CE 326: CE LAW, ETHICS

AND CONTRACTS
SUBJECT

CODE OF FRANCIS L. MENOR

ETHICS REPORTER

ENGR. SHENNIE B.
VILLANUEVA
INSTRUCTOR
 01 FUNDAMENTAL
PRINCIPLES

TABLE OF
CONTENTS 02 FUNDAMENTAL CANONS

GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE
03 UNDER THE
FUNDAMENTAL CANONS
OF ETHICS
 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and
1 the environment;

Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their
2 employers/employees and clients;

Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil engineering

3 profession; and

Supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

4
 FUNDAMENTAL CANONS
Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
1 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 areas of their competence.

2

Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
3 manner.

Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as
4 faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
 FUNDAMENTAL CANONS

Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
5 services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor,
6 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
7 those civil engineers under their supervision.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
CANON public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable
1
development in the performance of their duties.

a) Civil Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general public are
dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions and practices incorporated into structures,
machines, products, processes and devices.
b) 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.
c) Civil Engineers whose professional judgment 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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
CANON
public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable
1
development in the performance of their duties.

d) 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.
e) 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.
f) 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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
2

a) Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified by
education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.
b) 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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
2

c) 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.
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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
3 manner.

a) 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.
b) 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.
c) 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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
3 manner.

d) 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.
e) Civil Engineers shall 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 and/or related professions.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as
CANON faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
4

a) 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 influence their judgment or the quality of their service.
b) 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.
c) 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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as
CANON faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
4

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) Civil Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their studies, they
believe a project will not be successful.
f) 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.
g) Civil Engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular work or
interest without the knowledge of their employers.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
5 services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

a) 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.
b) 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.
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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
5 services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

d) Civil Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic or professional
qualifications or experience.
e) Civil Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work 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.
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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
5 services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

Examples of permissible advertising are as follows:

1. Professional cards in recognized, dignified publications, and listings in rosters or directories

published by responsible organizations, provided that the cards or listings are consistent in size
and content and are in a section of the publication regularly devoted to such professional cards.
2. Brochures which factually describe experience. facilities, personnel and capacity to render
service, providing they are not misleading with respect to the engineer’s participation in projects
described.
3. Display advertising in recognized dignified business and professional publications, providing it
is factual and is not misleading with respect to the engineer's extent of participation in projects
described.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
5 services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

Examples of permissible advertising are as follows:

4. A statement of the engineers' names or the name of the firm and statement of the type of service
posted on projects for which they render services.
5. Preparation or authorization of descriptive articles for the lay or technical press, which are
factual and dignified. Such articles shall not imply anything more than direct participation in the
project described.
6. Permission by engineers for their names to be used in commercial advertisements, such as may
be published by contractors, materials suppliers, etc., only by means of a modest, dignified
notation acknowledging the engineers' participation in the project described. Such permission
shall not include public endorsement of proprietary products.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
5 services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

g) 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.
h) Civil Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office facilities of their
employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of employers.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor,
CANON integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.
6

a) 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.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their
CANON careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of
7 those Civil Engineers under their supervision.

a) 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.
b) Civil Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at the
earliest possible date.
c) Civil Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at
professional and technical society meetings.
d) 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.