The Kingdom’s geology—ranging from sabkha (salt flats) to windblown sand—is notoriously difficult for construction.
Key Requirements:
"Zero flooding" is the operational mandate. Because rain is infrequent but torrential when it occurs, Aramco standards require a return period of 100-years for industrial areas (most US codes use 25 or 50). Open channel design must incorporate riprap protections against velocities exceeding 3 m/s.
| Issue | SAES Reference | Consequence | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Using ACI cover instead of SAES cover | SAES-Q-001 | Rejection of shop drawings | | Not specifying Type V cement | SAES-Q-001 | Concrete batch rejection | | Forgetting sabkha mitigation | SAES-A-202 | Mandatory foundation redesign | | No hot-weather concreting plan | SAES-Q-001 | Work stoppage in summer | | Using non-Aramco approved welders | SAES-M-101 | Structural steel rejection | Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards For Civil
Before using individual standards, understand the document hierarchy:
Key Rule: If a project is under Aramco’s jurisdiction, the SAES overrides international codes (ASTM, ACI, AISC) where conflicts exist.
A unique aspect of Aramco civil standards is the requirement for structural fireproofing for carbon steel supports. "Zero flooding" is the operational mandate
According to SAES-M-100 and SAES-S-100 (Fire Protection) , any structural steel supporting critical equipment (vessels, pipes carrying hydrocarbons) must have a fire resistance rating of 2 hours minimum.
Unlike commercial building codes that prioritize life safety during rare events (e.g., a 100-year storm), Aramco’s standards prioritize operational continuity under extreme loads. This is because a refinery or gas plant cannot simply "evacuate" during a flood or sandstorm; a process upset could lead to flaring or environmental release.
Thus, SAES civil standards enforce:
Roads inside Aramco facilities must endure 120-ton crude oil tankers and 300°C hot oil spills.
Despite Saudi Arabia not being a seismic hot zone like Japan or California, Aramco’s standards are surprisingly rigorous. They incorporate the SBC-301 (Saudi Building Code) seismic maps with additional company-specific amplification factors for soft soil strata.