1. Ethics
Lecture 9
American University in Cairo School of Sciences and
Engineering
Department of Architectural Engineering
AENG441 – Professional Practice, Design Management and
Codes 1
2. Joining a professional society means
subscribing to that society's ethical
standards.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
3. Professionals are granted certain
rights by society and, in turn, they
are obligated to meet accepted
standards of professional behavior.
ETHICS
4. • Ethics are integral to the
practice of architecture.
• The enlightenment philosopher
Jean Rousseau talked about the
concept of a Social Contract
(1762) , by which people of
different backgrounds and
cultures could enter into an
agreement that would limit
some of their liberty, but in doing
so would help to create a more
solid foundation for civilization.
ETHICS
5. The Code of Hammurabi
1700 or 1800 B.C.
• Law 229. If a builder build a house
for someone, and does not
construct it properly, and the
house which he built fall in and kill
its owner, then that builder shall
be put to death.
• Law 230. If it kill the son of the
owner, the son of that builder shall
be put to death.
7. 1- While performing services, the architect's foremost
responsibility is to the public welfare.
Professional Practice and Ethics
8. 2- Architects shall approve only those designs that safeguard
the life, health, welfare and property of the public while
conforming to accepted professional standards.
Professional Practice and Ethics
9. 3. If an architect’s professional judgment is overruled resulting in
danger to the life, health, welfare or property of the public,
the architect shall notify his/her employer or client and any
authority that may be appropriate.
Professional Practice and Ethics
10. 4. Architects shall be objective and truthful in professional
reports, statements, or testimonies and provide all pertinent
supporting information relating to such reports, statements,
or testimonies.
Professional Practice and Ethics
11. 5. Architects shall not express a professional opinion publicly
unless it is based upon knowledge of the facts and a
competent evaluation of the subject matter.
Professional Practice and Ethics
12. 6. Architects shall not express a professional opinion on
subject matters for which they are motivated or paid,
unless they explicitly identify the parties on whose
behalf they are expressing the opinion, and reveal the
interest the parties have in the matters. This is to avoid
bribery, dishonesty, and slant in the business.
Professional Practice and Ethics
13. 7. Architects shall not associate in business ventures with nor
permit their names or their firms' names to be used by
any person or firm which is engaging in dishonest,
fraudulent, or illegal business practice.
Professional Practice and Ethics
14. 8. Architects who have knowledge of a possible violation of
any of the rules shall provide pertinent information and
assist in reaching a final determination of the possible
violation.
Our foremost obligation is to the public welfare.
Professional Practice and Ethics
15. By applying the codes of ethics, an architect earns
the trust and respect of his clients and employer.
ARCHITECT
16. 1. Architects shall not undertake technical assignments for which
they are not qualified by education or experience. This would be
unfair, since the quality of the work would be inferior.
Professional Practice and Ethics
17. 2. Architects shall approve or seal only those plans or designs that
deal with subjects in which they are competent and which have
been prepared under their direct control and supervision.
Professional Practice and Ethics
18. 3. Architects may coordinate an entire project provided that
each design component is signed or sealed by the
specialist responsible for that design component.
Professional Practice and Ethics Division
19. 4. Architects shall not reveal professional information without
the prior consent of the employer or client except as
authorized or required by law.
Such "professional information" does not belong to the
architect, but rather to the client or employer.
Thus, disclosure of this information would be like giving
away something that does not belong to you.
Professional Practice and Ethics Division
20. 5. Architects shall not solicit or accept valuable
considerations, financial or otherwise, directly or
indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or other parties
while performing work for employers or clients. This is
commonly known as bribery or conflict of interest.
Professional Practice and Ethics
21. 6. Architects shall disclose to their employers or clients
potential conflicts of interest or any other circumstances
that could influence or appear to influence their
professional judgment or the quality of their service.
Professional Practice and Ethics
22. 7. An architect shall not accept financial or other
compensation from more than one party for
services rendered on one project unless the
details are fully disclosed and agreed to by all
parties concerned. This would be an obvious
case of conflict of interest.
Professional Practice and Ethics
23. 8. Architects shall not solicit or accept a professional contract
from a governmental body on which a principal or
officer of their firm serves as a member.
