KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
HIGH COMMISSION FOR INDUSTRIAL SECURITY

SAFETY AND FIRE PROTECTION DIRECTIVES

FOR INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES

SAF-03
Plant Buildings

Issue Date: 1216/1431H 126/0512010

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Ministry ofinterior
High Commission for Industrial Security

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Secretariat General
SAF-03

Plant Buildings

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

2
3

4
5

Administration
1.I Scope
1.2 Application
1.3 Conflicts and Deviations
Definitions
References
General Requirements
Control Buildings and Buildings
Requiring Blast Resistance
Other Requirements for Buildings
In Plants

3
3
3
3
5
7
13

16

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Ministry ofInterior
High Commission for Industrial Security

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Secretariat General
SAF-03

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Plant Buildings

1.

Administration

I.l

Scope
This Directive provides the minimum requirements for companies and establishments
that are subject to the supervision of the High Commission for Industrial Security
(HCIS), Ministry of Interior, for all plant buildings, including but not limited to buildings
that contain control rooms, process instrumentation buildings, communications buildings,
electrical substations, operations and maintenance office buildings, maintenance shops,
storages buildings, and mosques.

1.2

Application
This Directive is applicable to all facilities, including new projects, the expansion of
existing facilities, and upgrades. For application to existing facilities, the Owner shall
assess his facilities against the requirements of these Directives and coordinate with the
General Secretariat of the HCIS to comply with the security, safety, and fire protection
requirements according to these Directives and add to or modifY the existing facilities as
required. Where the General Secretariat of the HCIS has assessed deficiencies in existing
facilities during a survey, comparing the current state of the facilities to the requirements
of these Directives, those identified deficiencies shall be corrected by the Owner.

1.3

Conflicts and Deviations

Where implementation of a requirement is unsuitable or impractical, where other
equivalent company or industry Standards and Codes are followed, or where any conflict
exists between this Directive and other company standards and Codes, the deviations
shall be resolved by the General Secretariat of the HCIS. Deviations lower than the
requirements of this Directive shall be listed and submitted in a report of non-compliance,
with justification and rationale for not following the requirement, and approval shall be
received from the General Secretariat of the HCIS prior to implementation. The
documents shall be retained by the company in its permanent engineering files.

2.

Definitions
API: American Petroleum Institute, Website: http://api-ec.apLorg/
ASeE: American Society of Civil Engineers, Website: http://www.asce.org/

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Ministry ofinterior
High Commission for Industrial Security

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Secretariat General
SAF-03

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Plant Bnildings

ASHRAE:
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Website: http://www.ashrae.org/
Fire-Scenario Envelope: A three-dimensional space into which fire-potential equipment
can release flammable or combustible fluids capable of burning long enough and with
enough intensity to cause substantial property damage (see API PUB 2218).
FM: FM Global (Factory Mutual),
Website: http://www.fmglobal.com/
Fnnctionally Significant Bnilding: Building that is required for the continued operation
and safe shut-down of the plant, such as control room, process interface building, and
substations.
Hazardons (Classified) Area: Locations as defined by API RP 500, API 505, NFPA 70,
NFPA 497, or NFPA 499 which have the potential of ignitable mixtures with respect to
electrical equipment installations.
HCIS: High Commission for Industrial Security, Ministry ofInterior.
High-Population Building: Any building, such as offices, mosque, cafeteria, training
building, medical clinic, or other occupancy that can contain 25 or more people at any
time.
HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
ICC: International Code Council (ICC) Website: http://www.iccsafe.org/
Listed: A device that is tested and certified by an independent testing lab to be suitable
for its purpose.
Manned Building: Buildings such as control rooms, operations and maintenance office
buildings, and maintenance shops where people are expected to be present to do their
jobs on a regular basis.
Noncombustible:
masonry or steel.

