RIA Policies
Welcome to the RIA Policy Center. This resource provides a comprehensive view of the rules, ethics, and governance structures that guide our association. Please refer to the documents below for current information on RIA operations, member conduct, and industry advocacy guidelines.
- RIA Code of Ethics
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RIA members adopt and abide by the following Code of Ethics
As providers of property damage restoration, remediation, and cleaning services to the public, RIA members agree to adhere to the following RIA Code of Ethics.
I. Integrity and Professionalism- We will uphold the integrity and dignity of the profession and not engage in practices that could bring discredit to the property restoration industry.
- We will not complete work at the expense of safety or workmanship.
- We will provide services in a professional and workmanlike manner.
- We will approach restoration projects with impartiality and objectivity regardless of relationships, or referral sources of the project, or who is responsible for payment of services.
- We will contract services that we can provide in a timely manner.
- We will acknowledge and correct factual mistakes promptly and with integrity.
- We will refrain from making false or deceptive statements regarding third parties, including our competitors.
II. Client Protection and Respect
- Our conduct on every restoration project will be impartial, respectful, caring, and professional to all stakeholders.
- We will deliver services in accordance with recognized industry standards and comply with all applicable certification, licensing, and legal requirements applicable to the provision of our services.
- We will protect the confidentiality of client information in accordance with legal requirements and contractual obligations.
- We will provide a written agreement that outlines the scope, which includes pricing methodology and terms, before work begins.
- We will communicate changes to the scope of work with materially interested parties based on discovered conditions.
- We will prepare accurate estimates and disclose whether the estimate is based on direct inspection or third-party information.
- We will comply with communication and documentation sharing requests subject to the client’s instructions and applicable law.
III. Accuracy in Billing & Invoicing
- We will provide accurate and supported invoices for services rendered.
- We will provide clear and professional documentation aligned with the scope of work to support our invoices.
- We will conduct financial dealings with clients in good faith and according to agreed-upon terms.
IV. Ethical Business Practices
- We will not use a competitor’s estimate format or content unless doing so does not violate their intellectual property rights.
- We will identify work reviewed post-completion as such and will not misrepresent it as original inspection. We will not abandon work started or contracted without reasonable communication to materially interested parties and will promptly return any unused project funds.
V. Competency and Continuous Improvement
- We will strive for continuous education and professional development.
VI. Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest
- We will disclose in writing to materially interested parties any financial or business affiliations with insurers, adjusters, referral partners, or others that pertain to direct compensation, referral fees, revenue sharing, commission, or ownership interest.
- We will avoid conflicts of interest that could compromise impartiality.
VII. Documentation and Communication
- We will provide complete, accurate, and professional project documentation as required by the Agreement, applicable law, or as requested or permitted by the materially interested parties that support our scope of work.
- We will engage in timely, respectful, and transparent communications with clients, insurers, and stakeholders, as required by contract, applicable law, or as requested or permitted by materially interested parties. (materially interested parties)
- We will provide reasonable status updates to materially interested parties.
VIII. Enforcement and Oversight
- The RIA Ethics Review Board will review and consider complaints against RIA member companies in good standing, which allege a violation of the RIA Code of Ethics, and will make recommendations to the RIA Board of Directors in accordance with RIA’s Policies & Procedures.
IX. Member Acknowledgment and Pledge
“I acknowledge that I have read and understand the RIA Code of Ethics and that, on behalf of my
company, I commit to abiding by that Code. On behalf of my company and its employees, I commit to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service in all aspects of our work. I understand that adherence to this Code is a condition of my company’s RIA membership and that violations may result in disciplinary action.”Adopted April 14, 2026
RIA Board of Directors - RIA Anti-Trust Policy
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It is the policy of the RIA to comply with the letter and spirit of all applicable federal, state, and international trade regulations and antitrust laws.
All activities or discussions occurring under the auspices of the association shall be conducted in compliance with the letter and spirit of RIA’s anti-trust policy and shall refrain from discussing topics which might be construed as tending to:
raise, lower, or stabilize prices regulate productionAny activities of the Association or Association-related actions of its officers, directors, staff, members, invited speakers, or other contributors which violate these regulations and laws are detrimental to this industry and contrary to RIA policy.
