I. GENERAL REGULATIONS

Article 1.

(1)The code of professional ethics (hereinafter the Code) regulates the fundamental principles and conduct rules in the professional work of authorized architects and civil engineers. By respecting those principles and rules, authorized architects and civil engineers discharge their commitment to their society, profession, clients and employees.
(2)The regulations of this Code are obligatory for all authorized architects and civil engineers, as well as for all applicants for the enrolment into the Register of authorized architects and the Register of authorized civil engineers.
(3)The Discipline Court of the Chamber is competent for cases of violation of the Code regulations.

Article 2.

Authorized architects and civil engineers are, in the creation of the surroundings, obliged to perform their professional work according to the authorities prescribed by the Law of the Croatian Chamber of architects and civil engineers (“Narodne novine” – “The National newsletter” no. 47/98), the Statute of the Chamber or other official Chamber documents, as well as by special laws and rules based upon them.

II. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Article 3.

Authorized architects and civil engineers shall support and advance the integrity, the honour and the respectability of their profession by:
1. using their knowledge and professionalism for the improvement of the human welfare in general,
2. their honour, impartiality and loyal service to the society, employers and clients,
3. increasing the authority and the prestige of their profession,
4. supporting the professional and technical associations in their field of acting.

III. FUNDAMENTAL RULES

Article 4.

(1)In the surroundings creating process, protection of the public interest and of third persons is the most important principle authorized architects and civil engineers comply with in their work.
(2)Authorized architects and civil engineers shall consider in their work the life necessities of the population and society.
(3)Authorized architects and civil engineers shall, as much as possible, support the social safety, health and welfare with their work.

Article 5.

(1) All authorized architects and civil engineers shall, in front of the investors, official bodies and other institutions, equally represent and hold responsibility for the respectability of the Chamber and their particular classes
The Chairman of the Chamber and the Chairmen of the different classes, their deputies and the employees of the Chamber, represent the Chamber and their classes in functions prescribed by special regulations.
(2) The Body officials and Chamber members shall not misuse their position for business acquisition and organization, nor should they influence the investors in their choice of the architect or engineer. This rule shall not be violated by the Chamber employees or other persons either.
(3) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall not offer professional services other classes of the Chamber are specialized in and authorized for. The elaboration of such projects represents a grave violation
of the professional Code of Ethics.
(4)Authorized architects and civil engineers shall place only objective and truthful public statements considering their profession.
(5) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall act as reliable delegates and trustees of their employers or clients, and avoid interest conflicts in their work.
(6) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall build their professional reputation on the value of their work and are not allowed to dishonourably compete with one another.
(7) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall continuously improve and develop their professional skills while they are active, and extend possibilities for professional training and development to their subordinates.

IV. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Article 6.

(1)Authorized architects and civil engineers shall strictly comply with the principles of environment protection in their work, by:
- using their abilities and dedication to achieve best possible technical solutions in creating a healthy and pleasant surrounding, in open and closed space,
- trying to reach their goal with minimum consumption of natural resources and energy, at least possible waste or any other kind of pollution,
- thorough consideration of the direct, indirect, immediate or long-term consequences a suggestion or action might have on the health of the population, the social justice and the local system of values,
- thorough studies of the environment they influence with their projects and by studies of the effects they might have on the condition, dynamics and the aesthetic values of the ecological system, urbanized or natural, as well as on the socio-economic systems, and by selecting the optimal way for a proper and sustainable ecological development.

Article 7.

(1) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall promote the public comprehension of actions towards decreasing environmental damages and, where ever possible, repair existing damages.
(2) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall refuse any engagement which could possibly harm the public hygiene, health and environment. They must avoid environmental damage caused by construction and find the best possible architectural, technical and social solutions. In planning they have to comply with the principle that space, landscape, the architectural, cultural and natural heritage are limited values with limited renewal possibilities.
(3) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall, in all situations, represent and defend the principles of mutual dependence, mutual harmony of the eco-system, sustainability of diversity and repeating usage of the resources, as a basis of the existence which has a threshold of endurance that can not to be crossed.

V. CONDUCT AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

Article 8.

(1) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall refuse an engagement if its conditions can not be fulfilled or suppositions for its completion do not exist.
(2) When business or professional issues surpass the professional action field of a particular class to which the authorized architect or civil engineer belongs, he is obliged to inform his client about it, due to the fact that he is not allowed to elaborate those kind of projects.

Article 9.

(1) The conduct of authorized architects and civil engineers in public should respond to the respectability and trust these professions imply. Authorized architects and civil engineers must, in their work, avoid any circumstance which could harm their reputation or the reputation of their profession.
(2) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall monitor the evolution of their profession and , continuously, develop their professional knowledge and skills.
(3) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall, in the elaboration of projects and construction surveillance, comply with regulations and laws, scientific achievements, professional rules and architectural art.
(4) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall perform all their tasks conscientiously, implementing their professional knowledge and experience, according to the tariff of the Croatian Chamber of architects and civil engineers for construction control, surveillance and costs accounting, including the leading of proper records on that.

Article 10.

(1)Authorized architects and civil engineers are independent advisors and confidential representatives of their clients. Within the frame of their professional tasks, they represent the clients’ rights towards other participants involved in the construction process, objective and according to existing law regulations and principles of loyalty and trust.
(2) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall, upon their engagement, inform their clients with the rights and obligations they have as members of the Chamber.
(3) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall close only clear and precise contracts with their clients upon their engagement.
(4) Upon the closure of a contract, authorized architects and civil engineers shall define with their clients parts of the tasks under other professions’ authorities and coordinate their activities.

Article 11.

(1) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall handle their clients’ classified business details confidentially. Any kind of misusing is strictly forbidden.
(2) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall have admission to all operations and information within their Chamber class. They are obliged to proceed any requested information about business acquisition to one another.
(3) Authorized architects and civil engineers shall respect authors’ rights and any other kind of intellectual property.
(4) Authorized architects and civil engineers are responsible for further detailed elaboration and construction of the project or part of project they created. They shall not withstand from this right and obligation, nor accept fee to withstand from them.