A specialized workshop recommended that the Saudi Council of Engineers organize a workshop attended by relevant authorities and experts specializing in safety procedures for aluminum and glass building facades, in order to develop urgent solutions for existing buildings, including pilgrim housing facilities, to be implemented within four months of the workshop’s date.
This recommendation came during a workshop held recently at the Saudi Council of Engineers headquarters in Jeddah, attended by representatives from various sectors, regarding specifications, standards, and safety requirements for buildings with glass and cladding facades, The workshop also recommended implementing the findings and recommendations of the committee formed to address safety requirements in buildings clad with glass and aluminum, It also emphasized the need for a clear marking on the front facades of windows to indicate access points for civil defense personnel, and stipulated that building permits should not be renewed until the relevant authorities have been consulted, Requiring engineering consulting firms accredited in the field of safety to supervise compliance with the structural and fire prevention requirements outlined in the recommendations, Electrical service connection permits shall not be issued except based on a technical report from an accredited firm, in accordance with the preceding recommendation and as detailed in the recommendations; Building permits issued by municipalities or renovation permits must include a commitment to comply with the structural and fire protection requirements for facade cladding (aluminum and glass); Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment shall identify, in coordination with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), the manufacturers of fire-resistant facade cladding materials (aluminum and glass) that meet the approved specifications,A statement to this effect will be prepared and circulated to the relevant authorities within six months of its date.
Representatives from a number of sectors attended the workshop, including: the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, the Saudi Council of Engineers, the Crisis and Disaster Management Center in the Emirate of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, the Holy City Secretariat, Civil Defense, the Hajj Housing Committee, the Taif Provincial Secretariat, and the Saudi Electricity Company.
