المملكة: Urgent – Inspection authorities approve 3 years of the Saudi building code… and 10 million in insurance for high-risk projects

According to the approved amendments, the Ministry obligated all buildings to undergo inspections and tests during the construction phase, in accordance with the requirements specified in the Saudi Building Code. The regulations also stipulated the necessity of continuing inspections during the building’s operation phase, in order to ensure the sustainability of compliance with the technical and engineering requirements. Approved.

The regulation clarifies that the responsibility for contracting with approved inspection bodies falls on the owner or his authorized agent, provided that this is away from the implementing contractor, in a way that enhances the independence of the inspection body and ensures the integrity of the technical evaluation of the project.

The amendments gave the competent authority the authority to accept entities wishing to work within the code’s inspection system, whether in one field or several fields, provided that the relevant government agencies undertake the task of appointing those bodies according to the scope of jurisdiction specified for each.

The regulation allowed engineering offices and companies licensed by the Saudi Council of Engineers to submit applications for admission to work as inspection bodies, which expands the base of qualified bodies and enhances professional competition in the market.

In terms of transparency, the amendments obligated government agencies to publish all their requirements and mechanisms for providing their services electronically, in addition to announcing the contact information for accepted or appointed inspection bodies, in a way that facilitates beneficiaries’ access to these services.

The regulation confirmed that inspection bodies must obtain accreditation. An official statement from the Saudi Accreditation Center has become a basic condition for admission, with these entities being classified into four main categories according to specific standards that include technical, administrative, and operational capabilities.

The Ministry stressed the need for all inspection bodies to commit to proving the qualification of their inspectors in accordance with the standards specified in the regulations, while ensuring continuity of qualification and professional development, in addition to adhering to any additional requirements issued by the Saudi Accreditation Center.

The amendments included obliging inspection bodies to provide insurance coverage against professional liability. And the general public, in order to cover potential accidents and risks during the period of activity, provided that the insurance documents remain valid throughout the period of acceptance.

Strict professional obligations and prevention of conflicts of interest

The new regulations obligated each inspection body to appoint a full-time director or head, in addition to a number of qualified technical managers according to the volume of business, with the requirement of direct supervision of all inspection operations.

The regulation prevented technical directors and CEOs of inspection bodies from working with any other body that provides services. Similar, in a step aimed at preventing conflicts of interest and enhancing the independence of the technical decision.

The amendments granted the competent authorities the authority to carry out review and audit operations on the work of inspection bodies and inspectors at any time, including reviewing records, evaluating performance, examining documentation mechanisms, in addition to opening special reviews upon receiving complaints or reports.

The regulations stipulated that the period of accreditation of inspection bodies would be three years starting from the date of issuance or renewal of the accreditation certificate, with the possibility of renewal for an additional three years when applying before 90 One day from the end of the period, provided that it is proven that all regulatory requirements are still met.

It confirmed that failure to submit a renewal application within a year from the end of acceptance automatically leads to cancellation of accreditation, and obliges the entity to re-apply again in accordance with all the requirements.

The Ministry obligated inspectors and inspection bodies to bear full responsibility for their work in accordance with what is stipulated in the Saudi Building Code, with the need to adhere to technical standards, reference specifications, and the risk matrix for inspection work.

Also, It stressed the prohibition of any activity that might affect the neutrality of the inspector or the integrity of the inspection body, including the possession of financial interests or direct or indirect connections to the projects subject to inspection.

This clause is one of the most prominent regulatory clauses aimed at strengthening the independence of inspectors and raising the reliability of their technical reports.

Inspecting construction documents before implementation

The amendments required inspectors to review all approved construction documents before beginning inspections, and ensure their adequacy. Its validity, and its conformity with what was approved by the project’s engineering designer.

The inspector bears responsibility for verifying that the works carried out on the ground fully comply with the approved plans, code requirements, and technical specifications.

