Fire safety on construction sites means controlling ignition sources and providing temporary firefighting equipment while the building is being built, before the permanent sprinklers and fire alarm system are working. In practice a site needs extinguishers placed by area and hazard, a hot work permit with a fire watch where needed, and disciplined storage of flammable materials. The Saudi Fire Code SBC 801 has a chapter on fire safety during construction and demolition and another on welding and hot work; take the detailed figures from the edition adopted on your project.
Key takeaways
- A building under construction is more exposed to fire than a finished one: permanent protection is not yet commissioned, while waste, packaging and fuel sit on every floor.
- The 2018 Saudi Fire Code SBC 801 includes Chapter 33 “Fire Safety During Construction and Demolition” and Chapter 35 “Welding and Other Hot Work”.
- The project fire prevention procedure issued by the Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) calls for one extinguisher per 278 m2 of protected building and a 13.6 kg Class A, B, C extinguisher at every welding or cutting location.
- No hot work without a written permit, and combustibles kept 10 m away from the work area under the same procedure.
- A discharged extinguisher is replaced immediately with a full one, and a weekly site inspection is part of the prevention plan.
In this article
- Why does fire safety on construction sites need its own plan?
- What does the Saudi Fire Code SBC 801 say about construction sites?
- Construction site fire safety on government projects: the EXPRO procedure
- Fire extinguishers for construction sites: which type and where?
- Hot work: welding, cutting and grinding
- Storage, temporary facilities and power
- When does permanent protection take over?
- Weekly checklist for the site safety officer
- How AZEIDK supports contractors at this stage
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
Why does fire safety on construction sites need its own plan?
A finished building relies on fixed systems: sprinklers, fire hose cabinets and an alarm panel that detects smoke early. During construction these systems are usually incomplete or untested, while ignition sources multiply: welding, cutting and grinding, temporary power, generators and their fuel, and insulation, timber and plastic packaging piled on the floors.
So the contractor is responsible for temporary protection from site handover until the permanent systems are commissioned and tested. This layer does not replace the building’s fire protection design. It works before it and is withdrawn floor by floor after commissioning.
What does the Saudi Fire Code SBC 801 say about construction sites?
SBC 801 is part of the Saudi Building Code, and its 2024 edition has been mandatory since 30 June 2025 (see our practical guide to SBC 801). In the 2018 edition the code dedicates Chapter 33 to “Fire Safety During Construction and Demolition” and Chapter 35 to “Welding and Other Hot Work”, as listed in the table of contents of the official ICC study companion for the code.
We do not quote section numbers here, because chapter numbering and wording can differ between the 2018 and 2024 editions. The project safety engineer should work from the edition named in the contract, and the site fire prevention plan should be approved by the consultant before work starts. The General Directorate of Civil Defense uses the Salamah platform for safety licensing; our Salamah certificate guide covers the stage that follows construction.
Construction site fire safety on government projects: the EXPRO procedure
The clearest published Saudi reference with specific site figures is the “Project Fire Prevention and Protection Procedure” (EPM-KSS-PR-000004, Rev 003, August 2021), part of the National Manual for Projects Management issued by EXPRO. It applies to projects managed under the national manual, and any contractor can use it as a practical benchmark. The main points:
| Item | Requirement as stated in the procedure |
|---|---|
| Extinguishers in the building | One for a building and/or one for each 278 m2 of protected building |
| Near flammable liquids and gases | Within 15.2 m of where more than 18.9 L of flammable or combustible liquids or 2.3 kg of flammable gases are used |
| Open storage yards | Within 22.9 m of uninterrupted travel |
| Equipment | On all motorized equipment and at flammable liquid storage areas |
| Hot work | A 13.6 kg Class A, B, C extinguisher at the welding or cutting location, and a hot work permit for high-risk work |
| Temporary facilities | At least 5 m from any other building or structure |
| Access to fire equipment | 90 cm clearance in front of fire protection equipment and panels; aisles to exits at least 0.9 m wide |
| Inspection | Weekly general inspection of construction and storage areas; daily inspection of high-risk areas |
The procedure also requires a project-specific fire prevention plan before work begins, an adequate water supply linked to a hydrant system or another suitable feed, and, while facilities are being built, extinguishers, a water truck with hoses and trained personnel.
Fire extinguishers for construction sites: which type and where?
Choose the extinguisher by the fuel you expect in each part of the site, not by its look or price:
| Site area | Main hazard | Usual choice |
|---|---|---|
| Floors under construction and stairwells | Timber, packaging, cardboard (Class A) | Multipurpose dry powder (ABC) |
| Temporary electrical panels and generators | Electrical equipment | CO2 |
| Fuel, oil and paint stores | Flammable liquids (Class B) | Foam or dry powder; a wheeled unit for larger stores |
| Welding and cutting points | Sparks and hot metal | ABC dry powder of the size set by the hot work permit |
| Labour camp and site offices | Furniture, kitchen, power | Dry powder, plus CO2 near panels |
Through its technical supply service AZEIDK offers the Falcon Gold 6 kg dry powder extinguisher, the 50 kg dry powder unit for stores and equipment yards, the 6 kg CO2 extinguisher for panels and the 25 L foam extinguisher for fuel stores. For a first estimate by floor area, try the fire extinguisher calculator, then confirm the final number with the safety engineer.
