AboutASCE(/about_asce/) Ethics(/code_of_ethics/)

CODEOFETHICS
Firstadoptedin1914,theASCECodeofEthicsisthemodelforprofessionalconductforASCEmembers.The
CodeofEthicswasmostrecentlyupdatedonJuly23,2006.

MemberswithanethicsquestionmaycalltheASCEEthicsHotline:8005482723x6151.

DownloadaprintablecopyoftheCodeofEthics
(/uploadedFiles/About_ASCE/Ethics/Content_Pieces/CodeofEthics2006.pdf).

CANON1.HOLDSAFETYPARAMOUNT
Engineersshallholdparamountthesafety,healthandwelfareofthepublicandshallstriveto
complywiththeprinciplesofsustainabledevelopmentintheperformanceoftheirprofessional
duties.

a.Engineersshallrecognizethatthelives,safety,healthandwelfareofthegeneralpublicaredependent
uponengineeringjudgments,decisionsandpracticesincorporatedintostructures,machines,products,
processesanddevices.
b.Engineersshallapproveorsealonlythosedesigndocuments,reviewedorpreparedbythem,whichare
determinedtobesafeforpublichealthandwelfareinconformitywithacceptedengineeringstandards.
c.Engineerswhoseprofessionaljudgmentisoverruledundercircumstanceswherethesafety,healthand
welfareofthepublicareendangered,ortheprinciplesofsustainabledevelopmentignored,shallinform
theirclientsoremployersofthepossibleconsequences.
d.Engineerswhohaveknowledgeorreasontobelievethatanotherpersonorfirmmaybeinviolationof
anyoftheprovisionsofCanon1shallpresentsuchinformationtotheproperauthorityinwritingandshall
cooperatewiththeproperauthorityinfurnishingsuchfurtherinformationorassistanceasmayberequired.

e.Engineersshouldseekopportunitiestobeofconstructiveserviceincivicaffairsandworkforthe
advancementofthesafety,healthandwellbeingoftheircommunities,andtheprotectionofthe
environmentthroughthepracticeofsustainabledevelopment.
f.Engineersshouldbecommittedtoimprovingtheenvironmentbyadherencetotheprinciplesof
sustainabledevelopmentsoastoenhancethequalityoflifeofthegeneralpublic.

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CANON2.SERVICEWITHCOMPETENCE
Engineersshallperformservicesonlyinareasoftheircompetence.

a.Engineersshallundertaketoperformengineeringassignmentsonlywhenqualifiedbyeducationor
experienceinthetechnicalfieldofengineeringinvolved.

b.Engineersmayacceptanassignmentrequiringeducationorexperienceoutsideoftheirownfieldsof
competence,providedtheirservicesarerestrictedtothosephasesoftheprojectinwhichtheyare
qualified.Allotherphasesofsuchprojectshallbeperformedbyqualifiedassociates,consultants,or
employees.

c.Engineersshallnotaffixtheirsignaturesorsealstoanyengineeringplanordocumentdealingwith
subjectmatterinwhichtheylackcompetencebyvirtueofeducationorexperienceortoanysuchplanor
documentnotreviewedorpreparedundertheirsupervisorycontrol.


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CANON3.ISSUETRUESTATEMENTS
Engineersshallissuepublicstatementsonlyinanobjectiveandtruthfulmanner.

a.Engineersshouldendeavortoextendthepublicknowledgeofengineeringandsustainable
development,andshallnotparticipateinthedisseminationofuntrue,unfairorexaggeratedstatements
regardingengineering.

b.Engineersshallbeobjectiveandtruthfulinprofessionalreports,statements,ortestimony.Theyshall
includeallrelevantandpertinentinformationinsuchreports,statements,ortestimony.

c.Engineers,whenservingasexpertwitnesses,shallexpressanengineeringopiniononlywhenitis
foundeduponadequateknowledgeofthefacts,uponabackgroundoftechnicalcompetence,andupon
honestconviction.

d.Engineersshallissuenostatements,criticisms,orargumentsonengineeringmatterswhichareinspired
orpaidforbyinterestedparties,unlesstheyindicateonwhosebehalfthestatementsaremade.

e.Engineersshallbedignifiedandmodestinexplainingtheirworkandmerit,andwillavoidanyacttending
topromotetheirowninterestsattheexpenseoftheintegrity,honoranddignityoftheprofession.

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CANON4.ACTASAFAITHFULAGENT
Engineersshallactinprofessionalmattersforeachemployerorclientasfaithfulagentsor
trustees,andshallavoidconflictsofinterest.

a.Engineersshallavoidallknownorpotentialconflictsofinterestwiththeiremployersorclientsandshall
promptlyinformtheiremployersorclientsofanybusinessassociation,interests,orcircumstanceswhich
couldinfluencetheirjudgmentorthequalityoftheirservices.

b.Engineersshallnotacceptcompensationfrommorethanonepartyforservicesonthesameproject,or
forservicespertainingtothesameproject,unlessthecircumstancesarefullydisclosedtoandagreedto,
byallinterestedparties.

c.Engineersshallnotsolicitoracceptgratuities,directlyorindirectly,fromcontractors,theiragents,or
otherpartiesdealingwiththeirclientsoremployersinconnectionwithworkforwhichtheyareresponsible.

d.Engineersinpublicserviceasmembers,advisors,oremployeesofagovernmentalbodyordepartment
shallnotparticipateinconsiderationsoractionswithrespecttoservicessolicitedorprovidedbythemor
theirorganizationinprivateorpublicengineeringpractice.

e.Engineersshalladvisetheiremployersorclientswhen,asaresultoftheirstudies,theybelieveaproject
willnotbesuccessful.

f.Engineersshallnotuseconfidentialinformationcomingtotheminthecourseoftheirassignmentsasa
meansofmakingpersonalprofitifsuchactionisadversetotheinterestsoftheirclients,employersorthe
public.
 g.Engineersshallnotacceptprofessionalemploymentoutsideoftheirregularworkorinterestwithoutthe
knowledgeoftheiremployers.