Material that will not burn or support burning such as concrete,

Owner: Person, partnership, or company that has possession of a facility or

establishment.
Plant: Facilities used to manufacture, process, store, transport, or transfer a material or
substance.
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High Commission for Industrial Security

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Secretariat General
SAF-03

Plant Buildings

Plant Buildings: All buildings that are within the plant property boundary.
NFPA: National Fire Protection Association, Website: http://www.nfpa.orgl
Shall: Indicates a mandatory requirement.
Should: Indicates a recommendation or that which is advised but not required.

UL: Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Website: http://www.ul.com/

Unmanned Building: Buildings which are unattended by people under normal

circumstances, such as substations and process interface buildings.

3.

References
This directive adopts the latest edition of the references listed.
API RP 500

Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum

Facilities Classified as Class L Division 1, and Division 2

API RP 505

Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum

Facilities Classified as Class L Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2

API RP 752

Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant

Buildings

API RP 753

Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant

Portable Buildings

ASCEReport

Design ofBlast Resistant Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities

ASHRAE 15

Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems

ASHRAE 52.1

Gravimetric and Dust-Spot Procedures for Testing Air-Cleaning

Devices Used in General Ventilation for Removing Particulate
Matter

ASHRAE52.2

Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devicesfor

Removal Efficiency by Particle Size

ASHRAE 55

Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy

ASHRAE 62.1

Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ministry ofInterior
""WI Cr'SU 1.).11 <;,1>1

High Commission for Industrial Security

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Secretariat General

SAF-03

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Plant Buildings

ASHRAE 62.2

Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise

Residential Buildings

ASHRAE III

Practices for Measurement, Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing of

Building Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration
Systems

FM

FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets

ICCEC

International Electrical Code

ICCIBC

International Building Code

ICCIEBC

International Existing Building Code

ICCIECC

International Energy Conservation Code

ICCIFC

International Fire Code

ICCIMC

International Mechanical Code

ICCIPC

International Plumbing Code

ICC IPSDC

International Private Sewage Disposal Code

ICCIRC

International Residential Code

NFPA 10

Portable Fire Extinguishers

NFPA 13

Installation of Sprinkler Systems

NFPA 45

Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals

NFPA 70

National Electrical Code

NFPA 72

National Fire Alarm Code

NFPA 75

Protection of Information Technology Equipment

NFPA 76

Telecommunications Facilities

NFPA 80

Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives

NFPA 90A

Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems

NFPA 221

High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls

NFPA 251

Fire Tests ofBuilding Construction and Materials

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Ministry of Interior
High Commission for Industrial Security
Secretariat General
SAF-03

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Plant Buildings

NFPA 255

Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

NFPA 497

Classification ofFlammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of

Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in
Chemical Process Areas

NFPA 499

Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified)

Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas

NFPA 2001

Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems

4.

General Requiremeuts

4.1

Building Location

4.1.1

Plant buildings, whether permanent or portable, shall be located in areas that will
minimize exposure to potential external fire, vapor cloud explosion (VCE), or toxic gas
hazard. Plant buildings shall include risk-reduction design measures to minimize the
remaining unacceptable consequences, whether to people or critical equipment. Follow
API RP 752 for location of permanent buildings and API RP 753 for locating portable
buildings. Refer to Section 5 of this directive for more details.

4.1.2

At a minimum, the distance between buildings and nearest equipment or structure shall
not be less that the spacing requirements in Directive SAF-6, Plant Layout, Spacing and
Access. However, SAF-6 does not provide spacing that would protect against explosions,
jet fires, flare hazards, or toxic gas hazards. It is the owner's responsibility to assess the
spacing of equipment and buildings due to these hazards by following API RP 752.

4.1.3

Construction camps, apartment buildings and other residential buildings shall be located
outside and a safe distance away from process plants and other facilities.

4.1.4

Buildings Housing Sensitive or Vital Equipment

Buildings that are in an unsecured location, Le. outside the plant perimeter security fence
and that are housing sensitive or vital equipment shall meet Security Directive SEC-5,
Integrated Security System.

4.2

Fire Resistant Construction

4.2.1

Plant buildings shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, such as concrete,

masonry, and steel.

