Ethics and Legal Aspects - Theory & Concepts - Eng Mgmt Ethics Scenario

You are the lead structural engineer on a commercial building project. The client demands a 15% reduction in material costs to stay under budget. You calculate that using a lower-grade steel will meet the new budget but will reduce the building's safety factor to slightly below the municipal code requirements. The client insists it's 'close enough' and threatens to replace your firm if you don't comply.