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CANON5.REPUTATIONBYMERIT
Engineersshallbuildtheirprofessionalreputationonthemeritoftheirservicesandshallnot
competeunfairlywithothers.

a.Engineersshallnotgive,solicitorreceiveeitherdirectlyorindirectly,anypoliticalcontribution,gratuity,or
unlawfulconsiderationinordertosecurework,exclusiveofsecuringsalariedpositionsthrough
employmentagencies.

b.Engineersshouldnegotiatecontractsforprofessionalservicesfairlyandonthebasisofdemonstrated
competenceandqualificationsforthetypeofprofessionalservicerequired.

c.Engineersmayrequest,proposeoracceptprofessionalcommissionsonacontingentbasisonlyunder
circumstancesinwhichtheirprofessionaljudgmentswouldnotbecompromised.

d.Engineersshallnotfalsifyorpermitmisrepresentationoftheiracademicorprofessionalqualificationsor
experience.

e.Engineersshallgivepropercreditforengineeringworktothosetowhomcreditisdue,andshall
recognizetheproprietaryinterestsofothers.Wheneverpossible,theyshallnamethepersonorpersons
whomayberesponsiblefordesigns,inventions,writingsorotheraccomplishments.

f.Engineersmayadvertiseprofessionalservicesinawaythatdoesnotcontainmisleadinglanguageoris
inanyothermannerderogatorytothedignityoftheprofession.Examplesofpermissibleadvertisingareas
follows:
Professionalcardsinrecognized,dignifiedpublications,andlistingsinrostersordirectoriespublishedby
responsibleorganizations,providedthatthecardsorlistingsareconsistentinsizeandcontentandareina
sectionofthepublicationregularlydevotedtosuchprofessionalcards.

Brochureswhichfactuallydescribeexperience,facilities,personnelandcapacitytorenderservice,
providingtheyarenotmisleadingwithrespecttotheengineer'sparticipationinprojectsdescribed.

Displayadvertisinginrecognizeddignifiedbusinessandprofessionalpublications,providingitisfactualand
isnotmisleadingwithrespecttotheengineer'sextentofparticipationinprojectsdescribed.

Astatementoftheengineers'namesorthenameofthefirmandstatementofthetypeofserviceposted
onprojectsforwhichtheyrenderservices.

Preparationorauthorizationofdescriptivearticlesforthelayortechnicalpress,whicharefactualand
dignified.Sucharticlesshallnotimplyanythingmorethandirectparticipationintheprojectdescribed.

Permissionbyengineersfortheirnamestobeusedincommercialadvertisements,suchasmaybe
publishedbycontractors,materialsuppliers,etc.,onlybymeansofamodest,dignifiednotation
acknowledgingtheengineers'participationintheprojectdescribed.Suchpermissionshallnotinclude
publicendorsementofproprietaryproducts.

g.Engineersshallnotmaliciouslyorfalsely,directlyorindirectly,injuretheprofessionalreputation,
prospects,practiceoremploymentofanotherengineerorindiscriminatelycriticizeanother'swork.

h.Engineersshallnotuseequipment,supplies,laboratoryorofficefacilitiesoftheiremployerstocarryon
outsideprivatepracticewithouttheconsentoftheiremployers.


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CANON6.UPHOLDPROFESSIONALHONOR
Engineersshallactinsuchamannerastoupholdandenhancethehonor,integrity,anddignityof
theengineeringprofessionandshallactwithzerotoleranceforbribery,fraud,andcorruption.

a.Engineersshallnotknowinglyengageinbusinessorprofessionalpracticesofafraudulent,dishonestor
unethicalnature.

b.Engineersshallbescrupulouslyhonestintheircontrolandspendingofmonies,andpromoteeffective
useofresourcesthroughopen,honestandimpartialservicewithfidelitytothepublic,employers,
associatesandclients.

c.Engineersshallactwithzerotoleranceforbribery,fraud,andcorruptioninallengineeringor
constructionactivitiesinwhichtheyareengaged.

d.Engineersshouldbeespeciallyvigilanttomaintainappropriateethicalbehaviorwherepaymentsof
gratuitiesorbribesareinstitutionalizedpractices.

e.Engineersshouldstrivefortransparencyintheprocurementandexecutionofprojects.Transparency
includesdisclosureofnames,addresses,purposes,andfeesorcommissionspaidforallagentsfacilitating
projects.

f.Engineersshouldencouragetheuseofcertificationsspecifyingzerotoleranceforbribery,fraud,and
corruptioninallcontracts.

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CANON7.CONTINUEPROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT
Engineersshallcontinuetheirprofessionaldevelopmentthroughouttheircareers,andshall
provideopportunitiesfortheprofessionaldevelopmentofthoseengineersundertheir
supervision.

a.Engineersshouldkeepcurrentintheirspecialtyfieldsbyengaginginprofessionalpractice,participating
incontinuingeducationcourses,readinginthetechnicalliterature,andattendingprofessionalmeetings
andseminars.

b.Engineersshouldencouragetheirengineeringemployeestobecomeregisteredattheearliestpossible
date.

c.Engineersshouldencourageengineeringemployeestoattendandpresentpapersatprofessionaland
technicalsocietymeetings.

d.Engineersshallupholdtheprincipleofmutuallysatisfyingrelationshipsbetweenemployersand
employeeswithrespecttotermsofemploymentincludingprofessionalgradedescriptions,salaryranges,
andfringebenefits.

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