Saep 138 PDF

Engineering Procedure
SAEP-138 1 May 2016

Safety Requirements for Temporary Tents,
Canopies and Membrane Structures
Document Responsibility: Loss Prevention Standards Committee
Contents
1 Purpose……………………………………….... 2
2 Scope…………………………………………… 2
3 Conflicts and Deviations……………….……... 3
4 Applicable Documents..................…….…..… 3
5 Definitions.........................…………….….…... 5
6 General Requirements……………………...... 8
7 Responsibilities…………………………..….… 9
8 Requirements of the
Site and Tent Design Process………… 11
Appendix A…..…………………………...……..... 31
Appendix B.…………….……………………...….. 34
Appendix C.…………….………………...……….. 36
Previous Issue: New Next Planned Update: 1 May 2019

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Contact: Nolan, Dennis Paul (nolandp) on +966-13-8727572
Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2016. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Loss Prevention Standards Committee SAEP-138
Issue Date: 1 May 2016 Safety Requirements for Temporary Tents,
Next Planned Update: 1 May 2019 Canopies and Membrane Structures
1 Purpose
The purpose of this procedure is to define the Saudi Aramco Building Code
(SAES-M-100) safety requirements applicable to Tents, Canopies and Membrane
Structures used for temporary seasonal, commercial and cultural exhibitions.
Temporary use of Tents and Membrane Structure is only allowed for a time period up to
a maximum of 180 days. The designs shall ensure safety, reliability, operability,
consistency and cost-effectiveness. It shall provide the minimum detailed explanation
of building code fire and life safety requirements. Appendix A of this procedure under-
Table of Summary of Temporary Tent Code Requirements provides summary to these
requirements.
Commentary:
SAES-M-100, Saudi Aramco Building Code, adopts the 2009 International Building and
Fire Codes (IBC and IFC) as its reference documents. All technical requirements of
SAES-M-100 come from the IBC and IFC with the exception of specific IBC and IFC
sections modified by SAES-M-100. The 2009 IBC and IFC shall apply to temporary tents
and new construction of buildings or any modifications/renovations or relocation of
existing buildings.
Most of the requirements for temporary tents can be found in Chapter 24 of the IFC, and
in Chapters 8 and 10, and Section 3102 of the IBC. This procedure is written to explain
basic IBC and IFC requirements for designing sites with temporary tents for Saudi
Aramco. This procedure is only intended to explain the critical design steps when using
the IBC and IFC and shall not replace the IBC and IFC as a reference for all the
requirements for design and construction.
2 Scope
2.1 This procedure shall be applicable to contracting vendors and their designers for
the design of temporary tent and membrane structures placed on Saudi Aramco
(SA) sites and facilities or any temporary tents used anywhere for Saudi Aramco
events and programs up to a maximum of 180 days.
2.2 Tent and membrane structures erected for a time period of 180 days or more
shall be acknowledged as a permanent buildings, are outside the scope of this
procedure, such structure shall fully comply with SAES-M-100 and its
referenced IBC.
2.3 Tent and membrane structure having areas in excess of 37.2 m² (400 ft²) shall
not be erected, operated, occupied or maintained for any purpose without first
obtaining an approval from the Civil Defense.
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3 Conflicts and Deviations
3.1 Any conflicts between this Procedure and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards (SAESs), Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications
(SAMSSs), Saudi Aramco Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards,
codes, and forms shall be resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer
Representative through the Manager, Loss Prevention Department of Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran.
3.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this procedure in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Loss Prevention Department of Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran.
4 Applicable Documents
The latest editions of the following reference documents are applicable to this procedure:
4.1 Saudi Aramco Documents
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure (SAEP)

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement
Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards (SAESs)

SAES-K-001 Design and Installation of Heating, Ventilation and
Air Conditioning Systems
SAES-K-100 Saudi Aramco Mechanical (HVAC) Code
SAES-M-100 Saudi Aramco Building Code (SABC)
SAES-P-104 Wiring Methods and Materials
SAES-P-111 Grounding
SAES-P-123 Lighting
SAES-S-010 Sanitary Sewer
SAES-S-040 Water Systems
SAES-S-060 Saudi Aramco Plumbing Code
Saudi Aramco Standard Drawing

AD-036874 Installation Of Direct Buried Electric Cable and
Conduit
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Saudi Aramco General Instruction (GI)

GI-1781.001 Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Fire
Protection Equipment
Saudi Aramco Safety Management Guide

SMG 07-006-2013 Application of Saudi Aramco Building Code to
Temporary Tents
Saudi Aramco Environmental Health Code (SAEHC)
Saudi Aramco Minimum Medical Standards Requirements Manual (MMSR)
Construction Safety Manual, Vol.1, Administrative Requirements; Vol.2 Work

Site Safety, Fifth Edition, 2011
4.2 Industry Codes and Standards
American National Standards Institute

ANSI Z97.1 Safety Glazing Materials Used in Buildings - Safety
Performance Specifications and Methods of Test
AWS D1.1/D1.1M Structural Welding Code
American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM D2047 Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of
Polish-Coated Floor Surfaces as Measured by
James Machine
ASTM D2859 Test Methods for Ignition of Finished Textile Floor
Covering Materials
ASTM E84 Test Methods for Surfaces Burning Characteristics
of Building Materials
ASTM E136 Test Methods for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
Tube Furnace, 750°C
European Committee for Standardization

EN 12600 Glass in Building. Pendulum Test. Impact Test
Method and Classification for Flat Glass
International Code Council (ICC)

IBC 2009 Edition International Building Code
IFC 2009 Edition International Fire Code
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National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
NFPA 17A Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code
NFPA 96 Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire
Protection of Commercial Cooking
NFPA 701 Methods of Fire Tests for Flame-propagation of
Textiles and Films
Underwriter Laboratories, Inc. (UL)

UL 300 Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishing Systems for
Protection of Commercial Cooking Equipment
4.3 Other Documents
Ministry of Interior Directive No. 1540, Dated 27/1/1436H

Implementing Safety Requirements for Tents and Canopies Used for
Temporary Seasonal, Commercial and Cultural Exhibitions
CPSC 16 Part 1630 (Doc FF 1-70)

Standard for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs
5 Definitions
Building: A building is an enclosed structure used or intended for supporting or

sheltering any use or occupancy, such as a house, office building, maintenance shop,
school, hospital, warehouse, etc. A building is considered permanent in nature and
applies to all occupiable structures erected for a period of 180 days or more.
Class (for floor materials): A rating for floor materials indicating their potential for
ignition as determined by a floor radiant panel test. Floor materials are given either a
Class I (more ignition resistant) or a Class II (less ignition resistant) rating. See IBC
Section 804.
Class (for wall and ceiling materials): A letter rating (A, B or C) indicating flame
spread potential for interior wall and ceiling finish materials. Class A materials have a
flame spread index (FSI) in the range of 0-25, Class B materials have a FSI in the range
of 26-75, and Class C materials have a FSI in the range of 76-200. See Chapter 8 of the
IBC.
Combustible Materials: A material that is capable of burning. See the definition for
Non-Combustible Materials. Any material that does not meet the definition of non-
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combustible is considered as combustible.
Crowd Management (CM): The systematic planning for, and the supervision of, safe
and orderly movement and assembly of people. Crowd management involves the
assessment of people handling capabilities of a space prior to its use. It includes
evaluation, based on information provided by the organizer and their appointed safety
manager and site designer, of projected levels of occupancy, adequacy of means of
ingress and egress, processing procedures such as ticket collection, and expected types
of human behavior.
Egress or Means of Egress (Exiting): A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical

