The Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, certain amendments to the Saudi Building Code requirements for residential buildings regarding residential designs to facilitate the work of engineering firms and beneficiaries.
The Ministry clarified that the new amendments included requirements for the thickness of columns in residential buildings and ceiling heights; the column width is now set at no less than 20 centimeters instead of 25 centimeters, while ceiling heights are now unrestricted rather than being set at 3.65 meters.
The Ministry emphasized that these updates were based on challenges identified through various official communication channels and workshops that engineering firms and beneficiaries faced in implementing residential building designs, noting that task forces comprising all relevant government and private sector entities, as well as municipal authorities across the Kingdom, participated in updating these requirements.
It is worth noting that the Saudi Building Code comprises a set of specifications and requirements, along with accompanying implementing regulations and appendices related to building and construction. These requirements cover design details, methods of execution and construction, and the establishment of standard specifications, and serve as the foundation and reference for the code’s application.
The code aims to establish minimum requirements and standards that ensure safety through the durability, stability, and structural integrity of buildings and structures, while taking into account universal accessibility, adequate lighting and ventilation, water and energy conservation, and the protection of lives and property from fire, earthquakes, and other building-related hazards.