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Ministry of Interior
High Commission for Industrial Security

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Secretariat General
SAF-03

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Plant Buildings

4.2.2

Rooms in functionally significant buildings that serve an important function for plant
operation, such as computer rooms, data transmission rooms, processing rooms, store
rooms, control rooms, communication rooms, battery rooms, and mechanical rooms, shall
be subdivided by two-hour fire rated walls from rooms that serve different functions,
such as offices. All interior finishing materials and furniture shall be made of
noncombustible material; however, if noncombustible finishing materials are not
available, then the alternative materials used shall be of a limited fire-spread index rating
of 25 or less according to NFPA 255.

4.2.3

Doors and windows that penetrate fire walls or on the exterior of a building shall be fire
rated and shall be labeled with its rating of fire resistance. The doors and windows shall
identify the agency that certified the design. Fire rated doors and windows shall meet
NFPA80.
a)

Fire protection rating of a fire door presumes that the door is installed with the
appropriate frame, hardware, and other accessories required by NFPA 80.

b)

Fire rated doors shall be self-closing or automatic closing, i.e. an electro-magnetic

device may be used to hold interior fire doors open provided that they are installed
on a self-closing door and allow the door to close in case of fire alarm activation.

c)

Fire rated windows shall either be of a fixed type or be automatic closing.

d)

Doors designated as security doors to buildings housing sensitive or vital equipment

or to perimeter fences or other control of access areas shall be constructed to meet
the appropriate security directive. However, all doors shall also meet the following
safety requirements:
1)

The number of doors shall meet the safety requirements of the IBC.

2)

Doors designated as emergency exits shall meet the specifications of the IBC
for safe egress. Security measures shall not prevent safe egress from occupied
buildings.

4.2.4

A INAC duct penetrating a two-hour fire resistant wall required in 4.2.3 shall be
provided with a fire rated automatic smoke and fire damper to stop smoke and fire from
spreading throughout the building. The rating of the automatic damper for the air duct
shall be consistent with the fire rating ofthe wall, floor, or ceiling that is penetrated.

4.2.5

Roofing systems shall be fire-resistive, meeting at least Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

Class A or B or Factory Mutual (FM) Class 1 or 2 rating.

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Ministry ofInterior
High Commission for Industrial Security

</L,.)I .J''>U \,WI >4>1

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Secretariat General
SAF-03

Plant Buildings

4.2.6

Where instrument or electrical cables penetrate fire walls and partitions, the wall
openings shall be sealed with system that is designed to prevent passage of water, fire and
smoke. All through-penetration protection systems shall be tested and rated as specified
in NFPA 221.

4.2.7

Management of hazards to reduce risk of plant portable buildings due to explosion, fire,
and toxic release hazards shall meet API RP 753. Specific portable building siting
guidelines and procedures for managing change shall be developed for use and location
of portable bUildings.

4.3

Access and Egress

4.3.1

Building design shall comply with the requirements of the IBe, Chapter 10 including
minimum size and number of fire exits, emergency lights, and exit signs.

4.3.2

Exits shall be clearly marked so that they are identifiable as exits. Access to exits shall be
marked by readily visible signs where the exit or a pathway to reach the exit is not readily
apparent to the occupants.

4.3.3

There shall be at least two (2) means of egress from any building, room, or space except
as specifically allowed in the IBC. Travel distance to any means of egress shall not
exceed the specified distance for each type of occupancy.

4.3.4

I1lumination of the means of egress (floors and stairs) shall be not less than 108 lux (10
foot candles), measured at the walking surfaces.

4.3.5

During a power outage, emergency egress illumination shall be provided for at least I Y,
hours where illumination shall be on average no less than 10.8 lux (1.0 foot-candle),
permitted to decline to not less than 6.5 lux (0.06 foot-candles). Emergency lighting
systems shall be supplied from storage batteries or an on-site generator set and the system
shall be installed in accordance with the requirements ofNFPA 70.
Exception: Normal and emergency egress illumination is not required where the purpose
of the industrial occupancy does not require routine human habitation or where the
structure is occupied only during daylight hours and skylights or windows provide the
required level of illumination.

