New Practice Resources Published in 2021

Each year, Engineers and Geoscientists BC publishes guidance documents to assist registrants in meeting their professional obligations under the Professional Governance Act and Bylaws, and understanding expectations and obligations of professional practice in relation to specific professional activities. 

In 2021, we published 14 professional practice guidelines and practice advisories, as well as several guides to help inform registrants on new regulatory requirements introduced by the Professional Governance Act.

Here are some of the key practice resources you may have missed throughout the year. 

Guidelines and Advisories 

The Joint Professional Practice Guidelines - Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction up to 12 Storeys, produced in partnership with the Architectural Institute of BC, were developed in response to BC Government changes to the BC Building and Fire Codes to allow construction of mass timber buildings up to 12 storeys based on the new classifications of building size and construction relative to occupancy.

The practice advisory on Relying on the Work of a Specialist helps professionals understand how to use non-registered specialists to inform or contribute to engineering or geoscience work.

Local Government Asset Management professional practice guidelines address asset management policies, strategies, plans, and other inputs to the asset management planning process—including guidance for natural assets such as forests, wetlands, and aquifers.

The professional practice guidelines on Seismic Assessment and Seismic Design of Dikes in BC guides professionals working in this area and provide professional practice considerations for professionals implementing the Seismic Design Guidelines for Dikes, 2nd Edition published by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

Guides for Continuing Education, Ethics, and Firms

New obligations and requirements for registrants were introduced this year as a result of the Professional Governance Act, including mandatory Continuing Education, an updated Code of Ethics, and requirements for firms to be registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC:

• Our Guide to the Continuing Education Program provides information on the key requirements registrants must meet and addresses common questions about how to obtain CE hours;
• The Guide to the Code of Ethics explores each principle in detail and includes case examples; 
• Resources for firms are also available, including templates for Professional Practice Management Plans, a Permit to Practice Manual, and Bulletins addressing employment relationships between registrants and firms and the application of a firm’s permit number on authenticated documents.

A complete list of all practice resources is available on our website.

For questions about professional practice issues, registrants can also contact a Practice Advisor for advice, interpretation and guidance related to standards of professional and ethical practice. 

Photo: EB Adventure Photography