and/or horizontal egress (exiting) travel from any point in a building to a safe place
outside and away from the building. To egress from a building means to exit from a
building. See Chapter 10 of the IBC.
Fire Separation Distance (FSD): The distance measured from the face of an exterior
building wall to a point between two tents/buildings or the center of the street in front of
the tent/building. This distance is measured perpendicular to the face of the exterior
wall. The FSD is important to limit the spread of fire from one tent/building to the
adjacent tent/building.
Flame Spread Index (FSI): A number that relates to how fast flame spreads across the
surface of a material. The FSI is benchmarked to standard tests using concrete (FSI = 0,
non-combustible) and red oak wood (FSI = 100). Low FSI numbers indicate low flame
spread rates and high FSI numbers indicate fast flame spread rates. See Chapter 8 of
the IBC.
Listed: Equipment, materials, construction products, building assemblies or services

that are placed on a list published by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL)
that is an independent, third-party testing organization acceptable to SA Loss
Prevention (LPD). Examples of listing organizations can include Underwriter
Laboratories (UL), Factory Mutual Global (FM Global), Electrical Testing Labs (ETL
SEMKO or Intertek), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or other independent and
internationally recognized testing laboratories. Independent third parties evaluate
equipment and components to acceptable standards (ASTM, UL, NFPA, and ANSI);
subsequent marking indicates that the applicable standard(s) have been met. The CE
mark is one that is applied by the manufacturer or supplier, not an independent testing
third party, and is not considered an acceptable listing or labeling organization.
Other international, third-party testing agencies will be evaluated as equivalent on an
individual basis by LPD as equivalent to NRTL identified in the IBC.
Membrane Structure: An air-inflated, air-supported, cable or frame-covered

structure as defined by the IBC and not otherwise defined as a tent. See also Tent.
See Section 2402 of the IFC.
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Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL): An independent, third-party

testing facility recognized as a primarily private sector organization that provides
product safety testing and certification services to manufacturers. The testing and
certification are done to consensus-based product safety test standards. These test
standards are issued by standards organizations, such as the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI). In the US the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) publishes a list of NRTLs. Other international, third-party
testing agencies will be evaluated as equivalent on an individual basis by LPD as
equivalent to NRTL identified in the IBC.
NFPA or the National Fire Protection Association: The NFPA is a standards

development and publication organization that produces a wide range of standards
associated with fire safety and system design.
Non-Combustible Materials: Materials tested according to ASTM E136 that do not

ignite when heated in a test furnace to 750°C (1,382°F) for 5 minutes. Coating or
covering materials with a thickness of 3.18 mm (0.125 an inch) or less and an
ASTM E84 Flame Spread Index (FSI) of 50 or less, may be applied to a structural base
of non-combustible material and considered as non-combustible (e.g., gypsum
wallboard). Otherwise, this definition is not intended to apply to laminated or coated
materials that can separate in a fire and expose combustible surfaces (e.g., wood
sheathing with a non-combustible finish). It is also not intended to apply to materials
that soften, melt or flow under heated conditions (e.g., plastics). See Section 703.4 of
the IBC.
Occupancy or Occupancy Group: A single letter designation in the IBC used to

categorize the uses of a building or any area within a building. Most tents are classified
as either Group A, F and S as follows:
 Group A (for “Assembly”): where people assemble or gather for activities, events
or ceremonies in larger groups of people.
 Group F (for “Factory-Industrial”): where commercial cooking operations occur.
 Group S (for “Storage”): where materials are stored.
Occupant Load (OL): The maximum number of people allowed per the IBC to use a
floor or room and is also used to determine egress/exiting design requirements. The OL
is calculated by dividing the area of a floor or room by the Occupant Load Factor (OLF)
from Table 1004.1.1 of the IBC. The total OL for a building is the sum of all room/area
Occupant Loads.
Occupant Load Factor (OLF): The minimum area per person, which is based on the
function or use of the floor or room. See Table 1004.1.1 of the IBC.
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Smoke Developed Index (SDI): A number (0-450) that relates the quantity of smoke a
material generates when it is burned. Low SDI numbers indicate low smoke generation
and high SDI numbers indicate high smoke generation. See Chapter 8 of the IBC.
Temporary: The time period for using a structure or tent for a period less than 180 days.
See Sections 108.1 and 3103.1 of the IBC.
Tent: A structure, enclosure or shelter, with or without sidewalls or drops, constructed

of fabric or pliable material supported by any manner except by air (inflation) or by the
contents it protects/covers. See also Membrane Structure. See Section 2402 of the IFC.
Tents can be temporary or permanent, depending on the time it remains erected.
Note: Refer to Chapter 2 of the IBC or Chapter 2 of the IFC for words or terms not defined in
this procedure.
6 General Requirements
6.1 The design shall cover fire and life safety building code requirements and
operational qualifications for crowd management and maintenance personnel.
6.2 The design shall cover strategic structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical,
security and environmental/sanitary design requirements.
6.3 As a directive from “His Royal Highness Minister of Interior”, all general
administrative requirements for the approval of the temporary use of all the tent
types (seasonal, commercial and cultural exhibitions) shall be obtained from the
Civil Defense (CD) prior to the erection of the temporary tents, canopies and
membrane structures.
6.4 All types of tent and membrane structure system (under paragraph 6.9) shall
always by accompanied by a verified typical structural design certification
obtained from an independent engineering office to verify its structural design
integrity. The engineering office shall also independently obtain approval from
the CD.
6.5 Tent and membrane structure shall be inspected at regular intervals, but not less
than two times per approval period as stated in the approval letter issued by the
CD; this is to ensure the structure is maintained in accordance to the
requirements set out in this SAEP under Section 8. Inspection shall be
coordinated with a proponent representative and shall occur at reasonable times
outside of normal occupancy.
6.6 Pre-occupancy inspection of Tent, Canopies and Membrane Structure shall be

conducted for the temporary tents and membrane structure before occupancy of
such structures, the inspection shall take place immediately after the
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construction completion per GI-0002.710 and in this SAEP under Appendix B,

before occupancy and during the occupancy.
6.7 The scope of the design for any temporary seasonal, commercial and cultural
exhibition shall include all steps involved from the design to the erection of the
temporary tents and up to dismantling after use.
6.8 The design review of the temporary tent and membrane structure shall follow
the same procedure for any SA Mechanical Completion Certificate (MCC)
projects for a smooth and timely transition from construction phase through to
operation /occupancy to ensure all duties and obligations are documented.
A sample design review certificate attached in this SAEP under Appendix C.
6.9 The design that shall be reviewed and approved by CD cover the following:
6.9.1 Temporary tents and membrane structure designed, erected and

dismantled after use by a third party contractor for Saudi Aramco inside
Saudi Aramco premises.

dismantled by a third party contractor for SA outside SA premises or
rented for the same purpose.

dismantled by a third party contractor for Saudi Arabian Government
and Saudi Aramco as a tent for their exhibitions.
6.10 All types of temporary tents and membrane structures designed, erected and
dismantled shall follow the requirements set out in the procedure.
6.11 Welding procedure and individual welders used for the construction of
Temporary Tents, Canopies and Membrane Structures shall be qualified in
accordance with the requirements of AWS D1.1. Welders shall obtain a valid
Job Clearance card from Saudi Aramco.
7 Responsibilities
7.1 Saudi Aramco Loss Prevention Department (LPD)
Reviews and comments on site and tent design submittals in order to meet the
requirements of this SAEP for safety. Saudi Aramco LPD shall assist
proponents and contracting vendors in understanding codes and standards
referenced in this procedure. Submittals shall be made to manager, LPD at least
90 days prior to the start of the site preparation and erection of tents. This will
allow enough time for a review and comments to be given to the contracting tent
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vendor and for their designs to be reviewed/corrected according to LPD

comments. LPD shall participate in pre-occupancy inspections of the site and
tent facilities during pre-construction, construction, on-going operations and up
to dismantling to assist the proponent in identifying safety issues.
7.2 Proponents
7.2.1 Shall be responsible for informing contracting vendors and designers of

this procedure prior to bidding and contracting, and making it available
to them throughout their contract period. This procedure is posted on the
LPD web page in the corporate intranet portal (lp.aramco.com.sa) under
the References tab and Saudi Aramco Mandatory Engineering standards.
7.2.2 Proponents and their contracting vendors shall be responsible for

reading, understanding and implementing codes and standards referenced
in this procedure. Designer shall hold a valid PE certificate from the
Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) and previous experience on similar
jobs. Designer has to be approved by CFPE.
7.2.3 Proponents shall be responsible for the follow up and correction of

compliance comments made by LPD during reviews or inspections.
Proponents shall also be responsible for daily enforcement of safety
requirements during the operation and occupancy of the tents.
7.2.4 Proponent shall be responsible for providing crowd management

personnel, maintenance technician, with responsibilities as described at
Section 8.8 and enforcing a housekeeping maintenance plan.
7.3 Consulting Services Department (CSD)
7.3.1 Shall ensure the review of the structural design of the temporary tents
and membrane structures.
7.3.2 Shall ensure the review of the strategic plumbing design of the
temporary tents and membrane structures.
7.3.3 Shall ensure the review of the strategic mechanical design of the
7.3.4 Shall ensure the review of the strategic electrical design of the
7.4 Security Department
7.4.1 Shall provide security at all times for temporary tents used for Saudi
Aramco events.
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7.4.2 Shall ensure adequate access at all times is provided to allow for
emergency vehicle access (e.g., ambulance and fire trucks, etc.)
7.5 Fire Protection Department (FrPD)
Shall verify that adequate fire protection equipment is provided, that fire hydrant
or temporary water storage sources are adequate for temporary event needs, and
that adequate vehicle and hose access is provided.
7.6 Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
7.6.1 Shall review the design to ensure adequate environmental/sanitary design

requirements are provided for the temporary tents and membrane
structures.
7.6.2 Shall ensure all food vendors provide and conspicuously post Health
Certificate throughout the tent.
7.7 Civil Defense
Following a directive from “His Royal Highness Minister of Interior”, Civil

Defense is in charge of all general administrative requirements for the approval
of the temporary use of all the tent types (seasonal, commercial and cultural
exhibitions) prior to the erection of the temporary tents, Canopies and membrane
structures.
8 Requirements of the Site and Tent Design Process
The general requirements of the site and tent design; temporary tent code requirements;
pre-occupancy and internal design certificate are all outlined in the following sections
that follow, referencing IBC relevant sections.
Designing a layout and construction details for tents on a site involves a step-by-step
process which is summarized below. Design examples are provided to aid the designer
in understanding and applying applicable parts of the code. These steps are as follows:
Step 1: Identify the desired tents to be erected at the site, including the total floor areas
needed for each tent.
Step 2: Determine the Occupancy Group of each tent, which is based on how the tent is
used.
Step 3: Determine the maximum occupant load and egress/exiting requirements for each
tent.
Step 4: Develop the detail of the tent floor plans and elevations, with complete
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dimensions to determine size and areas proposed.
Step 5: Define interior finish requirements and tent membrane material requirements.
Step 6: Define design requirements for each tent’s fire protection equipment.
Step 7: Develop site plot plan, which includes layout of the buildings, tents, muster
point, firewater availability and fire hydrant system layout, vehicular and fire
apparatus access roads, etc. The site plan must have dimensions of the
structures, distances between structures, width of roads, and other dimensions
necessary to determine compliance with the applicable standards.
Step 8: Qualified personnel requirements.
8.1 Step 1: Identify the desired tents to be erected at the site, including the total
floor areas needed for each tent. See also additional sanitary requirements in the
Saudi Aramco Environmental Health Code, especially Section 01, “Water” and
Section 04, “Food Establishments”.
8.1.1 Tents erected at a site shall include the following:

a) Dedicated, stand-alone cooking tents separate from food serving and
dining tents
b) Assembly dining tents or other food service areas
c) Performance tents with stages
d) Exhibit or display, recreation, mosques, other assembly area tents
e) Clinic/medical tent facilities (see the MMSR manual)
8.1.2 Tent floor area sizes determine the maximum number of people allowed
to use occupy the tent [see Table 1A, of this SAEP-138, the width or
least horizontal dimension of any tent is limited to a maximum of
30.5 meters (100 feet) due to exit travel distance limitations (also see
paragraph 8.3.5].
8.1.3 Example minimum tent areas for a 4,000 person site:

a) Assuming three dining shifts, a dining tent would require at least
4,000/3 shifts = 1,333 persons per shift x 1.39 m2/person (see
Table 1A) = 1,860 (rounded up) square meters of total eating area
in the dining tent(s). NOTES: See paragraph 8.3.3 of this guide for
further explanation of this methodology. Section 1017.4 of the IBC
contains additional requirements for minimum spacing between
tables/chairs and for aisles, which will result in additional eating
area in excess of the above 1,860 m2 minimum for the dining area.
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b) Cooking operations are required to occur in dedicated, stand-alone

cooking tents that are separate from the food serving and dining area
tents. If the cooking staff is 10 persons per dedicated cooking tent,
this means a total area of at least 10 x 18.58 m2/person (see Table
1A) = 186 square meters is required for the cooking tent.
c) Contractor camps shall comply with requirements of SAEHC
Section 07.
8.2 Step 2: Determine the Occupancy Group of each tent. In most cases the tent
will be used for the assembly or gathering of people (see Group A below).
See IBC Chapter 3, “Use and Occupancy Classification”, for the details of the
requirements.
8.2.1 The IBC has categorized uses of areas into specific Occupancy Groups.
The majority of tents are classified as either Group A, F or S. There are
sub-groups to these Occupancy Groups, as indicated below:
a) Group A (“Assembly”): where people gather for activities, events
or ceremonies in larger groups of people.
 Group A-1: Tents for performances with stages.
 Group A-2: Dining and food serving tents
 Group A-3: Tents used for other assembly purposes.
b) Group F Dedicated cooking tents.

c) Group S (“Storage”): Dedicated storage tents with a maximum
3.66 meter (12 feet) storage height.
8.2.2 When all tents are classified according to these Occupancy Group
categories, the code requirements in the IBC for each category can be
identified (e.g., tent areas). In cases where tents are used for multiple
purposes and where occupancy classifications may change, the most
restrictive requirements of all the proposed occupancies will apply.
8.2.3 If quantities of liquid fuel and/or hazardous materials are to be stored or

used in any building, contact the SA Loss Prevention Department for
further assistance in determining applicable code requirements.
8.3 Step 3: Determine the maximum occupant load and egress/exiting requirements
for each tent.
8.3.1 See IBC Chapter 10 or IFC Chapter 10, “Means of Egress”, for the
details of the requirements.
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8.3.2 To determine egress requirements for a building, the maximum

“Occupant Load” (OL) of each tent or individual rooms in a tent must be
calculated. The calculated Occupant Load is not based on how many
people actually use the floor or room, but is based on dividing the area of
the floor/room of the tent by the Occupant Load Factor (OLF) from
Table 1004.1.1 of the IBC. The OLF for typical tent uses are indicated
in Table 1A.
Table 1A - Area per Occupant (from IBC Table 1004.1.1)

OLF or Area per Occupant *
Function/Use of Floor/Room
Square Meters (Square Feet)
Assembly with chairs only (not fixed) 0.65 m2 (7 ft2)
Assembly with tables and chairs
(e.g., dining/mess hall eating area), 1.39 m2 (15 ft2)
meeting rooms and stages
Fixed seating areas with chairs Actual number of fixed seats
The number of people or seats is
Benches or fixed seating areas
based on one person for each
without dividing arms
457 mm (18 inches of seating length.
Classrooms 1.86 m2 (20 ft2)
Exhibit or display tents 4.65 m2 (50 ft2)
Separate cooking tents 18.58 m2 (200 ft2)
Notes:
* It’s important to understand that the calculated Occupant Load is to be used
for determining the maximum occupant load and exit capacity for the tent.
The corresponding Occupant Load Factor should not be used to determine
the desired floor space (e.g., more area may be needed for adequate flow
and function of the tent).
The maximum occupant load of a tent shall be posted at each exit doorway.
One safety crowd management (CM) person is required for each 250 occupants as
calculated for exiting requirements. The safety CMs are committed only to audience
assistance and safety and are required at all times the tent is occupied. A manager
of this staff shall be appointed to manage the CM staff. Each safety CM shall have
two flashlights and a loud speaker or use of a public address system with an
uninterrupted power supply to command attention from the crowd and to direct them
to the nearest exit. An announcement shall be made at quarterly evacuation drills to
identify the CM team, who shall be dressed in a distinctive and unique colored shirt
or clothing.
8.3.3 Using the tent example in Step 1 to illustrate how the Occupant Load of
a dining tent is calculated.
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The correct OLF needed from the above Table 1A to determine the
Occupant Load for a dining tent with only tables and chairs shall be:
 1.39 m2 (15 ft2), for assembly areas with tables and chairs, meeting
rooms and stages
Therefore, the Occupant Load (OL) of the entire tent shall be:
 1,333 people for the dining tent eating area (1,860/1.39 = 1,333,
rounded up) 1,333 people for the entire tent.
 A total of five safety crowd management (CM) people shall be
required for this tent (1,333/250).
For the example of a 4,000 person site with three dining shifts,
one 1,860 m2 dining tent is required to feed 1,333 people at a time.
8.3.4 The number of exits from a tent or a room in the tent depends on the
Occupant Load (OL) number that is calculated. Two or more exits are
required from each tent when the occupant load of the tent exceeds
10 people. See Section and Table 2403.12.2 of the IFC and Table 1B
below.
Table 1B - Maximum Occupant Load for a Tent or Room

with One Exit (from IFC Table 2403.12.2)
Occupancy Group Maximum Occupant Load

A, F or S 9
8.3.5 Based on the OLFs listed in Table 1A, Table 1B may be used to provide
the maximum area for tent with a single exit depending on its function
per Table 1C.
Table 1C - Maximum Area for a Tent/Room with One Exit

Maximum Area
Function/Use of Tent/Room
Square Meters (Square Feet)
Assembly with chairs only (not fixed) 5.6 m2 (63 ft2) *
Assembly with tables and chairs (e.g.,
dining tents eating area), meeting 12.5 m2 (135 ft2) *
rooms and performance stages
Classrooms 18.6 m2 (200 ft2) *
Exhibit or display areas 27.9 m2 (300 ft2) *
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* The floor area calculated from the OL for tents/rooms with the corresponding
functions is only for code requirement determination purposes and maximum
floor area allowed for a tent/room with only one exit.
8.3.6 The next step in egress system design is to calculate the total width of
exiting required. See Section 2403.12.2 of the IFC. If an area or room
being served by one exit is equal to or less than the areas provided in
Table 1C, and the travel distance to this exit from the most remote
location in an individual tent/room is less than 23 meters (75 feet), then
one exit is acceptable. Additionally, the overall total travel distance
within a tent cannot exceed 30.5 meters (100 feet). If these travel
distance criteria cannot be met, or if the Occupant Load is greater than
what is allowed, then two or more exits are required based on Table 1D:
Table 1D - Minimum Number of Exits and

Exit Widths for Tents (From IFC Table 2403.12.2)
Occupant Load Minimum Minimum Total Door
(persons) Number of Exits Width of Each Exit
1–9 1 913 mm (36 inches)
10 – 199 2 1,829 mm (72 inches)
200 – 499 3 1,829 mm (72 inches)
500 – 999 4 2,438 mm (96 inches)
1,000 – 1,999 5 3,048 mm (120 inches)
2,000 – 2,999 6 3,048 mm (120 inches)
Over 3,000 7 3,048 mm (120 inches)
Each exit above shall be required to have between two to four individual
dour leafs that are at least 914 mm (36 inches) in width, but no more than
1,219 mm (48 inches) in width.
For the dining tent example, the number of exits required shall be as
follows:
 Five exits from the dining/mess hall eating area (1,333 person
calculated Occupant Load for the dining/mess hall).
For reasons that will be explained later in this guide, the maximum
spacing between exit doors around the perimeter of the tent is limited to
a maximum of 30.5 meters (100 feet) due to exit travel distance
limitations.
Page 16 of 36
8.3.7 The total travel distance to an exterior exit door from any point in a tent
is limited to a maximum distance of 30.5 meters (100 feet). See Section
2403.12.1 of the IFC. For this reason, the maximum width or least
horizontal dimension of any tent is limited to a 30.5 meters (100 feet).
The tent may be longer than this (greater dimension), but it shall not be
wider (least dimension). Also, the maximum spacing between exit doors
around the perimeter of an open area tent shall be limited to 30.5 meters
(100 feet). This travel distance limitation shall be taken into account if
rooms are to be used inside the tent to divide it into smaller a spaces.
8.3.8 There are minimum dimensions and features of egress elements that
must be met regardless of the calculated egress widths indicated above.
See Sections 1008, 1009, 1010, 1012, 1013 and 1018 of the IBC.
These minimum widths are as follows:
a) Doors: See Section 1008 of the IBC and Section 2403.12.4 of the
IFC. Minimum 914 mm (36 inches) door leaf width. Maximum
1,219 mm (48 inches) door leaf width. Minimum 2,032 mm
(80 inches) door height. Doors shall be a side-hinged type.
Single- or double-door type doors may be used. Glass windows in
doors shall be tempered safety glass that is tested and labeled
according to ANSI Z97.1, BS EN 12600 or other equivalent
standard. Doors shall swing in the direction of egress. Panic or fire
exit hardware (push bar type) is required for each exit door. The use
of locks on exit doors is prohibited during public occupancy of the
tent. Interior floor surfaces of the tent shall not slope up or down
more than a one unit vertical in 20 units horizontal (5%) slope.
Landings shall be provided on the exterior side of each exit
doorway, with the landing width equal to the doorway width and the
landing length of 1,219 mm (48 inches). The exterior door landing
shall not slope up or down more than a one unit vertical in 48 units
horizontal (2%) slope. The interior floor and exterior landing
surfaces shall be on the same level. Door thresholds are limited to a
maximum 12.7 mm (½-inch) height. If the threshold height exceeds
6.4 mm (¼-inch), the threshold shall be beveled with a slope not
greater than 1:2 (50% slope). See the diagrams below which can be
used as a reference.
Page 17 of 36
Minor changes in floor level due to door thresholds (ANSI A117.1,

Section 303):
Page 18 of 36
b) Stairs: See Section 1009. Tents will rarely have exterior stairs, but
raised seating areas with fixed seating in performance tents shall be
required to comply with the following requirements. Any stairs shall
have a minimum 1,219 mm (48 inches) tread width. The minimum
tread width may be reduced to 914 mm (36 inches) if the stair serves
seating on only one side of the stairway. Stair treads are required to
be a minimum of 279 mm (11 inches) deep. Stair risers (vertical
height of an individual stair) are required to be between 102 mm
(4 inches) and 178 mm (7 inches), and are required to be solid (not
open). Stair risers and treads are required to be dimensionally
uniform within a maximum variance range of 9.5 mm (⅜-inch).
A flight of stairs cannot have a vertical rise greater than 3,658 mm
(12 feet) between landings and shall have a minimum 2,032 mm
(80 inches) headroom height. Landings shall be provided at the top
and bottom of each stairway, with the landing width equal to the
stairway width and the landing length of 1,219 mm (48 inches).
Handrails are required on one side of the stairway along guards and
along the center of aisle stairways to raised seating areas (see below).
Guards (e.g., guardrails) are required for stairways and landings at a
height of at least 762 mm (30 inches) above the floor or landing.
Stairs shall have a slip resistance surface as defined by a test similar
to ASTM D2047.
c) Ramps: See Section 1010. The running slope of a ramp cannot be
steeper than one unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (8% slope), with
a cross-slope perpendicular to the ramp of one unit vertical in 48
units horizontal (2% slope). A ramp cannot have a vertical rise
greater than 2,032 mm (30 inches) between landings or levels.
Ramps shall have a slip resistance surface. Ramps with a slope
exceeding 1:20 (5%) shall be provided with handrails on both sides.
d) Handrails: See Sections 1028.13 and 1012. The height of the
handrail must be between a vertical height of 864 mm (34 inches)
and 965 mm (38 inches) from the stair tread nosing or ramp surface,
and must be at a uniform height. Most code compliant handrails are
round with a diameter of 38 mm (1-½ inches), with an allowed
range of diameters from 32 mm (1-¼ inch) to 51 mm (2 inches).
Refer to figure below for handrail design guidance. Where there is
seating on both sides of a raised seating aisle stairway, a handrail
shall be provided down the center of the aisle stairway at the height
and dimensions indicated above. There shall also be an additional
intermediate handrail located approximately 305 mm (12 inches)
below the main handrail. The aisle stairway handrail shall begin
Page 19 of 36
and terminate on the stair risers and there shall be individual

sections of handrails instead of a continuous handrail up the entire
aisle stairway. The breaks or gaps in the handrail shall have a width
between 559 mm to 914 mm (22-36 inches) to permit crossing the
aisle to seating on either side of the aisle.
Handrail Dimension (ANSI A117.1, Section 505):
e) Guards: See Section 1013. Tents will rarely have exterior stairs,
but raised seating areas with fixed seat in performance tents shall be
required to have guards complying with the following requirements.
A guard is a vertical barrier that prevents people from falling off
raised floors, levels, stairs or ramps. Guards are required to be at
least 1,067 mm (42 inches) high with either a solid barrier or an
open pattern barrier that prevents the passage of a minimum
102 mm (4 inch) sphere. Handrails shall project from the inside
edge of guards along stairways and ramps and have a vertical height
between 864 mm (34 inches) and 965 mm (38 inches) from the stair
tread nosing or ramp surface. Handrails are required to have a
minimum clear distance between the inside edge of the handrail and
the wall or guard of 38 mm (1-½ inch). Refer to figure below for
guard design and handrail design guidance.
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A Risers maximum 7 inches (178 mm), treads minimum 11 inches IBC Section 1009.3
B Handrail height 34 inches (864 mm) to 38 inches (965 mm) IBC Section 1009.11.1
C Upper handrail extension, horizontal, minimum 12 inches IBC Section 1009.11.5
D Lower handrail extension 1 tread depth on slope with stairs IBC Section 1009.11.5
E Guard height minimum 42 inches (1067 mm) IBC Section 1012.2
F Openings shall obstruct passage of 4 inch sphere (102 mm) IBC Section 1012.3
G Triangular area shall obstruct passage of 6 inch sphere IBC Section 1012.3
H Top portion of guard shall obstruct passage if 8 inch sphere IBC Section 1012.3
f) Corridors: See Section 1018. Corridors may be created in tents

where there are meeting rooms or classrooms. The minimum width
across corridors or hallways is 1,118 mm (44 inches), except the
width may be reduced to 914 mm (36 inches) if the corridor/hallway
serves a calculated occupant load (OL) of 49 or fewer people.
Corridors/hallways shall have a minimum 2,286 mm (7.5 foot)
ceiling height. The total travel distance to an exterior door of any
tent is limited to a maximum of 30.5 meters (100 feet) due to exit
travel distance limitations, so room layout must consider this
limitation.
g) Width of aisles for areas without fixed seating: The width of
aisles serving areas without fixed seating shall have a minimum
width of 1,118 mm (44 inches) from the seating areas serving
50 people or less. Aisle widths shall be increased by 305 mm
(12 inches) for each additional 50 person occupant load they serve.
Page 21 of 36
h) Tables and chairs in dining tents: Tables and chairs in dining tents
shall be arranged to provide aisles around the sides of the tent and
the tables to maintain a minimum or 914 mm (36 inches) width
aisle. There shall be a minimum 483 mm (19 inches) clear aisle
between tables.
8.3.9 Adequate lighting shall be provided for egress paths. See Section 1006
of the IBC and SAES-P-123. This may be achieved by providing
individual emergency lighting units (e.g., “Frog-eye” style lights with a
battery backup) or by providing a lighting circuit connected to an
emergency generator. Emergency power is required to operate for at
least 90-minutes in the absence of normal supplied power and to provide
a minimum of 11 lux (1 foot-candle) of light measured at the egress path
floor surface. A continuous electrical supply connection is required for
any tent with emergency lighting having battery back-up power supplies
(i.e., generators may not provide the normal power to the tent with
battery back-up emergency lighting units). Without continuous power,
back-up batteries will discharge completely every time generators are
turned off and not be functional the next day. Emergency lighting
devices shall be placed above each exterior exit door and spaced no
greater than every 10 meters (32.8 feet) around the perimeter of an open
area tent. Emergency lighting is also required along any corridor created
in a tent by a room layout.
8.3.10 Illuminated exit signs are required above exterior exit doors and at any
change of direction in corridors leading to designated exits. See Section
1011 of the IBC. Exit signs are required to be green and white in color
and internally lit, with an emergency power supply that lasts at least
90 minutes during a power outage. A continuous electrical supply
connection is required for any tent with exit signs having battery back-up
power supplies (i.e., generators may not provide the normal power to the
tent with battery back-up exit signs. Without continuous power, back-up
batteries will discharge completely every time generators are turned off
and not be functional the next day. Each sign shall include the word
“EXIT” in dual languages with Arabic above English. Size, illumination,
directional indicators, mounting locations, etc., shall comply with IBC
Section 1011 and SAES-P-123.
8.3.11 Interior fabric materials shall not block or cover emergency lighting
units, exit signs or exit doors.
8.3.12 Display approved evacuation plans near each exterior exit door.
Page 22 of 36
8.4 Step 4: Develop the detail of tent floor plans and elevations.
8.4.1 The contracting vendor or designer shall develop a floor plan for each
tent. The total travel distance to an exterior exit door from any point
in a tent is limited to a maximum distance of 30.5 meters (100 feet).
The maximum width or least horizontal dimension of any tent is limited
to a maximum of 30.5 meters (100 feet) due to exit travel distance
limitations (see paragraph 8.3.7, above).
8.4.2 Tent plans shall indicate the type of construction, planned occupancy,
dimensions (in millimeters), function and size of individual rooms,
access/egress (e.g., corridors/hallways, ramps, stairs), interior and
exterior doors, furnishings, equipment, etc. Elevation dimensions shall
be provided for interior and exterior roof and ceiling profiles, doorways,
and windows.
8.4.3 Actual fire testing certificates by a third-party testing laboratory are

required for all interior and exterior membrane or fabric materials.
8.4.4 There shall be a minimum clearance of at least 914 mm (3 feet) between

the fabric envelope and all contents located inside the tent. Spot lighting
and other effect lighting shall be located at least 1.8 meters (6 feet) from
tent membrane material, or tent membrane material shall be shielded by
non-combustible insulation at least 235 mm (9.25 inches) thick.
This same requirement applies to the lighting distances to decorative
combustible material within the tent. NO SMOKING signs, in dual
languages with Arabic above English, shall be placed at the entrances
and every 30.5 meters (100 feet) within the tent. Posting of signs shall
be enforced by the performance safety personnel. No open flames or
cooking is permitted within a distance of 6.1 meters (20 feet) of any tent,
except within a dedicated, stand-alone tent for cooking.
8.4.5 Plans shall include, as required, floor plans with each room name labeled
accordingly, fire extinguishers, exit signs, emergency lighting, egress
doors (with panic hardware and viewing safety glass noted), windows,
plumbing fixtures (e.g., toilets, sinks, soap dispensers), sanitary
equipment (e.g., anti-siphoning vacuum breakers), water/sewer
connections, water heaters, exhaust fans, heating and air conditioning
units, electrical appliances (e.g., food warmers, microwaves, TVs,
coffee makers, lamps) and all other equipment to be placed in the
building. Water and sewer connections shall comply with SAES-S-010,
SAES-S-040 and SAES-S-060. Cooking equipment is not permitted in
tents having public occupancy. Cooking equipment shall be placed in
dedicated tents that are used only for cooking purposes. Show any
Page 23 of 36
compressed flammable or non-flammable gas cylinders that will be

present on site and how they are secured and stored.
8.4.6 Drawings shall be submitted showing the means of egress facilities,

calculated occupant load, door width/height, seating capacity for any
fixed seating in performance tents, arrangement of the seating showing
aisle dimensions, handrail details, stair details, aisle widths, spacing
between the front edge and back edge of seating rows. All dimensions
shall be shown on the drawings.
8.4.7 Separate shop drawings shall be provided for the electrical power
network, lighting system, communication systems, TV types and
connection details, connection to utilities, architectural, structural and
foundation details, etc.
8.4.8 A structural drawing and calculations from the tent supplier vendor is
required to be submitted for review to CSD stating the tent structure is
adequately designed and anchored to withstand the elements of weather
and prevent collapsing. The PID shall inspect and approve the structural
integrity and load capacity of each tent. All electrical equipment and
devices shall be UL listed and labeled devices. All A/C units shall
comply with SAES-K-001 and SAES-K-100. All electrical work shall
be done by qualified electricians. The tent and performance electrical
wiring shall be inspected and approved by an electrical inspector from
the project inspection department (PID).
8.5 Step 5: Define the interior finish requirements and tent membrane material
requirements.
8.5.1 See Section 2404 of the IFC and Chapter 8 of the IBC. A letter shall be
submitted to LPD from the contracting tent vendor and a material
manufacturer’s certification test document for every fabric or membrane
material proposed for each tent. Fabric manufacturer shall document
that each material is composed of flame-resistant material that meets the
flame resistance requirements of NFPA 701. Flame resistant
documentation shall include all tent fabric roof coverings, sidewalls,
drops, tarpaulins, floor coverings, bunting, and any interior combustible
decorative material and effects. Any combustible items not meeting this
requirement shall not be used in the design. The material manufacturer’s
certification test document shall state the test standard used to test the
material. LPD will assess the equivalency of other test methods
according to the requirements of NFPA 701. Interior fabric material
shall not block or cover emergency lighting units, exit signs or exit
doors.
Page 24 of 36
8.5.2 Any rigid (non-fabric or non-membrane) interior finish material used to

sub-divide the interior area of a tent requires compliance with IBC, Table
803.9 Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish Requirements by Occupancy.
8.5.3 Flame spread ratings of some wall and ceiling materials are listed in
Table 2A.
Table 2A - Flame Spread Ratings of Wall and Ceiling Materials
Material Class
Shredded wood fiberboard (fire-retardant treated) A
Aluminum (with baked enamel finish on one side) A
Cement board A
Brick or concrete block A
Concrete A
Gypsum board (with paper surface on both sides) A
Southern pine (untreated) Not Allowed
Plywood or wood paneling (fire-retardant treated) * Not Allowed
Plywood or wood paneling (untreated) Not Allowed
Carpeting DOC-FF-1
* Thin, untreated plywood and wood paneling presents a major fire hazard.
Plywood and wood paneling, if used, shall be greater than 6.4 mm (¼-inch)
thick or shall be applied to a non-combustible backing such as minimum
13 mm (½-inch) thick gypsum wallboard (see IBC Section 803.11.4).
Gypsum wallboard or non-combustible ceiling tiles are a preferred alternative
to plywood or wood paneling for interior wall and ceiling finishes.
Hay, straw, wood shavings, saw dust or any other highly flammable material
is prohibited inside tents. Combustible materials are not permitted below
raised seating areas inside performance tents.
8.5.4 Rigid (non-fabric or non-membrane) finish materials shall have a

certification which lists the Flame Spread Index (FSI) and Smoke
Developed Index (SDI) according to ASTM E84 or UL 723 fire tests.
All flooring material (carpet, tile, etc.) must pass the U.S. Department of
Commerce (DOC) FF-1-70 or ASTM D2859 ignition resistance test,
which is based on a cigarette-type ignition source. The use of foam
plastic materials as decorations or in any other application is prohibited.
Page 25 of 36
8.6 Step 6: Define design requirements for each tent’s fire protection equipment.
8.6.1 See Chapter 9 and Section 904.11 of the IFC, “Fire Protection Systems”,
for the details of the requirements.
8.6.2 Kitchen Hood Fire Extinguishing System

a) Kitchen hood extinguishing systems are not required for temporary
tents.
b) Every kitchen shall have a Type K fire extinguisher(s) within 3 to
9 meters (10 to 30 feet) of cooking appliances. See Section 904.11
of the IFC and NFPA 96. Also see Section 8.6.3.d), below.
c) This section shall only apply if cooking equipment and exhaust
systems having a UL 300 listed and labeled kitchen hood
extinguishing systems are installed. If a kitchen hood extinguishing
system is installed, it shall meet NFPA 17A and UL-300 wet-
chemical kitchen hood fire extinguishing system requirements as
required for Type I kitchen hood exhaust systems above cooking
appliances that produce smoke and grease vapors. These systems
shall be installed according to their UL listing and the IFC.
8.6.3 Fire Extinguishers
Occupancy related fire extinguisher requirements are given in

Section 906 of the IFC and NFPA 10.
a) The layout of all fire extinguishers shall be based on a 23 meter
(75 feet) maximum travel distance, which is the “line-of-travel”
distance around obstructions. Typically, this results in extinguisher
locations spaced no more than 15 meters (50 feet) apart when
measured along the outer perimeter wall of the tent.
b) All interior areas shall be protected by a 4.5-kg (10-lbs) agent
capacity Class ABC multi-purpose, stored pressure, and dry
chemical extinguishers. Extinguishers shall be placed in the
corridor of tents that are divided up by interior rooms.
c) Fire extinguishers located in outside locations shall be 11.4-kg
(25-lbs) agent capacity Class ABC multi-purpose, cartridge
pressure, dry chemical extinguishers.
d) In dedicated cooking tents, provide a 2.5-gallon wet chemical
Class K (kitchen) extinguisher placed within 9.1 meters (30 feet) of
the cooking hood.
Page 26 of 36
e) Where extinguishers protect individual mechanical or electrical

equipment, they shall be located at least 7.5 meters (25 feet) from
the equipment.
f) Extinguishers weighing less than 18 kg (40 pounds) shall be
mounted so that the extinguisher top is not more than 1.5 m (5 feet)
above the floor level. Fire extinguishers shall not rest unsupported
on the floor or ground. Fire extinguishers may be placed on a
dedicated stand, provided the extinguisher bottom is minimum
101 mm (4 inches) above ground or floor, the extinguisher is
secured and the stand is anchored so that it will not tip over.
g) Fire extinguisher models shall be UL or FM approved and indicated
on the Saudi Aramco Fire Protection Department 9COM approval
list.
h) Fire extinguishers (e.g., “FE”) shall be shown on the design
drawings. Each extinguisher type, size and method of anchoring
shall be shown on the drawings.
8.6.4 Each safety CM shall have two flashlights and a handheld electric
megaphone, loud speaker or use of a public address system with an
uninterrupted power supply to direct people to pay attention to them and
to direct them to the nearest exit.
8.7 Step 7: Provide a site plot plan, which includes layout of the tents, firewater
availability and fire hydrant layout (only if present on the site), vehicular and
fire apparatus access roads, etc.
8.7.1 The site plot plan shall indicate:

a) Name of Saudi Aramco Proponent primary contact.
b) Name of program utilizing the tents.
c) Name of vendor contractor that prepared the site plot plan issued by
an approved third party agency.
d) Location, purpose and size (with dimensions) of each tent.
e) Normally, the tents shall be separated from each other and adjoining
lot lines or fences by a minimum 6.1 meter (20 feet) separation
distance. Tents having an area of 1,394 square meters (15,000 sq-ft)
or more shall maintain a minimum of 15.2 meters (50 feet) for any
adjacent tent.
f) Generators and other internal combustion engines shall maintain a
Page 27 of 36
minimum 6.1 meter (20 feet) separation distance from tents.

g) Storage of any combustible material is prohibited within 9.1 meters
(30 feet) of any tent. Storage of any LPG (gas) cylinders is
prohibited within 7.6 meters (25 feet) of any tent. Storage of any
flammable or combustible liquid containers is prohibited within
15.2 meters (50 feet) of any tent.
h) Shall choose a site with adequate area for separation distances and
access roads.
i) The minimum burial depth (“cover”) of electrical cable shall meet
the requirements of SAES-P-104 paragraph 10.1 and Standard
Drawing AD-036874. Cover is defined as the shortest distance in
millimeters (inches) measured between a point on the top surface of
any direct-buried conductor, cable, conduit, or other raceway and
the top surface of finished grade, concrete, or similar cover. As an
alternative, install all buried cables and/or conduits listed for burial
at least 600 mm (24 inches) deep with clean fill. Note: Some form
of alternative protection may be required for electrical service feeds
as it is unlikely these will be buried. Here is some suggested
language: Alternative armored shielding may be used in
conformance with the provisions of National Electrical Code (NEC)
Article 525 when approved by______ (SA Agency responsible)
j) Number and type of occupants in each tent.
k) Location and type of services/utilities for each tent.
l) Road/parking layout; including vehicular ingress, egress and
internal circulation, as well as parking areas for buses and other
vehicles.
m) Location and type of exterior lighting.
n) Emergency access routes. All tents on the site shall allow fire truck
access to a point where all portions of exterior walls can be reached
within 45.72 meters (150 feet) of the fire truck around the perimeter
of the tent. Fire department access roads are required based on a
minimum 6.1 meter (20 feet) width on an all-weather road surface.
The minimum inside turning radius is 7.6 meters (25 feet) and the
minimum outside turning radius is 13.7 meters (45 feet). There can
be no dead-end roads on the site where a fire truck cannot turn
around (without backing up) longer than 45.7 meters (150 feet).
o) Emergency assembly point locations. Emergency Assembly Area
(EAA) shall be sized for 0.5 square meters per person. The EAA’s
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shall be at least 15 meters (50 feet) from any tent or at least the
height of the tent, whichever is greater. Grass areas are acceptable
locations to use.
p) Potable/raw/fire water storage tanks, power generators, sewage
treatment facilities, solid waste containers, fuel storage tanks with
containment.
q) Location and type of fencing/walls around the site perimeter and
within the property.
r) External signage details (e.g., traffic signs).
s) General landscaping plans, including paving and gravel, vegetation
plans.
t) All other/additional proposed facilities, and installations.
8.8 Step 8: Qualified personnel requirements.
8.8.1 Qualified personnel shall be provided for the following functions:

a) One safety crowd management (CM) person is required for each
250 occupants as calculated for exiting requirements. The safety
CMs are committed only for audience assistance and safety and are
required at all times the tent is occupied. A CM manager shall be
appointed to manage this staff. Each safety CM shall have two
flashlights and a handheld electric megaphone, loud speaker or use
of a public address system with an uninterrupted power supply to
direct people to pay attention to them and to direct them to the
nearest exit. An announcement shall be made at quarterly
evacuation drills to identify all CM staff, who shall be dressed in a
distinctive and unique colored shirt or clothing. There shall be
adequate numbers of male and female staff at each tent for safety
CM functions. As a minimum, each CM staff member shall submit
certificate of completion for an approved Crowd Manager Training
program, such as the ICC/NASFM Crowd Manager Training
Program (available at http://www.iccsafe.org/about-icc/periodicals-
and-newsroom/icc-crowd-manager-training-program-updated/) or
other approved training program.
b) Prepare emergency procedures and evacuation plans.
Train security and safety CM personnel according to these plans.
Display evacuation plans near each exterior exit door.
c) Heavy equipment operators shall have Saudi Aramco certification as
well as heavy SAG license with a stamp. All heavy equipment shall
Page 29 of 36
also have a valid inspection sticker issued by an approved third

