SCE Professional Practice and Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard of care in engineering practice?
- The level of skill and diligence that a reasonably competent engineer would exercise under similar conditions (Correct answer)
- Perfection in all work
- The minimum legal requirement only
- Whatever the client specifies
Correct answer: The level of skill and diligence that a reasonably competent engineer would exercise under similar conditions
The standard of care is not perfection but the level of competence, care, and diligence that a qualified professional would reasonably exercise. It considers current knowledge, local conditions, and project complexity.
Question 2: Under Saudi Arabian law, the statute of limitations for construction defects is:
- 10 years from completion (Decennial liability) (Correct answer)
- 1 year
- 30 years
- No time limit
Correct answer: 10 years from completion (Decennial liability)
Saudi law follows the concept of decennial liability (10-year guarantee) for structural defects and stability issues, as codified in the Saudi Civil Code. This applies to contractors and engineers.
Question 3: An engineer's duty to their employer includes:
- Providing competent technical services while maintaining ethical standards (Correct answer)
- Following all instructions regardless of safety concerns
- Sharing confidential information with competitors
- Working only during preferred hours
Correct answer: Providing competent technical services while maintaining ethical standards
Engineers owe their employers competent service, loyalty, and protection of confidential information, but these duties are secondary to public safety obligations and ethical standards.
Question 4: What is the role of the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA)?
- Classifying and regulating contractors, and overseeing construction contract compliance (Correct answer)
- Designing buildings
- Manufacturing construction materials
- Training engineers
Correct answer: Classifying and regulating contractors, and overseeing construction contract compliance
The SCA classifies contractors by capability grade, regulates contracting activities, oversees compliance with construction regulations, and protects the rights of parties in construction contracts.
Question 5: Professional engineering fees in Saudi Arabia should be based on:
- The complexity of the project, scope of services, and professional value delivered (Correct answer)
- Undercutting all competitors
- Fixed percentage regardless of project type
- Whatever the engineer decides without justification
Correct answer: The complexity of the project, scope of services, and professional value delivered
SCE guidelines recommend that fees reflect the scope, complexity, and risk of services, including the engineer's expertise and the value provided. Fees should not be so low as to compromise quality.
Question 6: When working on a project in Saudi Arabia, an engineer must comply with:
- Saudi Building Code, SCE regulations, municipal requirements, and applicable international standards (Correct answer)
- Only international standards
- Only the client's requirements
- Only the contractor's preferences
Correct answer: Saudi Building Code, SCE regulations, municipal requirements, and applicable international standards
Engineers must comply with multiple regulatory layers: the Saudi Building Code (SBC), SCE professional regulations, municipal building permit requirements, and any referenced international standards.
SCE Professional Practice and Ethics 3
What is the standard of care in engineering practice?