In the name of Allah, most compassionate and merciful

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ministry of Public Works and Housing
Deputy Ministry of Public Works

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
FOR
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

DIVISION 03 : CONCRETE
Copyright 2002
Ministry of Public Works and Housing
Deputy Ministry of Public Works
Central Office for Building and Construction - 5
P.O.Box 56095
Riyadh 11554
www.mpwh.gov.sa

These specifications have been prepared by the Special Committee for Updating the General
Specifications for Building Construction, affiliated to the Central Office for Building and Construction.

1 st Edition – 01. Moharram 1403H

18. October 1982G

2 nd Edition – 24. Sha’ban 1423H

30. October 2002G

All rights, including translation into foreign languages, reserved.

No part of these specifications may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
or by any means electronically or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Deputy Ministry of
Public Works, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

II
 Responsible Members of the Special Committee
for
the Revision of the General Specifications for Building Construction

General Supervision
Dr.-Ing. Habib Mustafa Zein Al-Abidin

Assistant General Supervisor

Eng. Ebrahim Suleyman Al Najashi

Project Manager
Arch. Eng. Abdulrahman M. Al Mufarrej

Project Organizer
Eng. Mohammed Ali Al Hejairy

General Requirements
Dr.-Ing. Habib Mustafa Zein Al-Abididin Dr.-Ing. Helmut Isendahl
Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Gockel Dipl.Ing. Arch. Helmut Wolf
Eng. Christopher Willmot Arch. Eng. Abdulrahman M. Al Mufarrej

The Architectural Divisions

Arch. Eng. Abdulrahman M. Al Mufarrej Dipl.-Ing. Arch. Helmut Wolf
Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Gockel Dr.- Ing. Magdy Kamel Moustafa Kamel
Eng. Mohammed Ali Al Hejairy Dipl.-Ing. Arch. Bernhard Multhaup

The Structural Divisions

Dr.-Ing. Habib Mustafa Zein Al-Abididin Dr. -Ing. Magdy Kamel Moustafa Kamel
Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Gockel Dr.-Ing. Helmut Isendahl

III
 The Mechanical Divisions
Eng. Bahgat Kamal Abul Saad Eng. Mohamad Adel El-Massarani
Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Gockel Eng. Ismail Kamil

The Electrical Divisions

Eng. Christopher Willmott Eng. Ahmed Hussein Ghanem

Checking of Technical Terms and Expressions

Dr. -Ing. Magdy Kamel Moustafa Kamel Dr.-Ing. Hafez Mahmud Kayali
Eng. Mohamad Adel El-Massarani Dr. Eng. Khaled Al-Sayed Hasan
Eng. Bahgat Kamal Abul Saad Eng. Mazen Diarbakerli

Data Base Design and Programming

Dipl.-Kfm. Horst Reimann Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Gockel
Dipl.-Ing. Michael Meyer Dipl.-Ing. Norbert Schlipkoether
Programmer Ebrahim Mohammad Sangary Programmer Mubarak Said Al Qahtani
Programmer Emad Saleh Al Atiqi Eng. Adel A. Al-Juwayed
Eng. Mohammed A. Al Junidel

IV
 Foreword

The role of the Public Works Ministry in designing government projects and supervising their construction,
and the technical challenges which have accompanied the construction renaissance in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia enabled the Ministry to gain much expertise and practical experience. The Ministry,
motivated by instructions of HRH The Minister of Public Works and Housing, and directed by HE Dr.
Habib bin Mustafa Zain Al Abideen, released its first edition of the volume “General Specifications for
Building Construction” in the year 1403H /1982G Those specifications were received with tremendous
welcome and acceptance. Large numbers of engineers and engineering departments and offices, as well
as contracting companies, in the local, regional and Arab Countries, started to apply them. Furthermore,
due to the absence of similar specifications that match these specifications in terms of thoroughness and
details in the field of building industry within the Arab World, the Council of the Housing and Development
Ministers adopted these specifications in the year 1992 as the first step to produce uniform Arabian
Specifications.
The widespread application and utilization of these specifications has required the Public Works Ministry
to be responsible for their updating and development. Consequently, the ministry has recruited a large
number of experts and engineers to perform this work. More than 50 individuals specializing in the
various fields of engineering, programming, technical expressions and terminology, and translation have
been employed.
Updating and development have focused on the following points:
1. Keeping in step with modern innovations and technologies, which have marked the material
equipment, machinery and building techniques locally and internationally.
2. Updating the Reference Standards with priority given to Saudi, Gulf, and International standards.
3. Utilization of the sorting and classification system most commonly used in the field of construction
worldwide.
4. Employment of a standard numbering, coding, and filing system which allows for easy recall and
exchange of information.
5. Regulations and bylaws released by Official Agencies.
6. Preservation of the environment and public health.
7. Encouragement of National industry.
8. Development of a bilingual database (Arabic/English) for use with Personal Computers.

