What is the Saudi Building Code?
The Saudi Building Code (SBC) is the binding set of national requirements for the design, construction and operation of buildings in the Kingdom, issued by the Saudi Building Code National Committee. It is applied to projects through licensing and supervision, and every discipline refers to it. The reference is the edition in force at the time of licensing, so the edition number is written in the general notes of each discipline.
The parts that matter for drawings
| Part | Subject | Where it appears in the drawings |
|---|---|---|
| SBC 201 | General building requirements | Architectural: occupancy, heights, egress, stairs and accessibility |
| SBC 301 | Loads and forces | Structural general notes and the calculation report |
| SBC 303 | Soils and foundations | Foundation sheets and the soil report reference |
| SBC 304 | Concrete structures | Reinforcement details, concrete cover and concrete grade |
| SBC 306 | Steel structures | Sections, connections and steel grades |
| SBC 401 | Electrical | Load schedules, single line diagram and earthing |
| SBC 501 | Mechanical | HVAC, ventilation and exhaust |
| SBC 601 / 602 | Energy conservation | Wall and roof sections with insulation, and glazing specifications |
| SBC 701 | Plumbing | Water supply, drainage and plumbing vents |
| SBC 801 | Fire protection | Alarm, fire fighting and fire resistance of elements |
Architectural: occupancy and egress
- Occupancy classification: residential, commercial, educational or industrial, because most other requirements are built on it. It is written on the first sheet with the areas and the number of floors.
- Occupant load and means of egress: the number of exits, their width, the travel distance to the nearest exit, and the door swing direction.
- Stairs and handrails: riser height, tread depth and handrail height within the limits set for the occupancy type, shown in the stair detail.
- Accessibility: entrances, ramps and accessible toilets where required.
- Lighting and natural ventilation: opening areas compared with room areas.
Structural: the general notes sheet
The most important thing a checker reviews in structural drawings is the general notes sheet, because it links the drawings to the code. At a minimum it must contain:
- The adopted code and its edition.
- Live loads for each use, and superimposed loads for finishes and partitions.
- The basis for wind loads and the seismic parameters adopted for the site and the soil classification.
- Soil bearing capacity and founding level as given in the soil report, with the report number.
- Concrete grade for each element and the reinforcing steel grade, concrete cover, and exposure class.
- Waterproofing and protection requirements for buried elements.
We provide this work in structural design and calculation reports to SBC or to the code the consultant specifies.
MEP and energy
- Electrical: panel load schedules, the single line diagram, cable sizes and protection, and the earthing system.
- Mechanical: HVAC load calculations, ventilation rates, and exhaust routes for kitchens and toilets.
- Energy: sections of external walls and roofs showing the insulation type and thickness, and glazing specifications, because energy conservation requirements are checked from these sections.
- Plumbing: supply and drainage pipe diameters, slopes, and plumbing vent openings.
Details are in MEP design.
Fire protection
The occupancy classification, area and height determine the systems required: fire alarm, automatic sprinklers, fire hose reels, extinguishers, fire resistance of walls and doors, and emergency lighting and exit signs. These systems are approved by the Civil Defense according to the building type. The drawings must show device locations, coverage, pipe routes, and the locations of fire-rated doors.
Who approves the drawings?
In the Kingdom, permit drawings are prepared and submitted through the Balady platform by a licensed engineering office, and supervision of construction by a licensed office is required depending on the building type. We provide technical services remotely in the Kingdom: design, drafting, quantity takeoff and review. Drawings that need an official stamp are approved through a licensed Saudi engineering office.
Frequent errors in drawings
- General notes copied from another project: a concrete grade or soil bearing capacity that does not belong to the site, or an outdated code edition.
- Soil report not cited: foundations designed without reference to the report number and the recommended founding level.
- Occupancy conflict: a building classified as residential with a commercial floor, so egress and fire requirements differ and the drawings are not amended.
- Insulation not drawn: energy requirements written in the specifications only and not shown in the wall and roof sections.
- Fire doors missing from the schedule: fire-rated doors not identified in the door schedule, so ordinary doors are supplied.
- Site changes not updated: changes during construction not reflected in the drawings, so the As-Built drawings do not match what was built.
The code in shop drawings
Shop drawings prepared by the contractor must preserve the code requirements in the construction drawings and not reduce them. Any change to a structural member section, an insulation material, or a fire-rated door type needs the consultant's explicit approval together with evidence of compliance: a calculation report, a manufacturer's conformity certificate, or a test result. In rebar fabrication drawings, for example, the steel grade and the splice details are stated as designed, or a connection design note is attached when they are changed.
Quick checklist
- The code edition number is written in the general notes of each discipline.
- Occupancy classification and floor areas are on the first sheet.
- Egress routes and exit widths are shown on the plans.
- Loads, wind and seismic parameters and soil bearing capacity are in the structural notes.
- Wall and roof sections show the insulation, with glazing specifications.
- Fire systems and fire resistance of elements match the occupancy classification.
- The architectural, structural and MEP drawings agree on grids, levels and openings.
Before submitting shop drawings to the consultant, review the shop drawing submittal checklist, and for the references we work to, see Standards and codes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Saudi Building Code (SBC)?
The binding set of national requirements for the design and construction of buildings in the Kingdom, issued by the Saudi Building Code National Committee and applied through licensing and supervision.
Which code parts appear in structural drawings?
Mainly SBC 301 for loads, SBC 303 for soils and foundations, SBC 304 for concrete, and SBC 306 for steel structures, summarised in the structural general notes sheet.
What does the structural general notes sheet contain?
The code and its edition, live and superimposed loads, the basis for wind and seismic loads, soil bearing capacity and report number, concrete and steel grades, concrete cover, and waterproofing requirements.
Do you get drawings approved by Balady?
In the Kingdom we provide technical services remotely, and drawings that need an official stamp are approved and submitted through a licensed Saudi engineering office.
