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National Association of Infrared Specialists
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16192 Coastal Highway, Lewes, Delaware 19958
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NAIS Code of Ethics
This Code of Ethics applies to every member and certified thermographer of the National Association of Infrared
Specialists (NAIS), in every discipline covered by the NAIS Standards of Practice. Integrity, honesty and objectivity
are the foundation of the infrared survey profession. This Code sets the ethical obligations of NAIS members and
a framework for conduct that protects clients, the public and the reputation of the association. Where this Code
and applicable law conflict, the law takes precedence.
1. Professional Conduct
NAIS members shall conduct themselves in a way that upholds the integrity of the profession.
Members shall:
- Act in good faith toward clients, placing safety, transparency and scientific objectivity above commercial
interest.
- Base every opinion and conclusion on physical measurement, accepted heat-transfer principles, education or
experience, and not on a thermal pattern alone.
- Keep their advertising, marketing and statements of qualification truthful.
- Perform services with honesty, fairness and impartiality.
- Avoid conduct that discredits NAIS or the profession.
Members shall not:
- Disclose survey results to anyone other than the client without the client's written approval, except as section
3 allows.
- Misrepresent the scope, findings or implications of a survey.
- Engage in deceptive, misleading or unethical business practices.
2 Conflicts of Interest
Members shall avoid activities that compromise, or appear to compromise, their independence or objectivity.
Members shall:
- Disclose any potential conflict of interest to the client in writing before the survey.
- Tell the client of the right to seek independent bids for any repair work that arises from a survey.
Members shall not:
- Accept payment from more than one interested party for the same service without the consent of all parties.
- Accept commissions, referral fees, gifts or other benefits that could reasonably influence a finding.
- Survey a property or system for payment in which they have, or expect to have, a financial interest, unless
it is fully disclosed in writing and approved by all parties.
- Repair, service, sell or supply equipment or services for a system they surveyed, or plan to survey, where
that would create a conflict of interest.
3. Client Relationships and Confidentiality
Members shall act in the best interest of the client and keep client information confidential.
Members shall:
- Protect the client's privacy, including survey findings, thermograms and client data.
- Give objective, unbiased information that lets the client make informed decisions.
- Explain clearly the scope of the survey and the limits of the method, and state in the report any condition
that limited the result.
- Notify the client at once, in writing, when a survey reveals an imminent hazard to life or property.
Members shall not:
- Use client information for personal gain or to the client's detriment.
- Exaggerate, misrepresent or conceal any pertinent fact.
A member may disclose confidential information only when the client authorizes it, the law requires it, or
disclosure is necessary to prevent an immediate hazard to life.
4. Competence and Professional Responsibility
Members shall perform services only within their education, training, experience and certification level.
Members shall:
- Perform surveys in accordance with the NAIS Standards of Practice and applicable law.
- Follow all site safety rules and wear the protective equipment the work requires, including arc-flash rated
equipment under NFPA 70E for energized electrical work.
- Keep current with changes in equipment, referenced standards and safety practice, and complete the continuing
education NAIS requires.
- Use sound professional judgment and accepted industry practice.
Members shall not:
- Give opinions or perform work outside their area of expertise, licensing or certification level.
- Falsify credentials, experience, qualifications or survey data.
- Name a cause as certain when it has not been verified.
5. Honest Representation and Use of NAIS Credentials
Members shall:
- Claim only the certification level they currently hold.
- State capabilities, equipment specifications and experience truthfully.
- Stop using NAIS credentials and marks at once if their certification lapses, is suspended or is revoked.
Members shall not:
- Imply that NAIS endorses a person, company, product or survey result.
- Guarantee energy savings, repair costs, insurance outcomes or the absence of defects.
- Misuse the NAIS name, logo or credentials.
6. Public Trust and Representation of the Profession
Members shall uphold the reputation of NAIS and the profession.
Members shall:
- Avoid association with enterprises or individuals whose practices violate this Code.
- Represent NAIS and the profession with integrity in all public communications.
Members shall not engage in conduct that brings discredit to NAIS or the profession.
7. Complaints and Enforcement
Any person may file a written complaint alleging a violation of this Code. NAIS may also begin an investigation
on credible information of non-compliance.
- NAIS shall give the member written notice of the complaint and a reasonable period to respond, and shall let
the member submit evidence.
- A review panel shall decide whether the Code was violated, using a documented procedure.
- Sanctions include a written warning, required retraining, suspension, and revocation of NAIS membership or
credentials, and shall be proportionate to the violation.
- Members shall cooperate with a review or investigation and shall not retaliate against a complainant.
- NAIS shall keep complaint records confidential, except that it may publish the fact that a credential has been
revoked.
8. Compliance
Members shall comply with this Code of Ethics as a condition of NAIS membership.
Violations of this Code may result in disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of membership, in
accordance with NAIS policies and procedures.
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