Site extinguishers take more dust and knocks than anywhere else. Check the gauge, seal and hose regularly; the monthly inspection described in NFPA 10 is the accepted minimum, explained in our NFPA 10 guide. Any unit that has been discharged, even partly, is swapped at once for a full one and sent for refilling.
Hot work: welding, cutting and grinding
Many site fires start with a spark from welding or cutting landing on combustibles on a lower floor or behind a wall. SBC 801 treats hot work in its own chapter, and the EXPRO procedure sets clear controls:
- A written hot work permit before any high-risk work, stating location, time and the responsible person.
- Combustibles moved 10 m away from the work area, or covered with flame-resistant material.
- An extinguisher within reach: a 13.6 kg Class A, B, C unit at the welding or cutting location.
- A fire watch assigned when normal precautions are not enough to prevent a fire.
- Scaffold boards covered with fire-retardant material and the work enclosed when welding at height.
- Portable welding machines switched off when moved or when the welder leaves the area.
How long the fire watch stays after the work ends is written into the permit according to the code and project specification. It is not left to the technician.
Storage, temporary facilities and power
The EXPRO procedure bans storing flammable liquids in exits, stairways or passageways, requires secondary containment for fuel tanks and asks for quantities on site to be kept to a minimum. Smoking is limited to signed areas and banned in offices and site facilities, during refuelling and near welding gas stores.
Waste must not build up in work areas. Clearance is kept around lights and heaters in temporary facilities. Stored materials must not block the view or access of fire vehicles.
When does permanent protection take over?
As work progresses, parts of the fire fighting systems, such as risers and hose cabinets on completed floors, can be brought into service in stages after testing, under a programme approved by the consultant. This is an engineering decision, not a site shortcut: an untested network gives a false sense of safety. Temporary extinguishers stay on a floor until its permanent protection is handed over through testing, commissioning and handover.
Weekly checklist for the site safety officer
- Every extinguisher in place, gauge in the green, seal intact, nothing blocking it.
- This week’s hot work permits closed and signed, with the fire watch recorded where required.
- Fuel store away from exits, quantities kept to what is needed, no-smoking sign visible.
- Routes to exits open and at least 0.9 m wide; fire vehicle access clear.
- Combustible waste removed from floors and stairwells.
- Water supply or water truck ready, hoses connected and undamaged.
How AZEIDK supports contractors at this stage
AZEIDK supplies portable and wheeled extinguishers, fire hose cabinets and safety equipment from the brands shown on its site, and helps the contractor choose the right type for each area. AZEIDK’s own maintenance team services and refills extinguishers under its annual maintenance contracts. When the building is ready, AZEIDK designs, supplies and installs the permanent fire fighting and fire alarm systems. AZEIDK General Contracting holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certificates covering fire fighting, fire alarm and low current work.
Frequently asked questions
What are the fire safety requirements for construction sites in Saudi Arabia?
The technical reference is the Saudi Fire Code SBC 801, with its chapters on construction and demolition and on hot work. On government projects, the EXPRO procedure adds specific requirements such as one extinguisher per 278 m2 and a prevention plan before work starts.
How many fire extinguishers does a construction site need?
Under the EXPRO procedure: one per 278 m2 of protected building, plus units at fuel stores, on equipment and at hot work. The safety engineer sets the final number from the layout.
What is the best extinguisher type for a building site?
Multipurpose ABC dry powder is the most common on floors, with CO2 near electrical panels and generators, and foam or powder at fuel stores.
Is a permit needed for welding on site?
Yes for high-risk work. The EXPRO procedure requires a hot work permit, a 13.6 kg extinguisher at the work point and combustibles kept 10 m away.
What does a fire watch do?
The fire watch observes the hot work area during and after the work to spot and put out any ignition early. One is assigned when normal precautions are not enough.
Can extinguishers be removed once sprinklers are installed?
Not until the sprinkler system is tested and in service. Temporary extinguishers stay until the permanent system on that floor is handed over.
Conclusion
Fire safety on construction sites is a daily job that starts with a written plan before day one: extinguishers placed by hazard, hot work permits, controlled storage and a weekly inspection. Work from the SBC 801 edition in your contract, and use the EXPRO procedure as a practical reference for figures on government projects.
Need extinguishers and safety equipment for your site? Send us the site area, construction phases and type of hot work, and we will propose quantities and types. Talk to the AZEIDK team