4.3.6

Building exits shall face away from equipment handling hazardous material, if possible.

4.3.7

Emergency egress doors shall be provided with door opening hardware that is designed
for both fire and panic protection (the door shall be opened by pushing on a panic bar to

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Secretariat General
SAF-03

Plant Bnildings

exit or is designed so that the door or window readily opens outward when pushed). The
doors shall be operable from the inside without the use of a key or tool.
4.3.8

Exterior doors and all interior doors penetrating fire walls (fire door) shall be equipped
with automatic, quick-acting, adjustable door closers. The doors shall be kept closed and
sign-posted to inform all workers to keep the doors closed.

4.3.9

Fire exit doors shall not be locked in a way that would prevent immediate exit if any
persons are inside the room or building.

4.4

Fire Detection and Protection

4.4.1

The fire detection, alarm and fire protection systems shall be fully commissioned and
tested before a building is occupied.

4.4.2

All functionally significant plant buildings such as control rooms, process interface
buildings, substations or any other buildings which are critical to the continued operation
of the plant shall be provided with a fire alarm system designed according to NFPA 72.
Fire detection and alarm systems (fire panels, initiating and end devices, and associated
equipment) shall be of the addressable type, i.e. each component can be individually
identifiable at the fire panel.
a)

Fire alarms systems shall be provided with at least two independent and reliable
power supplies, one primary and one standby.

b)

The primary power supply shall have a high degree of reliability. The secondary
power supply (e.g. emergency generation andlor battery) shall be of sufficient
capacity to operate the system for 24 hours to meet NFP A 72. The installation of all
power supplies to the system shall meet NFPA 70 and NFPA 72.

4.4.3

Detectors shall be installed above suspended ceilings and below raised floors of control
buildings, computer centers, data processing centers, and telecommunications facilities
where required to meet NFPA 75 or NFPA 76.

4.4.4

Activation of the building fire detection and alarm system for buildings shall produce
audible and visible alarms that can be observed from inside the building, outside the
building, and at a permanently manned location, such as control room or fire station.

4.4.5

Buildings shall be provided with the numbers and types of fire extinguishers suitable for
the hazards to meet the requirements ofNFPA 10.
a) Fire extinguishers shall be located where readily accessible in the event of a fire.

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Secretariat General
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Plant Bnildings

b) They shall be located along a normal path of travel and at exits from areas.
c) Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed on a hanger or bracket supplied or placed
in cabinets or wall recesses that are clearly identified to contain a fire extinguisher.
d) Portable extinguishers shall be maintained in a fully charged and operable condition.
They shall be kept in their designated places at all times when they are not being
used.
e) Type and size of portable fire extinguishers shall be based on the types of hazards
presented by the use of the building.
f) Distribution of fire extinguishers in buildings shall depend on the type of hazard and
coverage requirement in NFPA 10. Travel distance to a fire extinguisher shall be
consistent with the type of hazard, e.g. no more than 23 meters for a Class A hazard
or 15 meters for a Class B hazard. Refer to NFP A 10 for more details.

4.4.6

The need for a sprinkler system or other automatic fire extinguishing system shall be
determined by the Owner based on best international fire protection practices to protect
life and property as specified below:
a) At a minimum, fire detection and protection systems shall be installed where required
by the !BC and the IFC.
b) The design of fire protection systems shall comply with the appropriate NFPA
Standard, such as NFP A 13 for sprinkler systems and NFP A 2001 for clean agent Fire
extinguishing systems.

4.4.7

Fixed carbon dioxide (C02) fire protection systems shall not be used for manned
bUildings.

4.4.8

Fire protection shall be provided according to the SAF-4.

4.4.9

Fire protection for storage buildings shall comply with NFPA 13.

