involved
• 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
• 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
• 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 2 Civil engineers shall perform services only in
the areas of their competence
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Civil engineers shall 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 3 Civil engineers shall issue public statements
only in an objective and truthful manner
• 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
• 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
• 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
Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each
Canon 4 employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall
avoid conflicts of interest
• 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
• Civil engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a
result of their studies, they believe a project will not be successful
• 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 s of their clients,
employers or the public
• Civil engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of
their regular work or interest without the knowledge of their
employers
Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each
Canon 4 employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall
avoid conflicts of interest
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 may be responsible for
designs, inventions, writings or other accomplishments
• 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
• Brochure
• 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
• 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
• 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 5 Civil engineers shall build their professional reputation on the
merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others
• 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
Civil engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and
Canon 6 enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the civil
engineering profession
• 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
• Civil engineers should encourage their engineering employees
to become registered at the earliest possible date
• Civil engineers should encourage engineering employees to
attend and present papers at professional and technical society
meetings
• 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
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