Within the framework of enhancing documentation and governance, the regulations obligated inspection bodies to keep detailed records for each project for a period of no less than ten years, provided that they include test results, field records, laboratory reports, technical notes, deficiencies, and processing dates, in addition to photos. Documentation.

The amendments obligated the inspection supervisor or the chief inspector to review all daily, weekly and final reports to ensure their conformity with the approved plans and work requirements, and to document these reviews officially in the project records.

The inspection supervisor or the chief inspector became directly responsible for approving all technical work carried out by the inspection body, through the signature and official seal on the requests, procedures and reports related to the project, which gives the issued reports an official status and clearly defines professional responsibility.

The amendments obligated the director of the inspection body to notify the appointing body within a period not exceeding ten days from the date of satisfactory completion of any inspection process, using the forms and procedures approved within the checklist for inspectors and examiners in the Saudi Building Code.

This condition enhances time control of the bodies’ performance, and prevents delaying submission of results or disrupting the completion of the project’s regulatory cycle.

Full cooperation with government investigations

Within the framework of raising the level of transparency, the regulation stipulates that all inspectors are obligated to Inspection authorities will cooperate fully with any investigations or reviews carried out by competent government agencies or other regulatory authorities, whether within project sites or in associated manufacturing facilities.

It stressed the need to provide accurate, rapid and complete information regarding all works subject to inspection, in a way that makes supervisory cooperation an integral part of the obligations of the approved body.

One of the most prominent new controls is preventing any inspection body or inspector from carrying out work that does not fall within the scope of the category or field approved for it, or before completing All acceptance conditions stipulated in the regulations and the code.

The Ministry was not satisfied with controlling the human and organizational aspect, but the requirements extended to the technical structure of the inspection authorities, as it obligated each entity to possess the necessary tools and equipment to carry out its work, with the need to maintain and calibrate them periodically in accordance with the approved technical systems and standards.

On the enforcement side, the regulations gave the inspection authorities a direct role in monitoring violations during the implementation of projects, and informing the supervising engineering office or The contractor must correct it within an agreed-upon period.

If the violation is not addressed within the specified period, it will be automatically referred to the competent review committee to take legal measures in accordance with the Saudi Building Code Implementation System and its executive regulations.

As for violations classified as “dangerous,” the regulations stressed their immediate referral to the competent committee in parallel with the request for treatment, in a step that confirms the priority of public safety over any operational considerations.

The Ministry has identified a platform "My country" As an official channel for receiving complaints against inspection bodies, the ticket is uploaded electronically and transferred directly to the competent authority for consideration.

This procedure enhances ease of access to grievance mechanisms, and supports the principle of transparency and accountability before the beneficiaries.

The amendments stipulate that the competent center is granted the right to interpret the articles of the regulation, ensuring unified understanding and application among all parties, and preventing conflicts of interpretation in implementation.

She explained that the amendment The regulation in the future will only be implemented through the same regulatory mechanism by which it was issued, giving it regulatory strength and legislative stability.

In an important regulatory shift, the Ministry has developed a new classification matrix for inspection bodies based on ten fixed standards, including the classification of the Saudi Council of Engineers, general specialization, field of practice, number of qualified inspectors, level of occupancy risks, type of building, height, area, and financial value, in addition to the minimum coverage. Insurance.

Five graded categories

The first category is allocated to large and high-risk projects such as towers and huge facilities that exceed a height of 23 meters, with the requirement of highly experienced consultants and professionals and a minimum insurance amount of 10 million riyals.

The second category covers projects similar in terms of the nature of risks but within a smaller financial and spatial scope, with a minimum insurance amount of 5 million riyals.

The third and fourth categories target medium-risk buildings, such as medium-sized educational, commercial, and industrial buildings, with financial and technical requirements reduced in proportion to the size of the project.

While the fifth category is allocated to small, low-risk projects, led by residential buildings that do not exceed three floors, with an insurance limit starting from half a million riyals.