4.4.1 0 Fire detection, protection, and fire prevention procedures for laboratories shall comply
with NFPA 45.
4.4.11 Fire protection of computer roqms, communication equipment rooms, and plant control
rooms shall comply with NFPA 75 and NFPA 76 where loss of function of computer and
telecommunications equipment and data will impact life safety, process plant safety, or
where third parties are critically affected.
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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Ministry ofInterior
High Commission for Industrial Security
Secretariat General
SAF-03

</L.VI

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Plant Buildings

4.4.12 Control rooms, including all subfloor spaces, and areas above false ceilings shall be
monitored by installing an early warning fire detection (EWFD) smoke detection system
that meets NFPA 76.
4.5

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

4.5.1

The building shall be maintained under positive pressure if the electrical area
classification indicates building pressurization is needed. Hazardous (classified) locations
are defined in NFPA 70, Chapter 5, Special Occupancies and Directive SAF-12,
Electrical Safety.

4.5.2

The need for combustible gas and toxic gas detectors in the air inlet to a building HVAC
system shall be determined by the potential for the building being impacted by these
hazards.

4.5.3

Air intake of a pressurized building shall be located in a non-classified area.

4.5.4

The HV AC system controller shall be powered from the plant emergency power supply
or, if emergency power is not available, the most reliable power supply that is available.

4.5.5

The air intake damper to the HVAC shall automatically close upon detection of
combustible gas, toxic gas, or smoke in the air.

4.5.6

The air damper shall fail safe, e.g. close upon loss of power to protect the building
occupants.

4.5.7

Fire protection of the air duct system and all other aspects of installation of an airconditioning and ventilation system shall meet NFP A 90A.

4.6

Combustible materials contained inside the rooms due to normal use shall be minimized
in functionally significant buildings. Necessary books and drawings used during work
shall be stored in closed metal cabinets and desks as much as possible.

4.7

First aid kits shall be provided in manned buildings. The Owner shall provide employees
with the training needed to use the first aid kits effectively.

4.8

Storage of flammable liquids shall be either outdoors in a dedicated location or in

dedicated metal cabinets or noncombustible buildings that are specifically designed for
flammable liquid storage. All combustible and flammable liquid storage shall meet the
IBC and the IFC.

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Ministry ofInterior
High Commission for Industrial Security
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SAF-03

""WI 0")U \,WI <0>1

t.oWI A.;t...~\

Plant Buildiugs

5.

Control Buildings and Other Buildings Requiring Blast Resistance

5.1

Control buildings, multiple-occupancy buildings that contain control rooms, and other
functionally significant buildings that are identified by the Owner to require equivalent
protection in refineries, petrochemical plants, and other types of facilities that produce,
process, or store flammable, toxic, or explosive substances, shaH be located to minimize
exposure to fire, explosion or release of hazardous materials (see Section 4.1, above).
When necessary, they shaH be made blast resistant to the extent needed to prevent
coHapse due to overpressure from a vapor cloud explosion if one were to occur from a
plant-related incident.

5.2

While the spacing and design of the control building should be guided by the principles
of API 752, the minimum spacing between a control building (or building that contains a
control room) and vessels, tanks, or other process equipment handling combustible,
flammable, toxic, or explosive materials shaH be 30 meters.

5.3

The control building shall be designed to prevent the entry of combustible, flammable, or
toxic liquids, gases or vapors.

5.4

Control buildings located inside of a plant shaH be single-story and without windows.
Exceptions: In plants where there is no explosion hazard, 5.4 does not apply or where the
Owner's engineer otherwise approves multi-story construction. Where the windows are
speciaHy designed to withstand the overpressure should an explosion occur, windows are
aHowed.

5.5

Control buildings shall be blast resistant to the extent needed to prevent collapse from a
plant-related incident. Design of blast resistant buildings shall be accomplished by a
registered or chartered professional engineer that is experienced in blast resistant
structural design. Simulation of the resultant overpressure and suction overpressure from
a potential plant related explosion shall be done using a registered or chartered
professional engineer from an engineering firm that specializes in such simulation. The
results shaH be used for the basis of structural design by a professional engineering firm.

