Inspection authorities approve the Saudi building code for 3 years and secure 10 million

General and historical context of the application of the Saudi Building Code

In a strategic move aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to regulate the construction sector and improve quality of life, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has approved significant new amendments to the regulations governing the appointment of inspection bodies and inspectors for the Saudi Building Code. The Saudi Building Code, which has been gradually and mandatorily implemented over the past few years, comprises a set of technical and legal regulations and requirements designed to ensure public safety, optimize energy consumption, and mitigate natural disasters. These recent amendments aim to address any regulatory gaps and guarantee the application of the highest engineering standards throughout all phases of construction and operation.

Details of the new amendments for inspection authorities

The approved amendments aim to enhance the efficiency of the oversight system for the construction sector and improve the quality of technical and engineering compliance. Under the new regulations, all buildings are required to undergo rigorous inspections and tests during the construction phase, with these processes continuing throughout the operational phase to ensure ongoing adherence to requirements. To promote integrity and independence, the regulations stipulate that the responsibility for contracting inspection bodies rests solely with the owner or their authorized representative, separate from the project contractor.

The ministry also allowed engineering offices and companies licensed by the Saudi Council of Engineers to apply to operate as inspection bodies, thus broadening the base of professional competition. The regulations stipulated that these bodies must obtain official accreditation from the Saudi Accreditation Center as a prerequisite for acceptance. The accreditation is valid for three years and renewable, with automatic cancellation if not renewed within one year of expiry.

Classification of inspection bodies and financial and insurance requirements

One of the most important amendments included was the establishment of a precise classification matrix that divides inspection bodies into five graded categories based on the size of the risks, while obligating them to provide insurance coverage against professional and public liability:

• Category One: Dedicated to large and high-risk projects (such as towers exceeding 23 meters), and requires a minimum insurance amount of 10 million riyals.
• The second category: For similar projects with a smaller financial and area scope, with an insurance limit of 5 million riyals.
• The third and fourth categories target medium-risk buildings such as educational and commercial buildings.
• Category Five: For small, low-risk projects (such as residential buildings up to 3 floors), with an insurance limit starting from half a million riyals.

Governance of oversight work and prevention of conflicts of interest

To ensure the highest levels of transparency, the regulations prohibit technical directors and CEOs of inspection bodies from working with any other entity providing similar services to prevent conflicts of interest. They also mandate a review of all approved building documents before an inspection begins and require the maintenance of detailed records for each project for a minimum of ten years, including test results and supporting photographs.

The ministry stressed the need for full cooperation with government investigations and granted inspection bodies a direct role in identifying violations and notifying the engineering office or contractor to rectify them. In cases of "serious" violations, the matter is immediately referred to the relevant committee, with the "Baladi" platform designated as the official channel for receiving complaints against inspection bodies.

The importance and expected impact of the decision

At the local level, this decision will reduce the rate of engineering and construction errors, thus protecting citizens' investments and extending the lifespan of buildings. It will also revitalize the cooperative insurance sector and create quality job opportunities for Saudi engineers in the field of inspection and oversight.

At the regional and international level: This strict regulation enhances the reliability of the Saudi real estate market, making it a safer and more attractive environment for foreign direct investment (FDI), as these standards are in line with global best practices in the construction sector, thus consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a leading economic power that relies on sustainability and quality.