The Evolving Standards of Architectural Integrity: A Comparative Look at the ARB Codes 2017 and 2025
- Luke Hirst
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
As a Chartered Architect and Owner of a RIBA Chartered Practice, I make it a priority to engage with the professional codes that define, support, and elevate our industry. The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has recently updated the Architects Code: Standards of Professional Conduct and Practice, effective from 2025.
This new iteration replaces the 2017 version, marking a significant evolution in the expectations placed upon registered architects in the UK.
In this post, I’ll explore the differences between the 2017 and 2025 Codes, provide some reflections on what these changes mean for the profession, and discuss why these standards,together with those set by the RIBA,place architects at the pinnacle of professional integrity.
From 12 Principles to 6 Standards: A Streamlined Structure
The most immediately visible change is structural. The 2017 Code was divided into 12 individual standards, each addressing a specific facet of professional conduct,from insurance requirements and complaints procedures to environmental stewardship.
The 2025 Code (coming into fource September 2025) consolidates these into six core
Standards:
Honesty and Integrity
Public Interest
Competence
Professional Practice
Communication and Collaboration
Respect
Each new Standard integrates principles that were previously separated. For example, the 2017 Standards for business competence, insurance arrangements, and handling of client money are now grouped under the wider umbrella of "Professional Practice."
Substance Over Prescription
While the 2017 Code was more prescriptive in tone,employing phrases like "you should" and "you are expected to",the 2025 Code adopts a more aspirational and reflective language. It provides examples of good practice without insisting that these are the only acceptable methods. Architects are still accountable for upholding the core Standards but are encouraged to justify their own methods where they depart from published examples.
This shift places greater emphasis on professional judgement and contextual ethics, giving architects more autonomy while maintaining accountability.
Public Interest and Sustainability
One of the most forward-facing shifts in the 2025 Code is its framing of the architect's duty to act in the public interest, not only with respect to safety and legality but also environmental stewardship. The language under Standard 2 includes an explicit expectation to enhance the environment and prevent harm to others.
This represents a shift in tone that aligns the ARB more closely with broader societal and global concerns,climate, inclusion, and long-term public good.
A New Emphasis on Communication and Respect
Two newly dedicated Standards,Communication and Collaboration and Respect,emphasise the interpersonal and cultural dimensions of our role. These areas were formerly implied or scattered through various clauses in the 2017 Code but are now explicitly laid out.
This modernisation reflects a growing recognition of the importance of clear, inclusive, and collaborative working relationships, both within design teams and with clients and communities.
Why These Codes Matter,and Why Architects Are the Ultimate Professionals
We often speak of professionalism in architecture as more than technical competence. It is a matter of ethics, leadership, and public responsibility. The 2025 ARB Code is a powerful affirmation of these values. It positions us not just as service providers but as stewards of the built environment and custodians of societal trust.
When taken together with the RIBA Code of Professional Conduct and the RIBA’s mandatory CPD framework, the standards set for us are arguably among the most rigorous in any profession. We are required to demonstrate not only skill and care in our work, but also ethical awareness, environmental sensitivity, and cultural intelligence.
In a world where the boundaries between private practice, public responsibility, and global challenges are increasingly blurred, these evolving codes remind us that our license to practise is also a social contract.
For further information: Visit the ARB’s official site: ARB Code of Conduct and Practice
Download the 2017 ARB AC from the ARB's Website here:
Download the 2025 ARB AC from the ARB's Website here:
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