5.5.1

The simulation shall be used to select blast overpressure and duration (impulse) for the
structural design basis.

5.5.2

The simulation shall take into account existing process equipment and future plant
expansion equipment that is likely to be installed.

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High Commission for Industrial Security
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SAF-03

",WI 0")0 l,W1 41

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<uL.)r1

Plant Buildings

5.5.3

Wind and seismic loads shall not be combined with blast loading.

5.5.4

Rebound effects shall be calculated and combined with the effects of negative phase
loads, if any, based on the time dependent response.

5.6

Design of blast resistant buildings shall be consistent with the provisions of ASCE report,
"Design of Blast Resistant Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities" or equivalent measures
and procedures on how to design such buildings.

5.6.1

The Engineer shall use dynamic (not static) analysis and design methods appropriate for
the specific blast design. The selected methods shall adequately model the dynamic
response of the structure to the applied blast loads and the structural component
interaction.

5.6.2

The required resistance for each structural component shall be based on the peak blast
pressure (or load) and duration, the natural period of the component, and the maximum
allowable response (deformation).

5.6.3

Brittle construction, including unreinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, unreinforced

masonry (block, brick, clay tile), poured gypsum, and cement-asbestos panels, shall not
be used for load carrying components of blast resistant buildings.

5.6.4

The structural system and materials shall be selected to meet all performance
requirements as required by the Owner's specifications or architectural considerations.
Advanced materials, such as composites, may be used if adequate test data are available
to confirm their satisfactory performance for the intended application. Precast concrete
panels may be used but shall be either mechanically anchored to cast-in-place reinforced
concrete columns or provided with built-in, load transmitting anchors. Reinforced
concrete or fully-grouted reinforced masonry of appropriate strength and thickness shall
be used as cladding for fragment resistance where required.

5.6.5

Reinforced concrete components shall be designed, using ultimate strength methods, in

accordance with the provisions of the referenced ASCE Report. In-plane and secondary
bending stresses shall be accounted for in the design. Interaction of forces in two
directions, including biaxial bending, shall be considered.

5.6.6

Components shall be adequately laterally braced to prevent premature buckling failure

during the positive and rebound response.

5.6.?

Connections shall be designed for at least 120% of the member's controlling resistance
(flexure or shear, whichever is lower).

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;uWI

a,;\... )1\

Plant Buildings

5.6.8

Design for compression elements, such as load-bearing walls and exterior columns,
should consider secondary bending effects.

5.7

No combustible, flammable, or toxic material piping shall be piped into or through the
control building.

5.8

No process or material handling equipment, pressure vessels, storage tanks, or piping

containing combustible, flammable, or toxic materials shall be located above or under a
control room or bUilding.

5.9

Offices, dining areas, and other types of rooms in the control building shall be limited to
what is needed for the plant to function properly. Non-essential offices, dining and
recreational rooms shall be separate from the control building and located in a safe
location (see 4.1.3).

5.10

Exterior doors shall face away from process areas whenever possible.

5.10.1 All exterior doors, inclnding equipment access double doors, shall meet the blast
resistance requirements of the structural walls ofthe building. Manufacturers shall certifY
that blast resistant doors are designed to withstand the intended blast loading. The doors
shall be marked with the manufacturers name and rating information.
5.10.2 External frames for blast resistant doors shall be set in grooves or anchored on all sides to
prevent doors and frames from being blown into the building in the event of an explosion.
Exterior doors shall open outwards and be equipped with automatic door closers. The
doors shall be kept closed and sign-posted to inform workers to keep the doors closed at
all times.
5.11

The parts of the ventilation and air conditioning equipment that are necessarily external
to the building shall be shielded or otherwise designed to survive any anticipated blast
effects.

