Compliance & Regulations

Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC) Compliance & Regulations – A 360° Approach

Ensuring Regulatory Adherence, Contractual Compliance, and Industry Standards in Mega Construction Projects

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1. Introduction

The Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC) Department at BEC Arabia is responsible for ensuring that all construction activities comply with:

✅ Saudi Building Code (SBC) & Municipality Regulations ✅ Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) & Public Investment Fund (PIF) Mega Project Requirements (NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, NUPP, etc.) ✅ FIDIC & NEC Contractual Standards for Quality Control ✅ ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 45001 (HSE), and ISO 14001 (Environmental Compliance) ✅ Royal Commission, Aramco, and Government Regulatory Approvals

The 360° compliance framework ensures full alignment between quality policies, contractual obligations, and regulatory standards, reducing legal risks, avoiding penalties, and ensuring project excellence.

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2. Regulatory Compliance Framework & Governance

2.1 QA/QC Regulatory Compliance Governance

Compliance Level	Responsible Stakeholders	Key Oversight Areas
Executive Oversight	CEO, QA/QC Director, Risk Management Team	Strategic compliance enforcement & risk mitigation
Project-Level QA/QC Compliance	QA/QC Managers, Engineers, Inspectors	Site quality control, inspections, material compliance
Regulatory & Municipality Compliance	Regulatory Affairs, HSE, Auditors	SBC, environmental, safety, and permitting approvals
Procurement & Supplier Compliance	Procurement Team, Suppliers, Vendors	Material compliance, technical approvals, testing

📌 Benchmark: All compliance-related activities must be documented and auditable for 100% regulatory adherence.

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3. Saudi Building Code (SBC) & Municipality Compliance

3.1 SBC & Municipality Approval Processes

✅ All project designs, construction methods, and materials must comply with SBC regulations. ✅ Structural safety, fire protection, seismic resistance, and energy efficiency must meet SBC codes. ✅ All municipality permits and approvals must be secured before construction begins.

📌 Compliance Checkpoints:

• SBC Compliance Reports & Municipality Inspections

• Seismic & Fire Safety Approvals

• Utility & Infrastructure Compliance (Water, Electricity, Roads, etc.)

📌 Benchmark: Zero non-compliance findings during municipal inspections.

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4. FIDIC & NEC Contractual Compliance for Quality Control

4.1 Engineering & Construction Quality Compliance Under FIDIC Contracts

✅ All QA/QC activities must align with FIDIC and NEC contract terms for quality control. ✅ Change orders and variations must be formally documented and approved. ✅ Defective work must be rectified at the contractor’s expense under FIDIC liability provisions.

📌 Key Risks & Compliance Areas: ❌ Failure to meet contractual quality specifications. ❌ Design changes causing cost and schedule impacts. ❌ Legal disputes arising from rejected works or defective materials.

✅ Mitigation Measures: Implement structured quality control approval workflows and legal compliance tracking.

📌 Benchmark: Zero contractual disputes related to quality compliance.

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5. ISO 9001, ISO 45001, & ISO 14001 Compliance

5.1 Quality Management (ISO 9001) Compliance

✅ All quality management systems must follow ISO 9001 standards. ✅ QA/QC documentation, audits, and reporting must be maintained per ISO requirements. ✅ Corrective & preventive action (CAPA) processes must be implemented for defects.

📌 Deliverables:

• ISO 9001 Audit Reports

• Non-Conformance Report (NCR) Logs

• Supplier & Material Compliance Certification

📌 Benchmark: Zero major non-conformances in ISO audits.

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5.2 Environmental Compliance (ISO 14001) & Sustainability Standards

✅ Construction waste management plans must align with ISO 14001 environmental regulations. ✅ Energy efficiency, pollution control, and sustainable building practices must be enforced. ✅ LEED compliance must be integrated for green building certification.

📌 Key Compliance Areas:

• Construction Waste Reduction & Recycling Reports

• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)

• Energy Efficiency & Carbon Footprint Audits

📌 Benchmark: 100% compliance with Saudi Environmental Regulations & ISO 14001.

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5.3 Health & Safety Compliance (ISO 45001)

✅ All quality inspections must align with ISO 45001 occupational health & safety standards. ✅ Permit-to-Work (PTW) procedures must be enforced for high-risk construction activities. ✅ All safety violations must be immediately reported and corrective actions implemented.

📌 Key Compliance Documents:

• Site Safety Inspection & HSE Reports

• Incident Reports & Corrective Action Logs

• ISO 45001 Safety Compliance Checklists

📌 Benchmark: Zero lost-time injuries (LTI) due to quality-related safety failures.

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6. Material & Supplier Compliance

6.1 Material Testing & Certification Requirements

✅ All materials must meet project specifications and pass third-party testing. ✅ Factory acceptance tests (FAT) must be conducted before procurement approvals. ✅ All suppliers must be pre-qualified and assessed for quality risk.

📌 Compliance Deliverables:

• Material Compliance Certification Logs

• Third-Party Testing & Verification Reports

• Supplier Quality Compliance Audit Results

📌 Benchmark: 100% of materials must be verified and tested before site use.

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7. Digital Quality Compliance Monitoring & Reporting

7.1 Digital Compliance & Quality Assurance Tools

Technology	Functionality	Application in QA/QC Compliance
Aconex (EDMS)	Document Control, Non-Conformance Reports (NCR)	Ensures regulatory compliance & quality records management
BIM 360	3D Model Integration, Clash Detection	Reduces errors & enhances compliance verification
SAP ERP	Procurement Integration, Material Approval	Ensures supplier compliance & technical submittal tracking
Primavera P6	Construction Schedule Risk Analysis	Monitors quality impact on project timeline
Power BI Dashboards	Real-Time Compliance Analytics	Tracks quality audits, NCR closure rates, and approvals

📌 Benchmark: 100% digital tracking of quality compliance & regulatory approvals.

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8. Compliance Audits & Risk Control

8.1 Internal & External Quality Compliance Audits

✅ Monthly internal quality audits must be conducted. ✅ Annual third-party audits must verify ISO, SBC, and contractual compliance. ✅ All audit findings must result in corrective action implementation.

📌 Compliance Tracking Reports:

• Internal & External Audit Compliance Reports

• Non-Conformance Closure Reports & Trend Analysis

• Regulatory Inspection & Certification Reports

📌 Benchmark: Zero non-conformities in compliance audits.

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9. Key Compliance & Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPI Name	Definition	Target Benchmark
Regulatory Compliance Rate (%)	% of regulatory approvals obtained without rejections	≥ 98%
Material Compliance Rate (%)	% of materials approved without quality deviations	≥ 99%
Audit Pass Rate (%)	% of successful internal & external audits	≥ 95%
Non-Conformance Closure Time (Days)	Average time taken to resolve NCRs	≤ 7 Days

📌 Benchmark: All regulatory KPIs must be tracked & reported monthly.

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10. Conclusion

The QA/QC Compliance & Regulations Framework at BEC Arabia ensures: ✅ Full adherence to SBC, ISO, FIDIC, and municipality quality standards. ✅ Regulatory risk control through structured approvals & compliance audits. ✅ Quality-driven construction practices to eliminate rework & defects. ✅ Digital tracking for real-time quality assurance & compliance verification.

By embedding compliance protocols into quality management workflows, BEC Arabia guarantees defect-free, legally compliant, and high-quality project execution.