Article 8 of the Saudi Building Code Law

This article contains two provisions in two paragraphs:

Paragraph 1 - compliance with the Code: the designer, contractor and supervisor must each carry out the work entrusted to them in accordance with the Code. Each has an independent obligation within the limits of their work.

Paragraph 2 - joint liability: the designer who supervises the execution of the building and the contractor are jointly liable to compensate the owner for:

• Any total or partial collapse of what has been built that occurs within a certain period.
• Every defect that threatens the soundness and safety of the building, including hidden defects.

Joint liability means that responsibility for the compensation falls on both of them together. Note that the paragraph concerns the designer who supervises the execution of the building together with the contractor, and mentions no one else. It also does not specify the certain period or the details of compensation, but states that the regulations set the provisions needed for this; no particular period should be assumed without consulting the regulations.

Paragraph 2 was added by Royal Decree No. M/15 dated 19/1/1441 AH. This article complements Article 7, which requires design, supervision and execution to be under contracts with specialists who hold practice licenses. An owner who finds cracks or defects in the building that threaten its safety should consider consulting a lawyer specializing in civil and compensation matters or real estate matters before taking any step.