5.11.1 The fan inlet ducting shall be elevated, be free of leaks, and be protected from
mechanical damage and corrosion to prevent ingress of flammable or toxic vapors or
gases.
5.11.2 Inlet duct openings shall be minimized, arranged to be shielded from direct blast, and
prevent pressure on the top surfaces of suspended ceilings.
5.11.3 External louvers, their frames, and associated components shall be capable of
withstanding design blast over-pressures.
Issue Date: IU6/1431H 126/05/2010
RESTRICTED
AU Rights reserved to HCIS. Copying or distribution prohibited without written pennission from HCIS

Page 15 of 19

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

~\..uloJ\j)

Ministry oflnterior
High Commission for Industrial Security

</c..,JI ",)u \,WI ay,1

Secretariat General
SAF-03

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Plant Bnildings

5.12

Sanitary sewer and water supply systems shall be connected to the control room in such a
way to prevent the possibility of damage to those utilities if an explosion were to occur.
The sanitary sewer shall not be connected to the industrial drain system from the plant.
All design shall take into consideration the prevention of the ingress of flammable or
toxic materials into the building.

6.

Other Requirements for Buildings in Plants

6.1

External doors shall have dust proof/air stop weather strips.

6.2

Glass panels shall not be used in exterior doors of plant buildings.

6.3

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning mv AC)

6.3.1

Plant buildings shall be designed with a heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
that meet the International Mechanical Code (IMC) and the applicable ASHRAE
Standards for heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning.

6.3.2

Ducting shall be of non-combustible materials. Ducts that are expected to be below the
dew point temperature shall be insulated on their exterior to prevent condensation on the
exposed surface and within the insulating material.

6.3.3

Air intake of a pressurized building shall be located in a nonclassified area as defined by

NFPA 70, free from smoke, flammable, and toxic vapors or gases, and any other foreign
matter. In plants where petroleum or chemical products are being processed, flammable
and/or toxic gas detectors shaH be provided at the air intake, depending on the hazard.
The detectors shall alarm in case of detection.
a)

Filtering shall be provided to prevent entry of contaminates and any other foreign
matter. Filtering devices shall meet the applicable requirements of ASHRAE
Standards 52.1 or 52.2.

b)

Air quality inside the building shall meet the applicable requirements of ASHRAE
Standards 62.1, and 62.2 (also see Section 5.12 below).

6.3.4

The building ventilation system shall be designed to control fresh air supply and provide
air intake shutdown/internal air recycle capability to prevent the ingress of smoke,
flammable, and toxic vapors or gases where the potential of such hazards exist.

6.3.5

Air-handling units providing building pressurization shall be provided with 100%

standby units that are powered by separate power sources.

Issue Date: 12/6/1431H 126/05/2010

RESTRICTED
All Rights reserved to HCIS. Copying or distribution prohibited without written permission from HCIS

Page 16 of 19

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

~UJ\o~\j)

Ministry ofInterior
High Commission for Industrial Security
Secretariat General
SAF-03

",WI ",)\J \,WI ;.,1

. . . w\ ;VL,,)t\

Plant Buildings

6.3.6

Building pressurization shall be monitored by a differential pressure gauge and switch

connected between the inside and outside of the building. Loss of building pressurization
shall alarm at the nearest control room.

6.3.7

The ventilation and air conditioning equipment system shall be designed to prevent the
entry of flammable vapors or gases in accordance with the applicable NFPA 496.

6.3.8

Any room/building requiring pressurization shall be designed to withstand an internal

pressure of no less than 6.5 millimeter water gauge (0.25 inch water gauge).

6.3.9

The ventilation and air conditioning system for buildings requiring pressurization shall
maintain an internal building positive pressure of at least 2.5 millimeter water gauge (0.1
inch water gauge) with all doors and other openings closed.
a)

The system shall be capable of providing a minimum outward velocity of 0.30

m/sec (60 ftlmin) through all openings. All doors capable of being opened, except
equipment doors that are used infrequently, shall be considered open. An allowance
for other openings shall be included. An alarm shall activate at the control room
upon loss of pressurization below this 2.5 millimeter water gauge.

b)

Outside air flow rate available for building pressurization equal to not less than two
(2) air changes per hour of the total pressurized space with doors closed. The design
pressure shall be 6.5 millimeter water gauge (0.25 inch water).

