• For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions contained in the Code Law and its Executive Regulation shall apply, in addition to the following, unless the context requires otherwise:

  • The Authority: Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
  • The Center: Saudi Building Code Center.
  • The Code: Saudi Building Code, which is a set of conditions, requirements, and related executive regulations and annexes concerning construction and building; to ensure safety and public health.
  • The Review Committee: Committee for Reviewing Code Violations.
  • Building / Structure: That which is constructed and prepared for use and occupancy, and classified in the Code.
  • Relevant Authorities (Appointing Authorities): Governmental authorities concerned according to their jurisdiction with monitoring the application of the Code, namely: Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Interior (General Directorate of Civil Defense), and Ministry of Energy.
  • Acceptance: Completion of the requirements for obtaining the acceptance certificate from the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
  • Accreditation: Completion of the requirements for obtaining accreditation from the Saudi Accreditation Center.
  • Violation: Any intentional or unintentional breach of the Code or its implementation system or regulations.
  • Serious Violation: Any violation of the Code that, if not promptly removed or corrected, endangers lives or property or directly causes harm to human health or the environment.
  • Inspection: Examination of a product or product design, procedure, or construction and determining its conformity with the Code requirements, or general requirements based on a technical regulation or standard specification, and according to the Code requirements.
  • Inspection Entity: A "third party" entity accepted by the Authority and licensed to carry out inspection work within the Code’s fields.
  • Appointed Entity: An entity accepted by the Authority and delegated and contracted to perform inspection work by the Relevant Authorities (Appointing Authorities) according to the requirements of this Regulation.
  • Scope of Inspection: The type(s) of inspection that an inspection entity may perform according to Annex No. (3) of this Regulation.
  • Inspector: A person licensed and accredited by the Saudi Council of Engineers to perform building inspections according to the Code, and qualified according to Annex No. (3) of this Regulation.
  • Inspection Supervisor / Chief Inspector: A registered professional engineer possessing the necessary qualifications and relevant experience to perform inspection-related responsibilities, and who directly supervises the work of assistant inspectors working with him.
  • Assistant Inspector: A qualified person to inspect a specific category of construction requiring inspection according to Annex No. (3), working under the direct supervision of the Inspection Supervisor / Chief Inspector.
  • Supervision: Responsible follow-up and monitoring by a registered professional engineer possessing the necessary qualifications and relevant experience to perform inspection-related responsibilities.
  • Technician: A person qualified according to Annex No. (3) and appointed by the inspection entity to conduct inspection or testing of construction activities or materials used in construction or both.

1- The construction must be subject to inspection and testing during the construction phase in accordance with the code requirements.

2- The construction must be subject to inspection during its operation in accordance with the requirements set forth in the code.

3- Without prejudice to paragraph (2) of Article Four of this regulation, the owner or his authorized agent (other than the contractor) shall contract with one or more of the defined and accredited entities to provide the required inspection and testing services during construction in accordance with the code requirements.

4- The inspection entities contracted must meet the requirements stipulated in this regulation.

• 1- The Authority shall accept inspection entities wishing to be appointed as inspection entities within the scope of the code in one or more inspection fields.
• 2- The relevant entities (appointing entities) shall appoint the entities accepted by the Authority according to specialization and in accordance with the specified acceptance field, as determined by "this Regulation" and the detailed provisions issued by these entities.
• 3- Any office or engineering company licensed by the Saudi Council of Engineers in the engineering specialties divisions and branches may apply for acceptance by the Authority to be appointed as an inspection entity.
• 4- All government entities mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be committed to publishing all their requirements and conditions (including) the method of service delivery and making it available to beneficiaries on their websites, in addition to publishing contact information with the inspection entities that have been accepted or appointed based on this Regulation.
• 5- The Saudi Accreditation Center shall accredit inspection entities wishing to be accepted by the Authority as an inspection entity within the scope of the code and according to one or more inspection fields.

1- The application for acceptance must be submitted in the form and manner determined by the Authority, including electronically, and this application shall be considered as an acknowledgment by the inspection entity of its obligations in accordance with the regulations issued by the Authority.

2- Inspection entities must be accepted according to the classification set forth in Annex No. (1), and inspection entities in categories (first, second, third, and fourth) must obtain accreditation from the Saudi Accreditation Center.

All inspection authorities must verify that the inspectors working therein meet the qualification requirements stipulated in Annex No. (3) of these Regulations and ensure the continuity of such compliance, as well as any other conditions issued by the Center in this regard.

Inspection authorities must have insurance coverage for professional liability and general liability of the entity for accidents that meet the requirements of the Authority in this regard, provided that it remains valid throughout the acceptance period.

The inspection entity must have one full-time director or president and a number of full-time technical directors qualified as professional engineers according to the work requirements. All inspection operations must be conducted under their direct supervision. The chief director or other technical directors are not permitted to work with any other entity providing inspection or special testing services. All these directors must possess relevant experience in the field of inspection and testing and hold administrative positions within the inspection entity. Additionally, the technical directors must meet the requirements related to the inspection supervisor/chief inspector specified in Annex No. (3) of this regulation.

Inspection operations and inspection authorities may be subject to review by relevant entities at any time. The auditing processes may include examining records in addition to the performance and documentation of inspection operations. Reviews and audits can also be conducted in special cases upon receipt of complaints.

The duration of the appropriation is three (3) years, starting from the date of issuance or renewal of the appropriation certificate.