PRACTICES OF SAFETY DESIGN OF SAUDI RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS - KFUPM ePrints
The number of fires reported by the General Civil Defense Administration (GCDA) in Saudi Arabia indicates that fire is a major hazard in residential buildings, accounting for the highest percentage of buildings burnt. It seems that building designers and engineers do not give much considerations to the risk of fire in many of types of buildings. A considerable insight at safety measures in the design of buildings is therefore required. Architects and engineers play the most significant role assuring safety in the design of buildings. Although they know that designing for safety is vitally important, it is not clear yet how to go about establishing, incorporating and enforcing safety measures in buildings. The most readily available information is the safety instructions for different types of buildings provided by the GCDA. The objective of this paper is to present the results of a field assessment conducted to study the current safety practices in the design stage of residential buildings in Saudi Arabia and to identify common deficiencies in safety design. It also presents a systematic safety compliance checklist based on existing local safety instructions and international safety codes and standards. The checklist use is intended to ensure compliance with minimal safety requirements in the design stage of residential buildings.