Operation does not start with installing equipment but with completing the certificates. Many factories finish their buildings and lines and then wait weeks or months because of an environmental certificate that was never started, an insulation certificate not documented before the work was covered, or a maintenance contract with an unaccredited contractor. The secret to avoiding this is planning certificates in parallel with construction, not after it. This is a checklist based on the attachments to the operating licence application and the building completion and occupancy certificate as MODON publishes them, with a smart sequence and tips for each certificate.
The Checklist
| Certificate or document | Usual issuer | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A safety drawing approved by MODON | The engineering office, then MODON approval | Best prepared within the building file |
| Insulation works completion certificate | The accredited consulting office | The user guide states it comes from the accredited consulting office |
| Safety systems test form and quantity survey | The systems contractor and the office | For fire-fighting and alarm systems |
| Electrical connections and wiring safety certificate | A competent body | After electrical works are complete |
| Fire and alarm systems maintenance contract | A contractor accredited by civil defense | A core requirement |
| Environmental operating certificate | The competent environmental authority | Start early to avoid delay |
| Industrial licence for the site | The authority competent for industrial licensing | Linked to the activity |
A Smart Sequence
- The safety drawing is approved with the building file. Read: Industrial building permit documents.
- Insulation works are documented and inspected before being covered.
- Fire systems are tested after installation and their maintenance contract signed. Read: The safety systems compliance report.
- Environmental certificate procedures start before construction is complete.
Tips for Each Certificate
- Safety drawing: design it with the architect so exits and systems do not conflict with the production line. Read: Civil defense requirements for factories.
- Insulation: photograph and document the work in stages, as covered insulation cannot be inspected later without breaking out.
- Systems testing: test in stages before the comprehensive test. Read: Failing the final test.
- Electrical: make sure panels and loads match the design before requesting the certificate.
- Maintenance contract: verify the contractor's civil defense accreditation before signing.
Then the Inspection Visit
Once the attachments are complete, MODON verifies safety standards in an inspection visit. Read: The factory operating licence and Inspection points for industrial projects.
Handover From the Contractor
Make handing over documents a handover condition: as-built drawings, material certificates, test results and operating manuals. Read: The factory handover checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the certificates differ by activity?
The core ones are common, with additional requirements for special activities such as compressed gases, smelting and boilers.
Can the application be submitted with missing documents?
Missing attachments delay the application; prepare them in full before applying.
When should I start preparing certificates?
From the start of construction, not after it is complete; some require documentation during the work.
Are these certificates repeated at renewal?
Some are updated, such as the maintenance contract. Read: Renewing operating licences.
Who coordinates all these bodies?
Usually the supervising consulting office, working with the contractor and investor.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that plans operating certificates in parallel with construction, prepares the safety drawing and insulation certificate, supervises systems testing, and gets the factory ready for the inspection visit. See our operating licences service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.
