SDiB is a leading debating platform for safety and fire professionals in the construction industry. Initiated in collaboration with Intersec in 2012, the Safety Design in Buildings Campaign debates safety standards and practices in the built environment. Expert talks discuss improved protection of people and buildings by looking at trends in the GCC and construction sector.

The event brings leading fire safety consultants, architects, engineers and testing experts together with safety system suppliers to give updates on industry standards and provide a debating platform for best practice.

The conference programmes in Dammam will feature presentations and discussions including, Retrofitting for Fire Safety: Assessing operational and business risks and incentives of retrofitting cladding for improved fire safety; Using tools and technologies of BIM, VR, AR & 3D modeling to create optimal fire safety strategies and building operations; Achieving fire safety in the construction phase: How to best involve the design team to mitigate fire safety risks; Promoting an organisational culture of prioritising safety: from design, planning, implementation and building operation; and meeting NFPA standards and Fire Safety considerations for high-security and military installations.

For example, the Opening Keynote on the first morning will discuss Fire Protection In Buildings Under Construction. Many building fires in Saudi Arabia occur during the construction phase. The ongoing increase in construction will likely lead to more construction-related fires. The owner of the property confirms a programme preventing fires of projects under construction to be followed up with implementation that complies with the provisions of the standard. Among overlooked requirements are escape routes and transition distances. This presentation will look at eliminating unsafe practices and keeping safety a priority. Drawing on experience from risk assessments an overview will be given on control concepts, regulations and applicable EU, UK, US, and NFPA codes.