- allocate markets
- encourage boycotts
- foster unfair trade practices
- assist in monopolization
- or in any way violate federal, state or applicable international trade regulations and antitrust laws.
- RIA Volunteer Policy
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The RIA relies on participation from committee and task force volunteers to provide valuable insight into the restoration industry and support the association’s mission and strategic goals. The RIA Volunteer Policy outlines expectations, qualifications, and term limits for volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to the organization. This policy is designed to ensure clarity and consistency in our volunteer program.
- RIA Participant Code of Conduct
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The RIA is committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, or other personal characteristics. This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for all those who participate in any RIA event or function and describes the consequences of unacceptable behavior.
The RIA expects all participants to create safe and positive experiences for everyone. “Participant” in this Code of Conduct refers to anyone present at any RIA event, function, or meeting, including staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, exhibitors, members, attendees and their guests.
- Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence
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The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) is committed to the ethical, secure, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foster innovation while protecting member interests, confidentiality, and stakeholder trust. The RIA also acknowledges the growing influence of generative AI technologies, including deep learning models and other generative AI that can generate human-like text, images, and other content.
While the RIA remains committed to adopting new technologies to aid in our mission when possible, we also understand the risks and limitations of AI tools and want to ensure responsible and ethical use. RIA employees, volunteers, members, contractors, expert reviewers, consultants, and third-party individuals must abide by the terms of this RIA Ai Use Policy when utilizing Ai for an RIA related purpose.
- RIA External Scholarship Policy
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The Pete Consigli Designation Scholarship Program honors the enduring legacy of Pete Consigli, CR, WLS, by advancing educational excellence and professional development within the restoration industry. The scholarship provides financial support to eligible individuals seeking to pursue RIA’s advanced professional designations.
- RIA Social Media Policy
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In order to enhance communications within the restoration community, the Restoration Industry Association (“RIA”) will engage in promoting the use of social media. The goals of this activity are to foster communication between members and non-members and to increase the visibility of RIA in the restoration community at large.
While incapable of outlining every possible issue that may arise, the goal of setting forth this policy is to address the major areas of concern and to set forth some basic ground rules for RIA’s participation in this communications medium. These guidelines will continually evolve as social media evolves, and we expect that all RIA members, Board of Directors, staff, and contributors will understand and follow the guidelines outlined in this policy.
This RIA Social Media Policy covers all RIA websites (including subsidiary & affiliate sites), all written, oral, and electronic publications and social media sites, platforms, and tools (including those not owned, operated, or controlled by RIA).
- Policy on Evaluation of Alternative Prerequisite Course Submissions
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To establish a standardized and transparent process for evaluating requests to substitute alternative training or education experiences in place of formal RIA-recognized prerequisite courses for advanced designation programs (WLS, FLS, CLS, ERS). This policy ensures the integrity of the designations while providing flexibility for qualified professionals with equivalent learning or industry experience.
- RIA Speaker Policy & Guidelines
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This policy establishes clear guidelines for RIA volunteers, committee members, and other representatives who wish to speak on behalf of the Association at industry conferences, webinars, or other public events. Its purpose is to ensure that all presentations reflect RIA’s mission, maintain consistency with official positions, and uphold professional and brand standards. RIA represents the restoration industry as a whole and our legislative agenda, as well as our educational priorities are determined for that purpose. This policy outlines how and when the speaker should consult with RIA and agree to adhere to our guidelines, positions, and policies by signing an agreement before engaging in any speaking opportunities on behalf of RIA.
- RIA Logo Policy
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RIA members in good standing are authorized and encouraged to exhibit the RIA
Member Logo (“RML”) as an indicator of their membership in the Association. The RML may be exhibited only by RIA members in good standing. The RML Mark must be used in a professional manner; it may be displayed on the Exhibitor's business cards, stationery, literature, website, store-front window, office, uniforms, interior walls, business vehicles or in any other comparable manner to signify the Exhibitor's membership in RIA. Any other use of the RML which has not been specifically described herein must be approved by RIA. The RIA Logo may never be exhibited independent of the term "MEMBER". The colors of the RML are: Black on a White field with a red (PMS 485) transverse element (the “slash”) in “RIA”. Font family for the name within the rectangle is Frutiger bold and bold italic.