---
title: "Duties and liabilities of engineer, architect"
subject: "Engineering Professional Practice"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:duties-liabilities-engineer-architect"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/duties-liabilities-engineer-architect
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Duties and liabilities of engineer, architect

Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 3: Professional Practices in Nepal

- Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 5 marks; 2073 Bhadra, 2 marks; 2070 Bhadra, 5 marks (asked 3 times)
- Video: [Responsibilities of a Professional Engineer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa5W_X-Oqaw) — Mohamad Syahmie
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/duties-liabilities-engineer-architect
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-3

## Question

What are the (detailed) duties and liabilities of an engineer and architect?

## Short answer

Engineers and architects must hold public safety paramount, act faithfully for clients, design and supervise per codes, and follow the NEC code. Liabilities include civil negligence, contractual damages, criminal liability for unsafe work, professional sanctions by NEC, and statutory liability under the Building Act. They should keep records and consider professional indemnity insurance.

## Answer

An engineer or architect is a registered professional who designs, supervises and certifies works that affect public safety. The **duty** is to practise with skill, honesty and care; the **liability** is the legal and professional responsibility that follows if he or she fails in that duty.

#### Duties
1. **To the public:** hold public safety, health and the environment paramount; do not sign designs or drawings that are unsafe.
2. **To the client/employer:** work within competence, give honest advice, keep information confidential, avoid conflict of interest and declare any personal interest, and act as a faithful agent.
3. **Design and supervision:** prepare designs as per codes and the Building Code/bylaws, give clear drawings and specifications, supervise the work with reasonable care, and certify payments and completion fairly and impartially.
4. **To the profession:** register with Nepal Engineering Council (NEC), follow its Code of Conduct, do not take credit for others' work, do not undercut fellow professionals unfairly, and update knowledge.
5. **Architect specifically:** produce a design that meets the brief, budget and bylaws, coordinate structure and services, and obtain permit approvals.

#### Liabilities
- **Civil liability (negligence):** compensation to the client or third parties for loss caused by faulty design, poor supervision or wrong advice.
- **Contractual liability:** damages for breach of the consultancy agreement (delay, not meeting scope).
- **Criminal liability:** where negligence or forgery causes death, injury or serious damage (for example building collapse).
- **Professional liability:** under the Nepal Engineering Council Act 2055, the Council can warn, suspend or cancel registration for misconduct.
- **Statutory liability:** under the Building Act 2055 and bylaws, the designer is answerable for structural safety and for drawings approved by the municipality.
- **Protection:** professional indemnity insurance and keeping written records of instructions.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What should an engineer do about unsafe designs?
   A. Sign if the client insists
   B. Not sign unsafe designs; hold public safety paramount
   C. Sign if the contractor agrees
   D. Sign if the cost is low
   Answer: B. The duty to the public overrides client pressure. (Key point: Duty to public)

2. When does criminal liability arise?
   A. For any minor delay in drawings
   B. Whenever the client is unhappy
   C. When negligence or forgery causes death, injury or serious damage, e.g. building collapse
   D. Only for breach of consultancy fee terms
   Answer: C. Criminal liability applies to grave harm; delay falls under contractual liability. (Key point: Criminal liability)

3. Which liability is enforced by the Council?
   A. Contractual liability
   B. Statutory liability under the Building Act only
   C. Vicarious liability
   D. Professional liability: warning, suspension or cancellation of registration
   Answer: D. NEC Act 2055 lets the Council discipline misconduct. (Key point: Professional liability)

## Related in other subjects

- [Case study: revamping MBI system for CEO](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Acs-ceo-revamp) — Instrumentation II, chapter 10