Consulting Engineers are individuals who because of training in one or more engineering disciplines are licensed Professional Engineers in private practice. They are independent professional engineers who perform services for clients on a contract basis without commercial or manufacturing affiliations that might bias their judgment. They serve private and public clients in ways ranging from brief consultations to the complete design and coordination of a project.
To render such services properly, they must be qualified by education, technical knowledge and experience, with appropriate licensing by a State to practice one or more disciplines of engineering. Consulting engineering 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 consulting engineers require honesty, impartiality, fairness and equity and must be dedicated to the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.
Locating the best available consulting engineer and negotiating the fairest fee requires research, organization, evaluation and responsible decision making. Engineering value is obtained when the most qualified firm, engaged for a fair and equitable cost, develops a design which best serves the client by holding down present and future costs.
In the practice of their profession, consulting engineers 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.
The following Delaware Code of Ethics is embodied into the craft of a Practicing Engineer:
