GCC Agreement to Issue Unified Building Code for GCC Sates… Saudi Building Code to Be Main Reference

تاريخ 17 May 2016
GCC Agreement to Issue Unified Building Code for GCC Sates… Saudi Building Code to Be Main Reference

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     Dr. Sa'ad bin Othman Al-Kasabi, SASO Governor, stressed that the total international standard specifications adopted by Saudi Arabia from international standardization bodies exceed 80% of the total Saudi standard specifications.

     In his opening speech of the seminar accompanying the events of "Building Code Fire Safety Requirements and Tests for Materials and Systems" workshop held at SASO headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday, Sha'ban 10th, 1437 H, corresponding to May 17th, 2016, SASO Governor said, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined ISO membership, which confirms the Kingdom's great keenness in the integration issue with the international system of standards and metrology and in removing intra-trade barriers." He also pointed out that SASO has issued more than 3800 Saudi standard specifications for construction and building materials sector. SASO has considered fire safety and protection requirements in those standards, realizing that products of such a sector are one of the most important strategic goods that might affect the safety of individuals and properties.

     Regarding the GCC building code, Dr. Al-Kasabi clarified that an agreement has been reached among the standardization bodies of the member states of  GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) to issue a unified GCC building code, the Saudi building code is to be its main reference. This agreement confirms the importance of the code for the GCC states. He demanded the continuity of adopting unified strategies and visions that consolidate the trends of the GCC leaders towards partnership and integration among states in different fields.

     For his part, Mr. Nabil bin Ameen Molla, the Secretary General of the GSO, emphasized that GSO works rapidly and closely with member states in the organization to complete the GCC building code. This code covers issues related to fire protection for buildings, green buildings, and sustainability.

     The Secretary General of GSO indicated that GSO collaborates with ISO through the adoption of a great number of international standard specifications issued by ISO. The GCC standard specifications and technical regulations issued by GSO reached about 21000. He added saying, "Collaboration between SASO and member states will be discussed with ISO in relation to topics of great importance, which pose a challenge for the world, such as climate change, global warming, renewable energy, water, environmental protection, and other important topics."

     Mr. Molla stressed that GSO greatly took into account ISO strategic plan when preparing its strategy for 2016-2020. He stressed that GSO will work hard to achieve the ultimate strategic objective of the ISO strategic plan, which is "ISO standards used everywhere."

     The workshop included the participation of ISO president, some presidents of GCC standardization bodies, and a number of experts and specialists in discussing many topics and international practices related to construction and building materials sector. The sector has a significant strategic role in protecting life and buildings from fire hazards.  

 

Last modified 29 Dec 2019
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