Code of Ethics

Question 1

Rule 46

Uphold the law

Answer 1

A registered architect must abide by the laws and professional codes of ethics and conduct in force in the countries and jurisdictions in which the architect performs professional activities.

Question 2

Rule 47

Honesty and Fairness

Answer 2

A registered architect must perform the architect’s professional activities with both -
a) honesty; and
b.) fairness

Question 3

Rule 48

Professional judgement

Answer 3

A registered architect must exercise unprejudiced and unbiased professional judgement.

Question 4

Rule 49

Skill, care and diligence

Answer 4

(1) A registered architect must perform the architect’s professional activities with reasonable skill, care and diligence.

(2) A registered architect who becomes aware that the architect’s professional advice has not been followed, and considers that a failure to follow that advice may lead to significant harm, damage or financial loss, must advise the recipient of the advice of the potential consequences.

Question 5

Rule 50

Obligations to report on risk

Answer 5

If a registered architect has reasonable grounds to believe that an architectural matter with which the architect is professionally involved could put the safety of any person at risk, the architect must bring the matter to the attention of the appropriate person or authority.

Question 6

Rule 51

Misrepresentation

Answer 6

A registered architect must not represent or promote the architect’s capability, business, or professional services and activities in a false, fraudulent, misleading or deceptive manner.

Question 7

Rule 52

Conflicts of Interest

Answer 7

A registered architect must -
a) avoid any significant conflict of interest; or
b) manage any significant actual or potential conflict of interest and disclose it to all relevant parties.

Question 8

Rule 53

Abuse of authority

Answer 8

A registered architect must not abuse the architect’s professional authority.

Question 9

Rule 54

Malicious criticism

Answer 9

A registered architect must not maliciously or in bad faith criticise or attempt to discredit another registered architect or another registered architect’s practice.

Question 10

Rule 55

Conflicts of professional appointment

Answer 10

If a registered architect, acting in the architect’s own capacity or representing a practice, is approached to provide professional services in relation to a project, and the architect knows that another registered architect has a current agreement for services for that project, the architect must notify the other registered architect.

Question 11

Rule 56

Remuneration and inducements

Answer 11

A registered architect, in respect of the architect’s professional activities,-

a) must be remunerated solely by the fees and benefits specified in the architect’s written terms of appointment or employment agreement; and

b) must not offer or accept any significant inducement that creates, or may create, a conflict of interest; and

c) must not offer any significant inducement to procure an agreement for services or gain an unfair advantage.

Question 12

Rule 57

Professional reputation

Answer 12

A registered architect must-

a) build the architect’s professional reputation on the merits of the architect’s own performance, and

b) acknowledge the contributions of others to projects where those contributions are significant.

Question 13

Rule 58

Competence

Answer 13

A registered architect must-

a) actively maintain the currency of the architectural knowledge and skills that are relevant to the architect’s work; and

b) perform only architectural work for which the architect is competent, or obtain appropriate support to ensure that the work is completed to a competent standard; ad

c) if the architect tasks other to do architectural work, ensure that their work is appropriately supervised so that the work is completed to a competent standard.

Question 14

Rule 58a

Terms of Appointment

Answer 14

(1) A registered architect must provide professional services only if-

a) written terms of appointment appropriate to the commission or services to be undertaken have been provided; and

b) the client, having agreed to the written terms of appointment, has provided an instruction to proceed.

(2) The written terms of appointment must cover -

a) the scope of the work;
b) the allocation of responsibilities;
c) any limitation of responsibilities
d) fees, or any methods for calculating fees,
e) how billing will occur.

Question 15

Rule 58b

Client Communication

Answer 15

A registered architect must -

a) ensure that, where applicable, effective systems are in place during a commission to establish and monitor its quality, budget, cost estimates, and time line; and

b) advise the client in a timely manner of any significant issues that arise, or are identified, at any time during the commission.

Question 16

Rule 58c

Confidentiality

Answer 16

A registered architect must observe the confidentiality of their clients’ affairs and must not disclose confidential information without the prior consent of the client unless required by the law to do so.

Question 17

Rule 58d

Registration status of others

Answer 17

A registered architect who owns, manages or controls a practice must ensure that nothing is done by the practice that creates, or may create, the impression that an unregistered person working for the practice is a registered architect.