Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations

Source: Singapore Statutes Online | Archived by Legal Wires


Fire Safety Act
(Chapter 109A, Section 61(1)(zab))
Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations
Rg 10
G.N. No. S 335/2004

REVISED EDITION 2008
(2nd June 2008)
[1st July 2004]
Citation
1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations.
Fire safety engineers to observe Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics
2.—(1)  Every fire safety engineer shall observe and be guided by the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics set out in the Schedule.
(2)  Any contravention of the Code may result in disciplinary action.
THE SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics
1.  In this Schedule, unless the context states otherwise, “publicity” means any form of advertisement and includes any advertisement —
(a)printed in any medium for the communication of information; or
(b)appearing in, communicated through or retrievable from, any mass medium, electronic or otherwise.
2.  A fire safety engineer shall not, for the purpose of obtaining approval for any project, sign any plan and documents unless he is the fire safety engineer appointed for that project and has personally reviewed and assessed the plans and documents relating to the project.
3.—(1)  Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, a fire safety engineer may publicise his practice.
(2)  A fire safety engineer shall not publicise his practice in a manner which —
(a)is likely to diminish public confidence in the profession or to otherwise bring the profession into disrepute;
(b)may reasonably be regarded as being misleading, deceptive, inaccurate, false or unbefitting of the dignity of the profession; or
(c)is determined by the Commissioner to be an undesirable manner of publicising the practice of a fire safety engineer.
(3)  For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2), publicity shall be considered to be misleading, deceptive, inaccurate or false if it —
(a)contains a material misrepresentation;
(b)omits to state a material fact;
(c)contains any information which cannot be verified; or
(d)is likely to create an unjustified expectation about the results that can be achieved by the fire safety engineer.
(4)  In publicising his practice, a fire safety engineer shall ensure that —
(a)any claim to expertise or specialisation can be justified;
(b)the publicity does not make any direct or indirect mention of any project in which or client for whom —
(i)the fire safety engineer is acting or has acted; or
(ii)any person assisting or who has assisted the fire safety engineer in his work is acting or has acted,
where the provision of such information will involve a breach of confidentiality owed to the client; and
(c)the publicity does not make any comparison or criticism in relation to the quality of the services provided by any other fire safety engineer.
(5)  For the purpose of sub-paragraph (4)(a), the following factors shall be taken into account in justifying any claim to expertise or specialisation:
(a)academic qualifications of the fire safety engineer;
(b)experience in supplying fire safety engineering services of a similar nature;
(c)resources and capacity to render the services which the fire safety engineer claims to have expertise or specialisation in; and
(d)such other matters as the Commissioner may determine to be relevant.
(6)  It shall be the responsibility of every fire safety engineer to ensure that any publicity relating to his practice complies with this paragraph, whether such publicity is conducted by him or by any other person on his behalf.
(7)  Where a fire safety engineer becomes aware of any impropriety in any publicity relating to his practice, it shall be his responsibility to use his best endeavours to procure the rectification or withdrawal of the publicity, and to prevent its recurrence.
(8)  The responsibility of a fire safety engineer under this paragraph shall not be capable of being delegated and the fire safety engineer shall remain personally responsible for any contravention of this paragraph notwithstanding the fact that he may have delegated such responsibilities to another person.
4.—(1)  A fire safety engineer may —
(a)contribute in any journal, book or other publication on any matter relating to fire safety; and
(b)receive remuneration for any contribution —
(i)referred to in sub-paragraph (a); or
(ii)in any seminar or conference by way of written papers or participation other than as a member of the audience.
(2)  Any information released or statement made by a fire safety engineer shall be accurate, truthful, dignified and shall not be misleading, exaggerated or ostentatious or calculated to solicit business.
5.—(1)  A fire safety engineer shall not accept any work which involves the giving of discounts or commissions in recognition of, or as an inducement to, the introduction of clients.
(2)  A fire safety engineer shall not tout for business or do anything which is likely to lead to the reasonable inference that it is done for the purpose of touting.
(3)  A fire safety engineer shall not solicit or receive a commission for the introduction of engagement of fire safety engineer services.
6.—(1)  A fire safety engineer shall at all times, with due regard to the interest of his client, act honourably towards his professional colleagues.
(2)  A fire safety engineer shall not supplant or attempt to supplant another fire safety engineer.
(3)  A fire safety engineer shall not compete with another fire safety engineer who has already been appointed for a project by means of a reduction of fees or by any inducement.
(4)  A fire safety engineer shall not render his services for a project for which he knows, or can ascertain by reasonable inquiry, that another fire safety engineer is or has been engaged, until the services of the other fire safety engineer have been terminated by the client.
6A.—(1)  A fire safety engineer must not act as a peer reviewer unless, immediately before being appointed as a peer reviewer, he has been registered as a fire safety engineer under the Act for not less than 10 years.
(2)  For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1), any time that the fire safety engineer’s registration is suspended is disregarded when calculating if he has been registered under the Act for not less than 10 years.
[S 754/2023 wef 24/11/2023]
7.—(1)  A fire safety engineer shall not act as the peer reviewer for any project in which he, or the firm or company of which he is a member, has any professional, financial or other interest which may conflict with his duties as a peer reviewer.
(2)  Without prejudice to sub-paragraph (1), a peer reviewer who has been appointed for a project shall not be financially interested in any business which —
(a)is carrying out the building works for the project;
(b)manufactures or deals in materials or components used in the project; or
(c)trades in land or buildings for profit.
(3)  A fire safety engineer shall not, while being appointed as the peer reviewer for a project, carry on or engage in any trade or business which —
(a)may affect the proper discharge of his professional duties; or
(b)would raise doubts as to his professional integrity as a peer reviewer.
(4)  A peer reviewer shall not hold, assume or consciously accept a position in which his interest is in conflict with his duties as a peer reviewer for a project.
[G.N. No. S 335/2004]

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations

 

This Legislative History is provided for the convenience of users of the Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations. It is not part of these Regulations.
1.  
G. N. No. S 335/2004—Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations 2004
Date of commencement
:
1 July 2004
2.  
2008 Revised Edition—Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations
Date of operation
:
2 June 2008
3.  
G.N. No. S 754/2023—Fire Safety (Fire Safety Engineers) (Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
Date of commencement
:
24 November 2023

Archived for legal research. Authoritative version at sso.agc.gov.sg.