Saint Mary’s University

School of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

PART III – ETHICS

IMPLIED CODE OF ETHICS FOR CLIENTS:

1. The client should select engineers on the basis of merit in accordance with accepted practices.

2. The client should pay adequate and equitable fees to the consulting engineer for his services.

3. The client should accept the engineer as a professional adviser and extend to him the respect and
confidence warranted in such a relationship.

4. The client should accept the responsibility for the consequences expected from variations or deviations
from consulting engineers recommendations, which he decides to make.

5. The client should promptly provide the consulting engineer with the information and data that he requires.
He should review promptly the information and recommendations submitted by the consulting engineer.

6. The client should give credit to the consulting engineer for his engineering work.

7. The client should respect the consulting engineer’s position in relation to contractors and materials
suppliers on construction work and not to bypass the authority of the engineer by negotiating directly with
the contractor.

CLIENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The client should inform the engineer of his previous involvement with particular aspects of the industry, if
any, thereby helping to define the extent of client’s participation in the engineering recommendations.

2. The client should request any information that is lacking to him for a complete understanding of the work,
at any stage of the implementation of the project.

3. The client should ensure that he has qualified staff who can competently evaluate the presentation of the
consulting engineer and strike a balance between technical suitability and eventual costs.

4. The client should promptly make important decisions on matters that could duly impede the project if they
are not made on time.

5. The client should inform the consulting engineer as accurately as possible of any changes which may affect
the project.

BILL OF DUTIES OF THE ENGINEER TO THE PUBLIC:

Salus populi est suprema lex (The general welfare of the people is the first law)

1. Duty to discourage untrue and unfair statement in engineering.

2. Duty to protect life and health of the public and employees.

1|CE – 318 Prepared By: Engr. Juniffen I. Tacadena

 Saint Mary’s University
School of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

From the National Building Code:

a. All buildings or structures as well as necessary facilities thereto shall conform in all aspects to the
principle of safe construction and must be suited to the purpose of which they are designed.

b. Buildings or structures intended to be used for manufacture and/or production of any kind of article or
product shall observe adequate environmental safeguards.

c. Buildings or structures and all parts thereof as well as all facilities found therein shall be maintained in
safe, sanitary and good working conditions.

Section 1101 of National Building Code provides that:

a. No person shall use or occupy a street, alley, or public sidewalk for performance of work covered by a
building permit except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

b. No person shall perform any work on any building or structure adjacent to a public way in general use
of pedestrian travel, unless the pedestrians are protected as specified in this chapter.

c. Any material or structure temporarily occupying public property, including fence, canopies and
walkways shall be adequately lighted, between sunset and sunrise.

3. Duty to express opinion only when founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction.

The Engineer as a technical adviser, may be invited or employed in areas where his services are needed. In
investigations or inquiries being conducted by judicial or quasi-judicial bodies on particular questions of
science, art or trade, the engineer may assist in several ways:

a. Assist in the preparation of evidence be testimonial or documentary.

b. Conduct technical investigations and make proper report to strengthen the evidence to be presented.

c. Prepare evidence in the form of exhibits for presentation in the proper investigating bodies.

d. Make himself if available as the need arises in cases where his opinion is sought.

Note: the engineer’s function is to assist the lawyer not to usurp the function of a lawyer.

The Engineer may be called or testify on a stand or position as an expert. The opinion of a witness is not
admissible in court except when it is an expert evidence. Under the Rules of Court, expert evidence is an
opinion of a witness regarding a question of science, art or trade, where he is skilled therein.

Factors considered in qualification of an expert witness:

a. Training and education

b. Particular first-hand familiarity with the facts of the present case.

2|CE – 318 Prepared By: Engr. Juniffen I. Tacadena

 Saint Mary’s University
School of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

c. Presentation of the authorities or standards on which the opinions are based.

4. Duty to refrain from issuing statements, criticisms, etc. on matters connected with public policy.

5. Duty to assist indigent client.

6. Duty to participate in community activities.

3|CE – 318 Prepared By: Engr. Juniffen I. Tacadena