UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL

& BIOENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT 2

JULY 2019

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Course Code : NCB 40102

Course Name : Engineers in Society

Student Name : Mohamad Firdaus bin Roslim

Student ID Number : 55220116011

Lecturer : Ir Chong Yuan Foong

Date of Submission : 08 November 2019

Question 1:

Corrosion is one of the main concerns when installing metal-type for water supply pipe.
Nearly all metals corrode including carbon and galvanized metal in the existence of air and
water. When corrosion occurred, the pipeline usually becomes thinner and even worse the pipe
might start pitting. Based on the question above, as a chief engineer, a person should aware
about the condition of the pipeline. Some actions should be considered and taken including the
ones that stated in the question; replacement of old pipe with new pipe, having a regular check
of the water leakage and lowering water pipe pressure to avoid pipe from burst or crack.

As an engineer, to lower the water pressure in order to avoid any pipes from bursting
and cracking is not necessary. In water distribution system, pressure is required to channel the
water through the pipes with some additional pushing force and overcome the pressure loss or
frictional head loss. Friction between fluids and wall of the pipes, friction loss as the fluid
passes through any pipe fittings, bends, valves, or components and due to change in elevation
of the fluid are the causes of pressure loss. Every water companies or distributers should
maintain the minimum pressure required of water in water supply pipe in order to meet the
service standard.

Effect of low water pipe pressure is existence of transient vacuum or a negative pressure
on the suction pump. Next, low water pressure in distribution system is a well-known risk
factor for outbreaks of waterborne disease. This can occur secondarily to pipe breaks, main
breaks, or as a result of low pressure in pipe pressure. A surge in pressure flow in which the
surge can disturb deposits in the pipe or on the pipe wall can result in a deterioration of water
quality.

Based on the Code of Ethics for Engineers, as a responsible engineer, a person shall
only perform services in the areas of his competencies. A person shall take only the specific
technical fields regarding this corrosion of the pipe. For reviewing the action taken, a person
shall not fix his signature or confirmation on the documents which are lack to his competencies.
For maintenance purposes, an engineer should involve in the providing the best solution
regarding corrosion in terms of new design of pipe, type of pipe and regular checking. As a
responsible engineer, a person shall act as a faithful agent or trustee to the company. A person
shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect my company reputation and
not accept any financial from another party for services on the same project.

In conclusion, lowering water pipe pressure is an unethical way to be taken and shall
be reviewed again its pros and cons as it can affect the company’s reputation as well as effect
human health and environment. As the chief engineer of the company, a person shall follow
the code of ethics before taking any steps in handling the corrosion of pipes.

Question 2:

The Board defines conflict of interest as a disagreement between the private interests
and the official or professional responsibilities of a person in a position of trust, power or
authority. In other words, a conflict in a situation which have the potential to influence or
compromise professional judgment. If there is any potential benefit to the decision maker that
could potentially harm other interests, the person is in a conflict of interest.

In this case, a person had been offered to take over other’s job which has been entrusted to
another person. Based on the Code of Ethics, a person shall act fairly to all clients and
stakeholders involved in my competencies. Even though the project had been delayed for a
quite long period and the clients had entrusted to another person in order to complete it within
the time given, as an ethical engineer, a person shall not attempt to obtain employment or
advancement or professional engagements by untruthfully criticizing other engineers, or by
other improper or questionable methods.

Since the project had been trusted to previous consulting engineer, a person shall
consider the ethics in which private practice shall not review another engineer’s work for the
same client unless with the consent of such engineer or the connection of such engineer
regarding the work has been terminated. Other than that, by taking this task in which a person
will need to review the project which may not listed under his expertise. This is an unethical
action where in the Code of E thics, a professional engineer shall undertake assignments only
when qualified by education or experience in the specific technical fields involved.

After reviewing on all aspects, by accepting this project could cause a conflict of
interest even though a person can gain a good amount of money and the project completed. As
stated in Code of Ethics, a person shall not be influenced in their professional duties by
conflicting interest and not accept financial or other considerations, including free engineering
designs, from equipment or materials supplier.