On June 12, ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), the globally renowned leader in product evaluation and other conformity assessment services, and the Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC), responsible for the Saudi Building Code and ensuring building safety in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to leverage ICC-ES solutions for evaluating new and innovative building products intended for installation in the KSA.

Under the terms of the MOU, SBCNC will rely on the robust product evaluations performed for the production of Evaluation Service Reports (ESRs) to consider the use of evaluated innovative building products in KSA. ICC-ES has already expanded its scope of services to include evaluation to the Saudi Building Code, in addition to the International Codes (I-Codes).  

"We are honored to be entrusted by the Saudi Building Code National Committee for our rigorous product evaluations of innovative building products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We look forward to working closely with the SBCNC to help ensure public safety in the built environment," said Shahin Moinian, president of ICC-ES.  

"ICC and the family of solutions, including ICC-ES, have been a strong partner of SASO for decades. We are pleased to advance our cooperation to ensure continued innovation in the construction sector in KSA in compliance with the Saudi Building Code," said Dr. Saad bin Othman Alkasabi, governor of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).

Eng. Saad Alshuail, general secretary for the Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC), added, "As the leader in evaluating innovative construction products for compliance with building codes and standards, ICC-ES will bring value and efficiency to the SBCNC's regulatory systems. This collaboration builds on the strong foundation that SBCNC and ICC have built in developing the Saudi Building Code, which uses the I-Codes as its base."