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

  • Authority: Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.

  • National Committee: National Committee for the Saudi Building Code.

  • 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.

  • 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): The concerned government authorities according to their jurisdiction in 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.

  • Center: Saudi Accreditation Center.

  • 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 its 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 compliance 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 works within the Code fields.

  • Designated Entity: An entity accepted by the Authority which is delegated and contracted to perform inspection works by the relevant authorities (Appointing Authorities) according to the requirements of this Regulation.

  • Inspection Scope: The type(s) of inspection that an inspection entity can 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, 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 the responsibilities related to inspection, and who directly supervises the work of assistant inspectors working with him.

  • Assistant Inspector: A qualified person to inspect a specific type 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 the responsibilities related to inspection.

  • 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 building process in accordance with the requirements of the code.
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 their authorized agent (not the contractor) shall contract with one or more of the defined and approved entities to provide the required inspection and testing services during construction in accordance with the requirements of the code.
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 areas of inspection.
2- Relevant entities shall appoint the entities accepted by the Authority according to their specialization and in accordance with the specified acceptance area as determined by "these regulations" and the detailed provisions issued by these entities.
3- Any licensed office or engineering company by the Engineers Authority in the branches of engineering specialties may apply for acceptance from the Authority to be appointed as an inspection entity.
4- All government entities mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2) are obligated to publish all their requirements and conditions (including) the method of service provision and its availability to beneficiaries on their websites, in addition to publishing contact information for the inspection entities that have been accepted or appointed based on these regulations.
5- The Center shall approve the inspection entities wishing to be accepted by the Authority as an inspection entity within the scope of the code and in accordance with one or more areas of inspection.

1- A Claim for acceptance must be submitted in the form and manner specified by the Authority, including electronically, and this Claim shall be considered as an acknowledgment by the Inspection Entity of its obligations under the regulations issued by the Authority.
2- Inspection Entities must be accepted according to the classification stated in Appendix No. (1), and Inspection Entities for categories (first, second, third, and fourth) must obtain Appropriation from the Center.

All inspection authorities must verify that the inspectors working within them meet the qualification requirements stipulated in Appendix No. (3) of this regulation and ensure the continuity of such compliance, as well as any other requirements issued by the National Committee in this regard.

The inspection authorities must have insurance coverage for professional liability and general liability of the entity for incidents that meet the requirements of the authority in this regard, and such coverage must be valid throughout the duration of the acceptance.

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

The operations of inspectors and inspection authorities may be subject to revision by relevant entities at any time. The revision processes may include the examination of records in addition to the performance and documentation of inspection operations. Furthermore, revision and auditing may be conducted in special cases upon receiving complaints.

1- The duration of acceptance and appointment is three (3) years, starting from the date of issuance or renewal of the acceptance certificate.
2- The duration of appropriation is three (3) years, starting from the date of issuance or renewal of the appropriation certificate.

The financial counterpart for admission services shall be collected in accordance with the regulations and bylaws of the authority.