PT design review, optimisation and full PT packages in Saudi Arabia

SBC 304 and SBC 301

Concrete design in the Kingdom follows the Saudi Building Code: SBC 304 for concrete structures and SBC 301 for loads, including wind and earthquake. SBC 304 was developed from the ICC and ACI 318 family, with Saudi modifications, so a PT slab is designed with ACI-style provisions under a Saudi load and durability basis. The edition in force changes over time, so we confirm the governing edition at kick-off.

Durability and exposure

SBC 304’s durability provisions address conditions that are common in the Kingdom: sulfate and chloride exposure, coastal sites, sabkha ground and salt weathering. For PT these drive concrete cover, the corrosion protection of the tendon system, and, for unbonded tendons in aggressive environments, the choice of an encapsulated system. We set them at scheme stage, because cover changes the usable drape and with it the prestress.

Seismic design category

Seismic demand varies considerably across the Kingdom, so we check the seismic design category before choosing the floor system. Where slab-column frames are not part of the seismic-force-resisting system, ACI 318-19 still requires slab-column connections in the higher categories to be checked for the design drift (§18.14.5). That can add shear reinforcement at columns that pass the gravity check.

Heat, shrinkage and long plates

Hot-weather concreting and large podium floor plates make early shrinkage and restraint cracking a real risk. Pour strips, early partial stressing and modelling the restraint from cores and walls are part of the design, not left to site.

The general method is set out on our post-tension slab design page, and the drawing set on PT shop drawings.

Previous experience in Saudi Arabia, SCE registration and long familiarity with SBC 304 mean Saudi PT work is part of the practice's background. The four core services apply across the Kingdom: PT design review, PT design optimisation, preliminary design support and the full post-tension design package, with stressing support and site supervision by arrangement.

Where Iron Axis works in Saudi Arabia

Region	Typical PT structures	Design focus
Riyadh	Towers, mixed-use podiums, car parks	Hot-weather shrinkage, restraint, seismic category
Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah	Hotels, residential towers, podiums	Coastal durability, tendon protection
Dammam, Al Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail	Towers, car parks, industrial buildings, rafts	Aggressive exposure, sabkha, SBC 303 interface

Giga-projects and large developments

Large programmes such as NEOM, the Red Sea developments, Qiddiya and ROSHN involve many consultants, contractors and PT specialists, with project-specific design standards on top of the Saudi Building Code. Iron Axis can support design teams and contractors on these programmes with PT design reviews, optimisation studies, design packages and stressing record review, working to the project's own specification and approval process. We do not claim past work on these programmes.

Who does the work: our engineering team, led by our Lead Engineer, brings 15+ years of post-tension design and site experience across the GCC, including previous experience in Saudi Arabia. We work to Dubai Municipality and the other UAE authorities' PT design and submission criteria, our lead engineer is registered with the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE), and PT slabs are analysed and designed in RAM Concept. Iron Axis provides design and engineering only; PT materials and site works stay with the PT specialist contractor appointed for the project.