Key points
- New does not mean suitable for every building; the test is a recognised evaluation or standard, performance shown in independent sources, and fit for your climate.
- 3D printing has the ICC-ES AC509 evaluation criteria for printed concrete properties, structural and fire performance, but it is still recent.
- ICF homes showed about 9% better whole-wall insulation and about 10% better airtightness than wood-frame homes in studies.
- Marketing figures need checking; a radiant barrier may cut attic heat flow 40%, but that equals only 8–12% of cooling cost.
Every year brings "revolutionary" building materials and methods. This page follows them calmly: what they are, whether they have an evaluation or standard, and what has actually been shown. It is general information, not a recommendation to use a technology in a specific building; that is the designer's decision after studying the project.
1) How we assess any new technology
- Does it have a recognised standard or evaluation criteria?
- Is its performance shown in independent sources (laboratories, peer-reviewed research), not just adverts?
- Does it suit our climate (heat, dust, coastal humidity, soils)?
- Is there a trained contractor, spare parts and maintenance in your city?
- Will the municipality and the Saudi Building Code accept it for your project? See the Saudi codes guide.
2) Technologies we follow
| Technology | Recognition | What is shown or stated | Watch out | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D printing | ICC-ES AC509 evaluation criteria1 | Walls printed layer by layer | Recent; roofs and services done by other methods | 3D printing |
| ICF | In use and studied | ~9% better wall insulation and ~10% better airtightness than wood frame2 | Untreated foam and termites; below-grade waterproofing2 | ICF |
| Light steel framing | In use | Non-combustible and does not absorb moisture3 | Corrosion and thermal bridges | steel framing |
| AAC blocks | In use | 70–80% porosity gives lightness and insulation4 | Mortar and render specified by the maker | AAC |
| Spray foam | In use | Thermal and moisture barrier together | Isocyanates5: vacate during spraying and observe re-entry time6 | spray foam |
| Solar on buildings | Regulatory framework for self-consumption7 | Grid connection with a defined procedure | Design and connection by an approved professional | home solar |
| Radiant barriers | In use | ~40% cut in attic heat flow = 8–12% of cooling cost8 | Dust reduces effectiveness; a complement, not a substitute | radiant barriers |
| Heat pump water heaters | In efficiency programmes | See the water heater guide | Installed in an interior space that stays between about 4 and 32°C (40–90°F) year-round, with about 28 m³ (1,000 ft³) of air space around it9 | water heaters |
3) How we update this page
We add a technology only when we find a reliable source, and record its recognition status and last review date. We always separate "technical news" from "recommendation". If there is a technology you want us to research, contact us.
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.
- 13D Printing — AC509 Acceptance Criteria for 3D Automated Construction Technology for 3D Concrete Walls — ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES)
- 2Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) — Building America Solution Center — PNNL / U.S. DOE
- 3Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Framing 101: A Practical Guide — Steel Framing Industry Association — BuildSteel.org
- 4Effect of Pore Structure on Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete — Materials (MDPI)
- 5Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation and How to Use it More Safely — U.S. EPA — Safer Choice
- 6Vacate and Safe Re-Entry Time — Spray Polyurethane Foam Application — U.S. EPA — Safer Choice
- 7Regulatory Framework for Renewable Energy Generation for Self-Consumption, ERD-TA-004 (V02/23) — Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority (SERA)
- 8Attic Radiant Barriers — Building America Solution Center — PNNL / U.S. DOE
- 9Heat Pump Water Heaters — ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA / DOE)