Professional Practice and Ethics
24. 9. An architect who is a principal or employee of a private
firm and who serves as a member of a governmental
body shall not participate in decisions relating to the
professional services solicited or provided by the firm to
the governmental body.
Professional Practice and Ethics
25. Honesty and good will among engineers provide the
foundation for maintaining the reputation of their profession.
26. 1. Architects shall not misrepresent or permit misrepresentation
of their or any of their associates' academic or professional
qualifications. They shall not misrepresent their level of
responsibility nor the complexity of prior assignments.
Professional Practice and Ethics
27. 2. Architects shall not directly or indirectly give, solicit, or
receive any gift or commission, or other valuable
consideration, in order to obtain work.
Remember the term "bribery“ & "conflict of interest“.
Professional Practice and Ethics Division
Revision
28. 3. Architects shall not attempt to
injure, maliciously or falsely,
directly or indirectly, the
professional reputations,
prospects, practice or
employment of other architects,
nor indiscriminately criticize the
work of other architects.
Professional Practice and Ethics Division
Revision
29. Videos
• Ethics: From Building to Architecture
• In the video, Henry Cobb, FAIA; Carl Sapers,
Hon. AIA; and Mack Scogin, FAIA; discuss
ethics, as applied to architectural practice in
the broadest sense.
• Cobb immediately takes ethics beyond the
architect, to the building: “For me, the issue of
ethics in architecture is not primarily about
practice; it is about what I call 'the voice of
architect,' the way that buildings speak.”
• https://youtu.be/xthJKWOErVU
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30. • Legally, Architects are required to perform
in a manner consistent with that of other
competent professionals practicing in the
same jurisdiction under similar
circumstances.
• Anything less may constitute negligence,
for which the professional can he held
personally liable and be penalized.
INTRODUCTION
31. 1. The obligation to achieve results
Not performed unless the result is achieved.
Thus, an obligation to construct a building is not
performed unless the building is constructed.
2. The obligation to exercise care or make
an effort
Is performed by exercising such care or making
such effort even if the result is not achieved.
Thus, a doctor is required to make an effort in
curing his patient. He is considered to have
performed if he exercises the care and makes
the effort usually required by the reasonable
person of his profession. But he is not considered
to have breached his obligation if the result of his
effort is not achieved.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
32. • Because design professionals can be held
personally liable for their own negligence
(errors and omissions), they should
purchase liability insurance.
• Premiums of such insurance policies
depend on several variables including the
discipline(s) being insured, the types of
clients, projects, services offered, and the
amount of deductible.
• In some cases, design firms may buy
insurance for a single project. This can be
appropriate for unusual projects or projects
needing higher than normal coverage.
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE
33. • The following can substantially reduce the
potential for liability claims and/or the
likelihood that such claims will result in the
award of damages:
• Preparing sound written agreements
• Developing good personal relationships with
clients and contractors (people are far less
likely to sue people they like and respect)
• Maintaining clear and regular written
communication with clients, consultants, and
contractors
• Addressing problems proactively when they
arise
• Managing risk in client selection, fee
negotiation, and project design and execution.
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE
34. • In general, a professional is obliged to act
ethically.
• A professional’s ethical responsibility usually
go beyond the legal.
ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
35. • The following are the rules of the AIA 2012
Code of Ethics and professional Conduct,
as a guideline:
I. General Obligations
II. Obligations to the Public
III. Obligations to the Client
IV. Obligations to the Profession
V. Obligations to Colleagues
VI. Obligation to the Environment
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36. The code of ethics provides members with
guidelines and rules for fulfilling their obligations
to the public, clients and users of architecture,
the profession, their professional colleagues,
the building industry, and the base knowledge
on which the practice of architecture rests.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
37. The code is arranged in three tiers:
1. CANONS: Broad principles of conduct to the
discipline, the public, the client, the profession, and
professional colleagues.
2. ETHICAL STANDARDS: More specific goals
toward which members should aspire in professional
practice and conduct.
3. RULES OF CONDUCT: Implement the canons
and the ethical standards. The canons and ethical
standards are stated in aspirational terms; the rules are
mandatory and describe the "floor" below which a
member's actions may not fall.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