6.3.10 Interior dry bulb design temperature shall be 22 degrees C (75 degrees F), 50 percent
relative humidity with the outside conditions based on recognized local design
conditions.
a)

The thermal environmental conditions shall meet ASHRAE 55. HVAC systems
shall be capable of maintaining dry bulb temperature and relative humidity (if
applicable) within the performance range given in Table 1, ASHRAE 55, unless
stricter indoor design conditions are required.

b)

The number of doors and other penetrations shall be minimized so that positive
pressure can be maintained, while at the same time, the number of doors shall be
adequate for safe exit per the IBC. The system shall be tested and balanced to meet
ASHRAE STD Ill.

c)

Devices to read and indicate temperature, relative humidity, and the indoor/outdoor
differential pressure shall be installed in the control room.

Issue Date: I2IGI1431H 126/05/2010

RESTRICTED
All Rights reserved to HClS. Copying or distribution prohibited without written permission from HeIS

Page 17 of 19

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ministry ofinterior
High Commission for Industrial Security

""WI u--'>U \,WI """

Secretariat General

SAF-03

d)

4...>WI:t;t...'11

Plant Buildings

Air lock type entries are required to entrances normally used by personnel. Air
locks are not required for large doors used infrequently to bring in large equipment.

6.3.11 Ventilation and air conditioning equipment located in hazardous (classified) areas shall
meet the requirements ofNFPA 70.
6.3.12 Air-conditioning and refrigeration installations shall meet the safety requirements of
ASHRAE Standard IS.
6.4

Maximum allowable noise levels inside the an occupied room in a plant building, such as
a control room, shall be 55 decibels to be achieved without hearing protection for the
occupants.

6.5

A fire detection and alarm system shall be installed that will monitor for fire and/ or
smoke in all rooms adjacent to the control room.

6.6

Two-hour fire-resistant separation shall separate control rooms from other areas such as
communications rooms, rack rooms, process interface equipment rooms, computer
rooms, store rooms, kitchens, toilets, mechanical rooms, electrical switchgear rooms,
laboratories, workshops, and offices. The two-hour fire-resistant separation shall be of
materials or assemblies that have withstood a fire test exposure per NFPA 251.

6.7

Fixed fire protection shall meet the requirements of NFPA 75 for control rooms and
multiple occupancy buildings that contain control rooms.

6.8

If a raised access, modular type computer floor is used, the floor components shall meet
the fire-resistant requirements of the IBe.

6.9

a)

Smoke detectors shall be provided at internals under the floor that meet NFPA 72.

b)

Ventilation under the floor shall be adequate to meet the requirements of the wiring
and other components.

Electrical power feed and communications cables to control buildings shall be

underground to the extent possible to protect them from mechanical damage during a fire
or explosion.
a)

All cables or conduits entering the building shall be from underground.

b)

Underground cable and conduit systems shall be designed for underground service.

Issue Date: 12161143lH 12610512010

RESTRICTED
AI! Rights reserved to HeIS. Copying or distribution prohibited without written permission from HCIS

Page 18 of 19

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

~\..0\;;~\j)

Ministry ofInterior
High Commission for Industrial Security

</u.,.)1 J')U L,WI """

vW\

Secretariat General

SAF-03

c)

6.10

;l,;L,.,)1\

Plant Buildings

The cable entry points shall be designed and sealed in such a way as to protect
against any potential overpressure effects and to prevent the entry of fire,
flammable gas or vapor, liquid chemicals, hydrocarbons, water, insects, or rodents.

Emergency power systems shall be provided for emergency lighting, building

pressurization systems, power to control systems, and communications.

Issue Date: 12/611431H / 26/05/201 0

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All Rights reserved to HeIS. Copying or distribution prohibited without written pennission from Hers

Page 19 of 19