| PREAMBLE |
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| Acoustical consulting is an important and
learned profession. The members of the profession recognize that their
work has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all people.
Accordingly, the services provided by acoustical consultants require
honesty, impartiality, fairness and equity and must be dedicated to the
protection of the public health, safety and welfare in the practice of
their profession. Acoustical consultants must perform under a standard
of professional behavior which requires adherence to the highest principles
of ethical conduct on behalf of the public, clients, employees and the
profession. |
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| I. Fundamental Canons |
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| Acoustical consultants, in the fulfillment
of their professional duties, shall: |
| 1. |
Hold paramount the safety, health and
welfare of the public in the performance of their
professional duties. |
| 2. |
Perform services only in areas of their
competence. |
| 3. |
Issue public statements only in an objective
and truthful manner. |
| 4. |
Act in professional matters for each
client as faithful agents or trustees. |
| 5. |
Avoid improper solicitation of professional
assignments. |
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| II. Rules of
Practice |
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| 1. |
Acoustical
consultants shall hold paramount the safety, health
and welfare of the public in the performance of their
professional duties. |
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a. |
Acoustical consultants
shall at all times recognize that their primary obligation
is to protect the safety, health, property and welfare
of the public. If their professional judgment is
overruled under circumstances where the safety, health,
property or welfare of the public are endangered,
they shall notify their client and such other authority
as may be appropriate |
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b. |
Acoustical consultants
shall approve only acoustical consulting work which,
to the best of their
knowledge and belief, is safe for public health, property and welfare and in conformity
with accepted standards. |
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c. |
Acoustical consultants
shall not reveal facts, data or information obtained
in a professional capacity without the proper consent
of the client except as authorized or required by
law or these Guidelines. |
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d. |
Acoustical consultants
shall not permit the use of their name or firm nor
associate in business ventures with any person or
firm which they have reason to believe is engaging
in fraudulent or dishonest business or professional
practices |
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e. |
Acoustical consultants
having knowledge of any alleged violation of these
Guidelines shall cooperate with the proper authorities
in furnishing such information or assistance as may
be required |
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| 2. |
Acoustical
consultants shall perform services only in the areas
of their competence |
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a. |
Acoustical consultants
shall undertake assignments only when qualified by
education or experience in the specific technical
fields involved |
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b. |
Acoustical consultants
shall not affix their signatures to any plans or
documents dealing with subject matter in which they
lack competence nor to any plan or document not prepared
under their direction and control. |
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c. |
Acoustical consultants
may accept an assignment outside of their fields
of competence to the extent that their services are
restricted to those phases of the project in which
they are qualified and to the extent that
they are satisfied that all other phases of such project will be performed by registered
or otherwise qualified associates, consultants or employees, in which case they may
then sign the documents for the total project. |
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| 3. |
Acoustical
consultants shall issue public statements only in
an objective and truthful manner. |
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a. |
Acoustical consultants
shall be objective and truthful in professional reports,
statements or testimony. They shall include all relevant
and pertinent information in such reports, statements
or testimony. |
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b. |
Acoustical consultants
may express publicly a professional opinion on technical
subjects only when that opinion is founded upon adequate
knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject
matter. |
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c. |
Acoustical consultants
shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments
on technical matters which are inspired or paid for
by interested parties, unless they have prefaced
their comments by explicitly identifying the interested
parties on whose behalf they are speaking and by
revealing the existence of any interest they may
have in the matters. |
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| 4. |
Acoustical
consultants shall act in professional matters for
each client as faithful agents or trustees. |
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a. |
Acoustical consultants
shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of
interest to their clients by promptly informing them
of any business association, interest or other circumstances
which could influence or appear to influence their
judgment of the quality of their services. |
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b. |
Acoustical consultants
shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise,
from more than one party for services on the same
project or for services pertaining to the same project,
unless the circumstances are fully disclosed to,
and agreed to, by all interested parties. |
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c. |
Acoustical consultants
in public services as members of a governmental body
or department shall not participate in decisions
with respect to professional services solicited or
provided by them or their organizations in private
acoustical consulting practices. |
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d. |
Acoustical consultants
shall not solicit or accept a professional contract
from a governmental body on which a principal or
officer of their organization serves as a member. |
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| 5. |
Acoustical
consultants shall avoid improper solicitation of
professional assignments. |
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a. |
Acoustical consultants
shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of
their, or their associates, academic or professional
qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate
their degree of responsibility in or for the subject
matter of prior assignments. Brochures or other presentations
incident to the solicitation of assignments shall
not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employees,
associates, joint ventures or past accomplishments
with the intent and purpose of enhancing their qualifications
and their work. |
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b. |
Acoustical consultants
shall not offer, give, solicit or receive, either
directly or indirectly, any political contribution
in an amount intended to influence the award of a
contract by public authority, or which may be reasonably
construed by the public of having the effect or intent
to influence the award of a contract. They shall
not offer any gift or other valuable consideration
in order to secure work. They shall not pay a commission,
percentage or brokerage fee in order to secure work
except to a bona fide employee or bona fide established
commercial or marketing agencies retained by them.
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