The internationally recognized framework known as “Masterformat” released by the Construction

Specifications Institute (CSI) has been adopted in order to organize the sorting and numbering in the new
edition of the specifications in a manner that insures the easy flow and exchange of information among
specialists and the community of the building industry at large. The new edition involves 12 main
divisions, which have been selected from the 16 divisions approved by the CSI. It is worth noting that our
selected divisions have not overlooked any of the recognized basic works in building construction. These
divisions are:
Division 01: General Requirements
Division 02: Sitework
Division 03: Concrete
Division 04: Masonry
Division 05: Metals
Division 06: Wood and Plastics
Division 07: Thermal and Moisture Protection
Division 08: Doors and Windows
Division 09: Finishes
Division 14: Conveying Systems
Division 15: Mechanical
Division 16: Electrical

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Each Division comprises a number of related Sections.
For example: Division 08 includes eight Sections. They are:
08100 Doors and Frames
08200 Wooden and Plastic Doors
08300 Special Doors
08400 Entrances and Storefronts
08500 Metal Windows
08600 Wooden and Plastic Windows
08700 Hardware
08800 Glazing

Further, each Section incorporates seven Parts as follows:

Part 1: General: This is mainly concerned with the references, quality control, submittals, programs,
and maintenance.
Part 2: Products: This gives a breakdown of material used in addition to their properties and place of
installation.
Part 3: Execution: The most significant items in this Part are the execution and installation of the
works, field quality control, as well as cleaning and protection methods.
Part 4: Methods of Measurement: This indicates the measurement units and the measuring methods
that shall be used for the Bill of Quantity.
Part 5: Basis of Payment: This indicates the work that shall be completed for each item of the Bill of
Quantity. It also indicates the ancillary works to be included in the unit price rate.
Part 6: Annex: Tables and Figures: Those relevant to the individual Section.
Part 7: Annex: Specifier Information: Additional information for the person who prepares project
specifications particularly with regard to selection of items and additions which may be
necessary.

The new edition of the General Specifications for Building Construction, which comprises 12 Divisions, is
provided as follows:
- Published in book form in both Arabic and English languages, as individual divisions
- Published as CD ROM in both Arabic and English languages in MSWord format.

Later on it will be published as a bilingual (Arabic/English) MSAccess Database

for Personal Computers (PC).
It is worth mentioning that the effort of updating and developing these specifications encountered many
difficulties and challenges during the preparation, verification, reviewing of technical terminology and
expressions, and control of the translation. However, with the help of Allah, then the instructions of HRH
The Minister of Public Works and Housing, and the persistent efforts of the Central Office and members
of the Committee that supervised the updating and development processes, presided over by HE Dr.
Habib bin Mustafa Zain Al Abideen, Deputy Minister of Public Works, this work is now complete as a first
draft.
The Ministry of Public Works, headed by HRH Prince Miteb bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Minister of Public
Works and Housing, places this new edition (first draft) of the General Specifications for Building
Construction in the hands of those involved in and concerned with the construction industry, be it
commissions, government organizations, universities and educational institutes or engineering offices,
contractors, architects, and engineers within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Gulf States, and all
member Countries of the Arab League.
We hope that we will be provided with their comments and recommendations which shall be met with our
full attention and care. Those comments and recommendations that are deemed appropriate shall be
incorporated in the final edition, which shall be issued during the coming two years.

