What you need to know about the 2026 ICE Code of Professional Conduct

The ICE’s ethics committee has updated the Code of Professional Conduct to simplify the document and make it more inclusive for the institution’s global membership.

The code applies to all members, irrespective of their grade, role or location.

This overview is designed to help them maintain the high standards of professional conduct expected of them as disruptive factors such as the rise of AI affect the industry.

The rules and guidance notes

Members must comply with the code’s rules and act in line with its accompanying guidance notes to the fullest possible extent.

If a member feels that it’s impossible for them to comply with one or more of the following, they’re encouraged to seek advice from the ICE.

• Discharge your professional duties with integrity. This includes using sound engineering judgement, meeting the highest standards of accountability, acting in good faith, treating everyone with respect and avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Uphold the reputation of the institution and the engineering profession. This covers professional and personal conduct.
• Undertake only work that you are competent to do and ensure that this also applies to anyone you supervise. This includes understanding the limitations and risks of emerging technologies, such as AI.
• Have full regard for the public interest, taking all reasonable steps to protect health and safety, and seek positive outcomes for future generations. Minimise and communicate relevant risks, keep abreast of emerging risks and use data responsibly.
• Actively promote the role of the ICE in serving the public good.
• Have full regard for the environment, taking all reasonable steps to minimise environmental harm. Promote nature-positive working practices and sustainable solutions, while broadening awareness of natural systems.
• Undertake relevant continuing professional development (CPD) activities to strive for excellence. Maintain your CPD records and give all reasonable assistance to the advancement of others.
• Promptly notify the ICE in specific circumstances, such as a criminal conviction, bankruptcy, disqualification as a director and the disciplinary-related revocation of membership of another professional body.
• Notify the appropriate parties if you have a genuine concern that another member has broken the rules. The ICE would encourage anyone who may be dissatisfied with a member’s conduct to submit a complaint. Support anyone who has raised such a concern and, if required, engage fully with the disciplinary process.

The above list is a brief summary of what the ICE expects of its members, so you are encouraged to read the full code and reflect on it.

Membership is a badge of integrity and good faith. To retain the public’s trust in the institution and their profession, ICE members must maintain high standards and demonstrate engineering ethics every day.

The updated code will help to ensure that we all understand what that means in practice.

Read the revised code