Australia FPA Australia Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme NSW (1 July 2020 edition) 5.3: Code of Professional Conduct: act honestly, ethically, responsibly and in the public interest above all other interests; comply with the National Construction Code, relevant laws, standards and FPA Australia technical documents; make reasonable, fair and evidence-based decisions; never misinform clients, authorities or others; keep confidential information secure and never use it for private benefit; identify, disclose and manage actual, perceived and potential conflicts of interest and refuse gifts or benefits that could bias the work; pursue best practice in quality, timeliness, safety and environmental responsibility; communicate truthfully, without disparagement, and tell clients of anything affecting the ability to perform; honour contracts, advise variations promptly, follow quality assurance and protect confidential and intellectual property; act only within the accreditation held; support audits; and on cessation stop all representation of accreditation

What does 5.3 require?

Signatories to the Code agree to be bound by it and to uphold its intent and the reputation of FPA Australia and the industry. In professional behaviour they abide by the Scheme's terms and the Code, comply with the National Construction Code and other relevant standards, laws, regulations and FPA Australia technical documents, make reasonable, fair and appropriate decisions after considering all the facts, avoid anything that would discredit the profession, do not misinform clients, government, professional bodies, the community or other practitioners, act honestly and without discrimination, keep confidential documents secure and never use confidential information for private benefit, and put the public interest above all other interests when performing the accredited function. They attend to actual, perceived and potential conflicts of interest, never exploit their position for preferential treatment, refuse gifts or benefits intended or perceived to bias them and take reasonable steps to prevent related persons receiving them, and disclose and manage every conflict. They pursue best practice in quality and compliance, timely completion, work health and safety, reduced environmental impact and ethical relationships; are straightforward and honest in communications without disparaging others and inform clients of anything affecting their ability to perform; uphold contractual obligations, advise variations promptly, respond to information requests, cooperate in resolving disputes, follow quality assurance and protect commercial-in-confidence information and intellectual property. Their work must at least comply with all relevant legislation, codes, standards and the Scheme and take FPA Australia documents into account, with reasons recorded where one cannot be applied. They act only within their accreditation level and support any audit. They maintain insurance and undertake CPD. On cessation, suspension or termination they stop promoting themselves as accredited, withdraw documents referring to it and tell existing clients. Breaches are investigated and may draw an apology and undertaking, remedial action, a formal warning, referral to a regulator, suspension or termination.