Opinions differ on the importance of engineering supervision in residential projects and villas, which is considered the cornerstone of the application of Saudi Building Code, and it cannot be activated and reap the fruits of the application of the code system without actual engineering supervision and field work, and must not be waived, otherwise the code will become ink on paper.
Reviews differed on the importance of engineering supervision in residential projects and villas, which is considered the cornerstone of the application of the code.
The bitter reality that the building and construction market lives from the randomness of executive works, concealed labor, carton villas cases and multiple claims of citizens in courts as a result of weakness in control, engineering supervision, contracts and conformity of materials, knowing that the practices and application of codes exist in most countries of the world and we lacked the gradual application and obligation where the application of several procedures of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing from the launch of Baladi platform with the obligation to an approved contractor and insurance simultaneously complicated matters and the dose was very high on the market and almost killed the patient from where it wanted to cure him.
What is rumored in some local newspapers about converting the technical examiner as an option for engineering supervision is a trend that has confused the construction market and does not meet the purpose in applying the code and is not comparable to the supervision of the engineering office, which takes upon itself the undertakings to apply the municipal requirements and code requirements in the field and provides guarantees for ten years and issues a certificate of occupancy.
What is rumored in some local newspapers about converting the technical examiner as an option for engineering supervision.
Engineering supervision should be a responsible follow-up and monitoring by an engineer who has experience in supervising residential buildings, and has the authority to correct errors if any, and monitor the work according to the approved engineering plan, and can make decisions to modify the plan if he faces executive challenges that hinder construction, approve samples, match materials, raise notes according to the construction stages, send construction notifications and reports to the concerned authorities, and send requests to connect services (electricity - water).
In order to achieve the desired goal of engineering supervision and expand in all regions of the Kingdom and not raise prices, I propose linking building inspectors with consulting engineers from engineering offices, and defining visits and the scope of work on the basic elements important in engineering supervision of the building's structural components and hydro and thermal insulation, and the entire building is under insurance coverage without exceptions for the responsibilities of the designer, supervisor and executor.
*Specialized in engineering outreach
