ICC and GSO Sign Historic Agreement to Advance Building Safety, Innovation and Energy Efficiency in the Gulf Countries

Advancements in use of ICC Model Codes Expected to Enhance Communities’ Health and Welfare in the Gulf Countries

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The International Code Council (ICC) has signed a historic agreement supporting The Standardization Organization for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSO) efforts to develop a unified Gulf Building Code (GBC) for the region.

The Gulf Code will be based on the Saudi Building Code which will incorporate the latest provisions from the 2015 International Codes®. This new Gulf Building Code will support the harmonization of building practices, enhance safety and facilitate commerce in the region. Once implemented, the Gulf Code will reflect the latest advances in building safety, affordability and sustainability and be a driving force for innovation and safety advances in building design and construction.

“When the global building community comes together to promote health, welfare and safety in the built environment, everyone benefits,” said Dwayne Garriss, President, International Code Council Board of Directors. “ICC is proud to support the GSO efforts to this end.”

“The International Code Council is proud to work with the GSO and support its efforts to develop the Gulf Building Code,” said Dominic Sims, CEO International Code Council. “The development of the GBC will help foster economic growth and safety throughout the region.”

“We look forward to the GSO and its member states beginning a sustainable partnership and a continuing technical cooperation with the ICC before and after the launch of the GBC,” said GSO Secretary-General Nabil Amin Molla.

The Code Council will support the GSO efforts with training and other resources to facilitate the development and implementation of the new Gulf Building Code. The GSO will also participate in the Code Council’s code development process on future iterations of the model I-Codes.

About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

About the Standardization Organization for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSO)

The mission of GSO is to help the States of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates), achieve the objectives set forth in its Charter and in the GCC Economic Agreement by unifying the various standardization activities and following up application and compliance with the same in cooperation and coordination with the standardization bodies in the Member States in an endeavor to develop the production and service sector, foster the intra-GCC trade, protect the consumer, environment and the public health, and encourage the GCC industries and agricultural production that would enhance the GCC economy, maintain the achievements of the Members States and minimize the technical trade barriers as envisaged by the objectives of the GCC Common Market.