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Comments and Recommendations may be forwarded to the following address:

Ministry of Public Works and Housing

Deputy Ministry for Public Works
Central Office for Construction and Building – 5
P.O.Box 56095
Riyadh 11154
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Or, through our e-mail as follows:

gsbc@mpwh.gov.sa

We would like to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to HE Eng.
Muhammad bin Hamid Al Nagadi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Works, the General Directorate for
Technical Affairs, Computer Department, and the Saudi Arabia Standards Organization for their
commendable close cooperation with us during the updating and development process.

Notwithstanding the amplitude of this Work and the tremendous efforts that have been exerted therein,
nevertheless, it may only be measured as a humble accomplishment as compared to the responsibility of
developing the construction industry in the Kingdom and in the whole Arab World to keep in step with new
international trends.

Central Office for Construction and Building

Deputy Ministry of Public Works

VII
 DIVISION 03
CONCRETE

Revision
Dr.-Ing. Habib Mustafa Zein Al-Abidin
Dr.-Ing. Helmut Isendahl

Check of Terms
Dr.-Ing. Hafez Mahmud Kayali

Final Check
Dipl.-Ing. Norbert Schlipkoether

VIII
 INDEX

Division 01: General Requirements

Summary of Work
Allowances
Measurement and Payment
Modification Requirements
Alternatives
Co-ordination and Meetings
Project Co-ordination
Field Engineering
Architectural and Engineering Design
Regulatory Requirements
Identification Systems
Reference Standards and Definitions
Alteration Project Procedures
Submittals
Quality Assurances
Construction Facilities and Temporary Controls
Material and Equipment
Starting of Systems
Contract Closeout
Operation & Maintenance Data

Division 02: Sitework

Earthwork
Paving and Surfacing
Water Distribution
Sewerage and Drainage
Irrigation Systems
Landscaping

Division 03: Concrete

Concrete Formwork 01
Concrete Reinforcement 23
Cast-in-Place Concrete 64
Precast Concrete 155

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Division 04: Masonry

Unit Masonry

Division 05: Metals

Structural Steel
Metal Fabrication
Expansion joint cover assembly

Division 06: Wood & Plastics

Heavy Timber Construction

Architectural Woodwork

Division 07: Thermal & Moisture Protection

Waterproofing
Dampproofing
Water Repellents
Insulation
Fireproofing
Manufactured Roofing & Siding
Membrane Roofing
Flashing and Sheet Metal
Roof Specialities & Accessories
Joint Sealers

Division 08: Doors & Windows

Metal Doors and Frames

Wood and Plastic Doors
Special Doors
Entrances and Storefront
Metal Windows
Wood and Plastic Windows
Hardware
Glazing

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Division 09: Finishes

Lath and Plaster

Gypsum Board
Tile
Terrazzo
Stone Facing
Acoustical Treatments
Special Ceiling Surfaces
Wood Flooring
Resilient Flooring
Carpet
Painting
Wall Coverings

Division 14: Conveying Systems

Dumbwaiters
Elevators
Escalators
Hoists and Cranes

Division 15: Mechanical

Basic Mechanical Materials & Methods

Mechanical Insulation
Fire Protecting Piping
Fire Pumps
Wet Pipe Sprinkler System
Dry Pipe Sprinkler System
Pre-action Sprinkler System
Combination Dry Pipe & Pre-Action Sprinkler Systems
Deluge Sprinkler System
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems
Stand Pipe & Hose Systems
Plumbing Piping
Plumbing Specialities
Plumbing Fixtures

XI
 Plumbing Equipment
Pool & Fountain Equipment
Special Systems
Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning
Heat Generation
Refrigeration
Heat Transfer
Air Handling
Air Distribution
Controls
Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing

Division 16: Electrical

Basic Electrical Materials & Methods

Medium Voltage Distribution
Service and Distribution
Lighting
Special Systems
Alarm & Detection Systems
Clock & Program Systems
Voice & Data Systems
Public Address & Music Systems
Television Systems
Controls
Testing

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