CHAPTER 1.

CIVIL ENGINEERING CODE OF ETHICS

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 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
1.1 FUNDAMENTAL CANONS
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.
a. People’s lives and safety are dependent upon our judgment as engineers.
b. Do not readily sign or approve plans and specifications that are not thoroughly reviewed
by you or by engineers under you.
c. Shall your judgment be overruled, thus posing a threat to people’s welfare, it is your
responsibility to inform your client of the said consequence
d. If you believe that another civil engineer or group of engineers are in violation of CANON
1, you have the responsibility to inform proper authority.
e. Your goals as civil engineer should always be for the advancement of the safety, health,
and well-being of the people, and the protection of the environment through the practice of
sustainable development.
CANON 2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
a. Perform engineering assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the
technical field of engineering involved.
b. Performing engineering assignments outside of our qualification may only be done when
the project is divided into different phases and a certain phase includes our competence.
c. Do not sign and seal documents that are outside your competence.
d. 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.
a. 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. Be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony.
 c. When serving as expert witnesses, express civil engineering opinion only when it is
founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts.
d. Do not issue statements, criticisms, or arguments on civil engineering matters which are
inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless these parties are indicated.
e. 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.
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.
a. Avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest.
b. Do 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. Do not accept gratuities from parties working on or related to the project.
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. Advise your employers or clients when you, as a result of studies, believe a project will not
be successful.
f. Do not use confidential information coming to them in the course of your assignments as
a means of making personal profit at the expense of clients, employers, or the public.
g. Professional employment outside of regular work should be disclosed to the employer.
CANON 5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
a. Do not give, solicit, or receive any political contribution, gratuity or unlawful consideration
in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment
agencies.
b. 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 judgments would not be
compromised.
d. Do not falsify or permit misrepresentation of your academic or professional qualifications
or experience.
e. Give proper credit for engineering work to those whom credit is due. Whenever possible,
they shall name the person or persons who may be responsible for designs, 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.
g. Do not maliciously or falsely injure the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or
employment of another engineer.
 h. Do not use equipment, supplies, laboratory, or office facilities of your 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. Do not 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. Engage in professional practice, participate in continuing education courses, read various
technical literatures, and attend professional meetings and seminars.
b. Encourage their engineering employees to become registered at the earliest possible date.
c. Encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at professional and
technical society meetings.
d. 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.