Key points
- Regulatory requirements for commercial buildings vary by activity and come from the competent authority (municipality, civil defence and others), not a general guide.
- Before a change of use: assess electrical loads, services, drainage and ventilation with a professional, since a new activity may need different loads or services.
- Shared services (pumps, tanks, main panels, roof) need an owner, a maintenance schedule and a log.
- Shades on commercial streets have requirements and a permit via Balady.
A commercial building puts different activities under one roof: a restaurant beside a clothes shop with offices above. Each activity has its own loads and requirements, and a fault in a shared part affects everyone.
1) Before a change of use or letting to a new activity
| Item | What to assess with a professional | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Electrics | Is the existing capacity enough? Dedicated circuits for large loads? RCD protection? | wires, breakers, earthing |
| Water and drainage | Water points, drainage, and grease traps for restaurants per the authority's requirements | drainage |
| Cooling and ventilation | The new activity's heat load, and extraction of odours and smoke | choosing AC |
| Floors | Slip resistance, especially in wet areas, and load capacity | tile specs |
| Shopfront and shades | Frontage requirements, and shades on commercial streets with their permit1 | shades |
2) Shared services
- Pumps, tanks, roof, main panels and exterior lighting: one person responsible, a maintenance schedule and a log. See existing building maintenance.
- Tanks: cleaning and disinfection when needed and a tight cover2. See water tanks.
- Automatic doors and gates: reverse test and inspection every 30 days3.
- Separate meters for each unit where possible reduce disputes (practical advice).
3) Documentation
- As-built drawings, and panel and circuit layout for each unit.
- Licences and certificates issued for the building and each activity.
- Maintenance contracts and inspection reports (electrics, lifts, safety systems where present).
- A record of alterations by each tenant, with the owner's written approval.
- Warranties. See warranties and spare parts.
4) Tenant alterations
Practical advice: require in the lease that any change to electrics, plumbing or frontage needs written approval and a licensed professional, and that drawings of the change are handed over. Undocumented alterations are a leading cause of faults and disputes at the end of a lease.
Sources
The number next to a statement points to its source in this list. Sources back the general information; anything marked “practical advice” is editorial experience, not a quoted source. Anything that affects safety, structural design or electrical installations needs a licensed professional, and in Saudi Arabia the binding reference is the Saudi Building Code.
- 1Car Shades Permit (e-service) — Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
- 2Technical Note 3: Cleaning and disinfecting water storage tanks and tankers — World Health Organization (WHO) / WEDC
- 3Non-Reversing Automatic Garage Door Openers Are a Hazard (Safety Alert, Pub. 523) — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)