Experience Level: Any level of experience

Engineers are faced with a dilemma. As the climate changes and climate variability characterizes our natural environment, engineering firms must respond in their solutions for the build environment. Adaptive and resilient design may have to exceed the minimum requirements set by codes and standards. But many clients – and many government entities – do not recognize the necessity of investing in projects that exceed current minimum standards thus creating a conflict between immediate financial concerns and long-term project viability. Designing above the minimum standard can be a great risk management solution in the face of climate volatility but engineering firms must understand their legal and contractual obligations and learn to educate clients about the advantages and necessities of adaptive and resilient design. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the difference between contractual obligations and the professional duty of engineers established by the code of ethics and state licensing laws to protect the public.

2. Distinguish how codes and standards set a minimum design level that might not be adequate to fulfill the duty of designing the built environment and that at times must be exceeded to meet the standard of care of designing for protection from climate volatility.

3. Recognize negotiation techniques and alternative contract language that can protect the design professional’s duty to meet professional and ethical obligations to design adaptive and resilient projects when a client does not want to acknowledge or fund a design that must meet a higher standard of care.

1 PDH (NY Approved)

Pricing:

NSPE Members: FREE

Non-members: $75.00 (Join NSPE today and save on this purchase.)

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