<The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs stressed that it attaches the utmost importance to the Saudi Building Code, based on its responsibility in controlling urban development and the role it plays to create a distinctive urban and developmental environment, pointing out the importance of the introductory workshop as it is held before the mandatory implementation of the code scheduled for 23/7/1439 H. He praised the constructive cooperation of the secretariats and directed their employees to attend, participate and benefit from what will be discussed from the themes and topics.

Achieving sustainable development, health and safety

<This came after the Undersecretary of the Ministry for Technical Affairs, Dr. Abdulqader bin Othman Amir, opened the workshop on Tuesday at the Ministry's office in Alia, under the patronage of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Engineer Abdullatif bin Abdulmalik Al Sheikh. Dr. Amir pointed out that the Kingdom is witnessing under our wise leadership a comprehensive developmental renaissance and remarkable development in all fields, including the building and construction sector.The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has been tasked with following up and monitoring the implementation of the code, which will contribute, God willing, to achieving sustainable development, health and safety in the building and construction sector.

Dr. Amir noted that the Kingdom is witnessing a comprehensive developmental renaissance and remarkable development in all fields, including the building and construction sector.

Administrative and technical requirements for specifications

For his part, the Director General of the Building Code Department at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Engineer Saeed bin Khalid Kadasa, explained that the building code is a pioneering vital work and represents an important civilizational leap in the field of urban development to reach an advanced and developed building industry, pointing out that the preparation of this code came as a result of collective efforts and the result of the participation of specialists in this field from all relevant authorities, noting that the building code is a set of requirements and requirements and the subsequent regulations, executive regulations and annexes related to building and construction to ensure quality, safety and public health.

The requirements and requirements of the Saudi Building Code include administrative requirements, architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, health, water and energy conservation requirements and requirements, fire protection, durability, sustainability and stability of buildings and facilities and means of access, rationalizing energy consumption and providing a healthy environment, adequate lighting and ventilation, in addition to preserving the national economy by protecting lives and property from the dangers of fire and earthquakes.

Said Kudsa added that the requirements and requirements of the Saudi Building Code include administrative requirements, architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical and health requirements.

Raising the overall quality of the building and construction sector

<The importance of the Saudi Building Code is to raise the quality of the building and construction sector, achieve efficiency, sustainability, safety and public health, rationalize energy consumption (electricity and water) and reduce construction costs, by ensuring the safety of facilities and their occupants through the establishment of building code requirements and requirements that define the principles of design and implementation. The building code also contributes to putting an end to issues and disputes between parties working in the building and construction sector, and indicated that the international code system (ICC) and several international codes have been adopted in accordance with the natural and environmental conditions of the Kingdom.

He pointed out that the Saudi Building Code will be applied to all stages of building and construction in the Kingdom, including design, supervision, implementation, occupancy, maintenance, modification and removal (demolition) ... so that all engineering plans are in accordance with the building code, and engineers, inspectors and observers working in the field of code are required to obtain a license to practice the building code.

Code application and linking it to licenses

The workshop focused on defining the requirements and requirements of the Saudi Building Code, interpreting its parts, developing a proposed mechanism for applying the code and linking it to building permits, in addition to highlighting the competence and tasks of the Ministry in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers and the Royal Decree approving the Saudi Building Code application system, which stipulates that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs is responsible for following up and monitoring the application of the code.

The workshop aims to introduce the requirements of the Saudi Building Code, explain its parts, and develop a proposed mechanism for applying the code and linking it to building permits. The workshop, which is attended by construction and project agents and license managers in the secretariats, aims to exchange ideas and opinions, discuss proposals and overcome the difficulties that may hinder the implementation of the Saudi Building Code.