All engineering professionals are now required to report all serious deficiencies in buildings or structures to regulatory authorities.

This significant change to the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand's Code of Conduct, also override any commercial contract or confidentiality agreement engineers have with clients.

The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand has updated its Code of Conduct following a Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission recommendation. Photo: File

It's one of three key changes can follows a Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission recommendation that the IPENZ clarify its code of ethics in regards to reporting risks to public health and safety.

'The Code of Conduct was developed by IPENZ which is the professional body to which most structural engineers belong,” explains Tauranga City Council environmental monitoring manager Andrew McMath.

'It's a good outcome for everyone in New Zealand when buildings are being assessed for their earthquake strength or when undergoing a change of use.”

The other major changes includes engineers being required to report significant breaches of the code by other engineers, as well as making it an obligation for engineers to keep their knowledge and skills up to date, and to treat others with respect and courtesy.

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says the new code follows changes to the Building Act for earthquake-prone older buildings and to the Resource Management Act for managing natural hazards.

He also believes it is an important step in ensuring lessons are learned from the tragic loss of life in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.

'The tragedy of the CTV building, which claimed the lives of 115 people when it collapsed, is that engineers had identified flaws in its design. This was many years earlier during a pre-purchase check but this information was not passed on to regulatory authorities,” the minister says.

'This change is an important step in improving New Zealand's engineering systems and safety in managing complex risks, such as earthquakes.”

IPENZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene says engineers' work affects all New Zealanders and a robust and clear professional framework that everyone trusts is needed.

'We have spent three years developing and consulting the new Code, and it has support from the wider engineering profession,” she explains.

"We have also changed our rules so that members cannot avoid our disciplinary processes by resigning their membership. This is part of a suite of changes we are currently making to our complaints process to ensure it is robust, transparent and fair.”

The new Code covers Chartered Professional Engineers and all members of the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ), which includes professional engineers, technologists and technicians.

The new, updated IPENZ Code of Conduct came into force on July 1.