A residential building houses families who sleep in it, and the taller it is, the harder evacuation and firefighting become. That is why Civil Defense requirements for residential buildings scale with height and area. These are the main ones from the official requirements.
Core Principles for Residential Buildings
According to Civil Defense's fire prevention requirements for residential buildings:
- The fire hazard in residential buildings is classified as light hazard.
- Mixed use is not permitted where it involves a high fire hazard or an industrial purpose.
- A fire compartment's area must not exceed 3,000 square metres for horizontal spread.
- Each residential unit is an independent fire compartment, and special hazard areas are separated.
- A fire barrier or fire door is required if a corridor exceeds 30 metres and where corridors meet.
- Vertical openings should preferably be enclosed by a one-hour fire-resistant wall with doors rated at no less than 45 minutes.
- Basement accommodation is not permitted except in special cases approved by Civil Defense, with an additional exit and automatic sprinklers.
Requirements That Increase with Height
| Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Five or more floors (including the ground floor) or 18 m or more in height | Dry standpipes |
| More than two floors with a floor area over 1,000 m² | Dry standpipes |
| Height over 28 m from the ground floor level to the top floor level | Wet standpipes |
Source: the firefighting and alarm system requirements on the Civil Defense website.
The Safety Officer and the Evacuation Plan
The safety requirements regulation for residential and office buildings requires the safety officer to prepare a detailed evacuation and firefighting plan, liaise with the competent Civil Defense centre, and train staff to implement it. Read: How to prepare an evacuation plan.
Existing Buildings
The regulation allows buildings in use before it came into force to continue operating, provided there is no real, evident danger and their classification and activity remain unchanged. Read: Old buildings and current safety requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do villas need a Civil Defense license?
Licensing is tied to the activities and facilities subject to it; however, safety requirements in design apply through the building code.
When does an apartment building need sprinklers?
The code determines this according to height, area and classification. Read: When are automatic sprinklers mandatory?
Are the requirements the same for all establishments with the same activity?
No, they vary with floor area, number of occupants, classification and the building the establishment is in, and the actual requirements appear in the investor journey on the Salamah portal.
Who is responsible for maintaining fire systems?
The Ministry of Municipalities' requirements for warehouses and workshops, for example, state that the owner is responsible for installing and maintaining firefighting systems, with regular maintenance and calibration according to Civil Defense instructions.
If your building is a tower or high-rise, read the dedicated guide: Civil Defense requirements for towers and high-rise buildings.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office in Riyadh that provides safety and fire protection services: designing and approving safety drawings, technical reports, compliance reports and following up licensing through the Salamah portal. Learn about our safety system design review service, or Details of how we can help are on our Energy Efficiency Drawings & Studies service page. contact us to identify your facility's requirements.
Start with the complete guide: Salamah portal: the complete guide to Civil Defense licensing.
Information is based on the regulations and requirements of the General Directorate of Civil Defense (998.gov.sa) and the Saudi Fire Code; Civil Defense guidance documents do not replace the code. Requirements vary by activity, area and classification, so always refer to the investor journey on the Salamah portal. Last reviewed: October 2026.