Code of Conduct
ECIA on ethics
ECIA members aim to set standards on the way associated interior architects pursue their profession. These agreements are laid down in the ECIA Model Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics.
All associated interior architects should respect these rules. In it is defined how members act professionally, and how they behave to the society, to Clients and to Colleagues.
ECIA model Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics for Interior Architects
For the purpose of this Code, the interior architect is he or she who is a member of a professional organization associated with ECIA, and/or his or her firm, associates or employees, or the member who is an employee or collaborator in an organization that is professionally involved with interior architecture or education, research, training or practice thereof.
For the sake of readability the feminine form is omitted in the following articles.
1. General responsibility
1.1. Compliance to general ethics
The interior architect shall act in a way that contributes to the honor and dignity of the profession. He shall abide by the Codes of ethics and Conduct and laws in force in the countries and jurisdictions where he provides professional services.
1.2. Competence
The interior architect shall strive to continually improve his professional knowledge and skill. He shall accept appointments only that are within his competence of performance.
1.3. Avoiding conflicts of interest
The interior architect shall only assume or accept a position in which his personal interests will not bring him in conflict with his professional duty.
2. Responsibility to the society
The interior architect accepts a professional obligation to further the social, cultural and environmental standards of the community. He takes into account the consequences of his professional activity to the health, safety and well-being of all those who may reasonably be expected to use or enjoy the product of his work.
3. Responsibility to the Client
3.1. Commitment and loyalty
The interior architect shall act in his Client’s interests within the limits of his professional duties.
3.2. Scope of work, agreement and contract
The interior architect shall undertake professional work only if the scope of work, conditions, responsibilities, liabilities and limitations thereof, remuneration (fee) or method of calculation thereof and the duration of the contract are clearly agreed in writing.
3.3. Remuneration
The interior architect shall when undertaking a mission see that the compensation for the work is relevant to the scope and importance of the performed work, and he will only accept additional financial profits or any other profits from third parties that are agreed upon in advance by the Client.
3.4. Transparency
The interior architect shall ensure that his practice has appropriate and effective internal procedures and administration as to enable him to function efficiently and he will keep the Client informed of the progress of work undertaken on the Client’s behalf and of any issues that may affect its quality or cost. Administration with regard to the project will be available for perusal by the Client upon request.
3.5. Confidentiality
The interior architect shall respect at al times the confidence of those for whom he works and not without prior consent disclose those confident matters.
4. Responsibility to the profession
4.1. Fellowship
The interior architect shall promote an open and professional debate on all aspects of the profession. He is not to criticize unfairly or attempt to discredit a colleague or his work in public.
4.2. Loyalty and competition
The interior architect investigates, before accepting a commission, if the same commission has not been granted to a colleague. If such is the case, the successor enters in consultation with the colleague. The interior architect, who is commissioned to alter an existing building or interior, enables fraternal consultation with the original designer, before starting his work. The original designer will not oppose the commission as such.
4.3. Collaboration and succession
The interior architect shall provide his associates and employees with a suitable working environment, compensate them fairly, and facilitate their professional development. He will see to it that they will keep up with these rules of Conduct.
4.4. Originality
The interior architect acknowledges the part colleagues or employees may have had in the design. He shall not accept instructions from his client which knowingly involve plagiarism, nor shall he consciously act in any manner involving plagiarism.
5. Publicity
5.1. Fairness
The interior architect is free to communicate or promote his work and his expertise and experience. Any advertising or publicity material must contain only truthful factual statements. It shall be fair to clients and other designers, and in accordance with the dignity of the profession.
5.2. Originality
The interior architect shall only promote professional works or activities as designed by him and/or his collaborators. He shall not tolerate that his name is connected with the realization of a design that has been changed in such a way that it is no longer essentially the original work of the interior architect.
5.3. Competition
A member may only take part in or serve on the jury of competitions when these are held in compliance with national and international rules as approved by our professional organizations.
6. Compliance and sanctions
All matters concerning non‑observance of this Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics shall be considered by the national organizations Board and/or Committee of Ethics, who may issue a caution or a disciplinary comment or may bar the individual from membership. A complaint against an interior architect can be brought forward by a colleague, a client of the defendant, or by somebody who has an other professional relationship with the defendant.
Adopted by the General Assembly, Malmö, October 1st, 2005