party agency.
Revision Summary
1 May 2016 New Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure. As per the directive from "His Royal Highness
Minister of Interior" mandatory requirements have to be adopted by the facilities to enforce
safety requirements, safeguard site general conditions, provide clear emergency exits, install
fire protection requirements, and electrical safety conditions as well as to protect public safety
within the community.
Page 30 of 36
Appendix A
Table of Summary of Temporary Tent Code Requirements
# Summary of Requirements
1 The width or least horizontal dimension of any tent is limited to a maximum of 30.5 meters
(100 feet) due to exit travel distance limitations.
2 Two exits are required for a calculated occupant load of 10 to 199 people (2009 IFC,
Section 2403.12.2), and up to seven separate exits may be required (see Table 1D in
paragraph 8.3.6 of this guide). All exterior exit doors shall have panic hardware devices on
doors. The maximum spacing between exit doors around the perimeter of an open area tent
shall be limited to a maximum of 30.5 meters (100 feet).
3 Exit doors shall be as follows:
a) Minimum 914 mm (36 inches) door leaf width. Maximum 1,219 mm (48 inches) door leaf
width. Minimum 2,032 mm (80 inches) door height. Doors shall be a side-hinged type.
Single- or double-door type doors may be used.
b) Glass windows in doors shall be tempered safety glass that is test and labeled according to
ANSI Z97.1, BS EN 12600 or other equivalent standard.
c) Doors shall swing in the direction of egress. Panic or fire exit hardware (push bar type) is
required for each exit door. The use of locks on exit doors is prohibited during occupancy
of the tent.
d) Interior floor surfaces of the tent shall not slope up or down more than a one unit vertical
in 20 units horizontal (5%) slope. Landings shall be provided on the exterior side of each
exit doorway, with the landing width equal to the doorway width and the landing length of
1,219 mm (48 inches). The exterior door landing shall not slope up or down more than a
one unit vertical in 48 units horizontal (2%) slope. The interior floor and exterior landing
surfaces shall be on the same level.
e) Door thresholds are limited to a maximum 12.7 mm (½-inch) height. If the threshold
height exceeds 6.4 mm (¼-inch), the threshold shall be beveled with a slope not greater
than 1:2 (50% slope).
f) Materials or other items cannot block exit doors or corridors/hallways leading to exits.
g) The maximum occupant load of a tent shall be listed at each exit doorway.
4 Illuminated exit signs are required above exterior exit doors and at any change of direction in
corridors leading to designated exits. Exit signs are required to be green and white in color
and internally lit, with an emergency power supply that lasts at least 90 minutes during a
power outage. The sign shall include the word “EXIT” in dual languages with Arabic above
English. Interior fabric materials shall not block or cover exit signs or exit doors.
5 Adequate lighting shall be provided for egress paths (e.g., “Frog-eye” style lights with a
battery backup) or by providing a lighting circuit connected to an emergency generator.
Emergency power is required to operate for at least 90-minutes in the absence of normal
supplied power and to provide a minimum of 11 lux (1 foot-candle) of light measured at the
egress path floor surface. These devices shall be placed above each exterior exit door and
Page 31 of 36
spaced no greater than every 10 meters (32.8 feet) around the perimeter of an open area tent.
Emergency lighting is also required along any corridor created in a tent by a room layout.
Interior fabric materials shall not block or cover emergency lighting units.
6 The contracting tent vendor shall submit to LPD a material manufacturer’s certification flame
test document for every fabric or membrane material used to erect the tent shall state that the
material is composed of flame-resistant material that meets the flame resistance requirements
of NFPA 701. Equivalent flame test methods can be evaluated by LPD.
7 One crowd management (CM) individual is required for each 250 occupant as calculated for
exiting requirements. The CMs are committed only to audience evacuation assistance are
required at all times the tent is occupied. A manager of this staff shall be appointed to manage
this staff. Each safety CM shall have two flashlights and a loud speaker or use of a public
address system with an uninterrupted power supply to provide instructions during an emergency
and to direct them to the nearest exit when evacuation is necessary. An announcement shall be
made at quarterly evacuation drills to identify these people who shall be dressed in a distinctive
and unique colored shirt or clothing.
8 A structural drawing and calculations from the tent supplier vendor is required to be
submitted to SA CSD stating the tent structure is adequately designed and anchored to
withstand the elements of weather and prevent collapsing. PID (project inspection
department) shall inspect and approve the structural integrity and load capacity of each tent.
Following any period of high winds during the event, the proponent shall request the
structural integrity of each tent to be evaluated by a representative from PID.
9 There shall be a minimum clearance of at least 914 mm (3 feet) between the fabric envelope
and all contents located inside the tent.
10 Spot lighting and other effect lighting shall be located at least 1.8 meters (6 feet) from the tent
membrane or decorative fabric material, or tent membrane or decorative fabric material shall
be shielded by non-combustible insulation at least 235 mm (9.25 inches) thick.
11 Storage of any combustible material is prohibited within 9.1 meters (30 feet) of any tent.
Storage of any LPG (gas) cylinders is prohibited within 7.6 meters (25 feet) of any tent.
Compressed gas cylinders storage and use shall also comply with Section I, Chapter 9 in the
Construction Safety Manual (CSM). Storage of any flammable or combustible liquid
containers is prohibited within 15.2 meters (50 feet) of any tent.
12 There shall be a minimum of three feet (914mm) clearance in front of all electrical panels
inside the tents. Also, there shall be a minimum clearance of three feet (914mm) between the
electrical panel and the tent wall/fabric.
13 All generators shall be a minimum of 6.1 meters (20 feet) from any tent/structure.
14 No Smoking signs shall be place at the entrances and every 30.5 meters with the tent.
No open flames or cooking is permitted within a distance of 6.1 meters (20 feet) of any tent,
except within dedicated, stand-alone, open cooking tents without side walls.
15 As a general code requirement, fire extinguishers shall be installed so all areas of tents are
within a 22.86 meters (75 foot) travel distance of a fire extinguisher. Placing fire
extinguishers 15 m (50 feet) apart along the outside perimeter wall of the tent satisfies this
rule. The kitchen area shall have a Type K fire extinguisher within 3 to 9 meters (10 to
30 feet) of the cooking appliances
Page 32 of 36
16 All tents on the site shall allow emergency vehicle access to a point where all portions of
exterior walls can be reached within 45.72 meters (150 feet) of the fire truck around the
perimeter of the tent. Emergency vehicle access roads are required based on a minimum
6.1 meter (20 feet) width on an all-weather road surface. The minimum inside turning radius
is 7.6 meters (25 feet) and the minimum outside turning radius is 13.7 meters (45 feet).
There can be no dead-end roads on the site longer than 45.7 meters (150 feet) where a fire
truck cannot turn around (without backing up).
17 If fire hydrants are present at the site they shall be tested prior to the event opening to the
Public.
18 Each Emergency Assembly Area (EAA) needs to be sized for 0.5 square meters per person in
each tent. The EAA’s shall be at least 15 meters (50 feet) from any tent or at least the height
of the tent, whichever is greater. Grass areas are acceptable locations to use.
19 All food vendors shall have Health Certificates conspicuously posted.
Disclaimer: Application of the summary of requirements listed in this table without reading and
understanding the design process explained in this entire procedure will not result in a design that is
compliant according to Saudi Aramco standards.
Page 33 of 36
Appendix B
Temporary Tents and Membrane Structure Pre-Occupancy Checklist
Pre-occupancy Checklist DATE PREPARED 11/30/2015 REVISION 1 2 3 4

PREPARED BY Issued for
BY: DHAHRAN AREA LOSS PREV. DIV.
Comments
APPROVED BY DATE
SUBJECT: Safety Requirements in
SECTION:
Tents Pre-occupancy Checklist.
Item
ITEM DESCRIPTION YES NO N/A REMARKS
No.
1 The width or least horizontal dimension of any tent is
limited to a maximum of 30.5 meters (100 feet) due to
exit travel distance limitations.
2 Two exits are required for a calculated occupant load
of 10 to 199 people (2009 IFC, Section 2403.12.2), and
up to seven separate exits may be required (see Table
1D in paragraph 8.3.6 of this guide). All exterior exit
doors shall have panic hardware devices on doors.
The maximum spacing between exit doors around the
perimeter of an open area tent shall be limited to a
maximum of 30.5 meters (100 feet).
3a Minimum 914 mm (36 inches) door leaf width.
Maximum 1,219 mm (48 inches) door leaf width.
Minimum 2,032 mm (80 inches) door height.
Doors shall be a side-hinged type. Single- or double-
door type doors may be used.
3b Glass windows in doors shall be tempered safety glass
that is test and labeled according to ANSI Z97.1,
BS EN 12600 or other equivalent standard.
3c Doors shall swing in the direction of egress. Panic or
fire exit hardware (push bar type) is required for each
exit door. The use of locks on exit doors is prohibited
during occupancy of the tent.
3d Interior floor surfaces of the tent shall not slope up or
down more than a one unit vertical in 20 units
horizontal (5%) slope. Landings shall be provided on
the exterior side of each exit doorway, with the landing
width equal to the doorway width and the landing
length of 1,219 mm (48 inches). The exterior door
landing shall not slope up or down more than a one unit
vertical in 48 units horizontal (2%) slope. The interior
floor and exterior landing surfaces shall be on the same
level.
3e Door thresholds are limited to a maximum 12.7 mm
(½-inch) height. If the threshold height exceeds
6.4 mm (¼-inch), the threshold shall be beveled with a
slope not greater than 1:2 (50% slope).
Page 34 of 36
Item
ITEM DESCRIPTION YES NO N/A REMARKS
No.
3f Materials or other items cannot block exit doors or
corridors/hallways leading to exits.
3g The maximum occupant load of a tent shall be listed at
each exit doorway.
4 Illuminated exit signs are required above exterior exit
doors and at any change of direction in corridors
leading to designated exits. Exit signs are required to
be green and white in color and internally lit, with an
emergency power supply that lasts at least 90 minutes
during a power outage. The sign shall include the word
“EXIT” in dual languages with Arabic above English.
Interior fabric materials shall not block or cover exit
signs or exit doors.
Page 35 of 36
Appendix C
*Temporary Tents and Membrane Structure Internal Design Review Certificate
DESCRIPTION:
I hereby certify that this temporary facility, or portion thereof, has been designed in accordance with the approved
project drawings and specifications, except as noted below and any conditional requirements have been
implemented or addressed before approval or concurrence of the design certificate.
PROJECT MANAGER Date:
Name: Signature:
PROPONENT SUPERINTENDENT Date:
Name: Signature:
project drawings and specifications and complies with all applicable safety, building code requirements and fire
protection requirements, except as noted below and any conditional requirements have been implemented or
addressed before approval or concurrence of the design certificate.
FIRE PREVENTION REPRESENTATIVE: Date:
Name: Signature:
AREA LOSS PREVENTION REPRESENTATIVE: Date:
Name: Signature:
FIRE PROTECTION REPRESENTATIVE: Date:
Name: Signature:
I hereby certify that this temporary facility, or portion thereof, has been structurally designed in accordance with
the approved project drawings and specifications and complies with all applicable electrical design meets the
pertinent standards as well as the structural design integrity and load capacity, except as noted below and any
conditional requirements have been implemented or addressed before approval or concurrence of the design
certificate.
CSD/PID REPRESENTATIVE: Date:
Name: Signature:
environment/sanitary design and specifications requirements, except as noted below and any conditional
requirements have been implemented or addressed before approval or concurrence of the design certificate.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT: Date:
Name: Signature:
EXCEPTIONS:
* Sample of the design review certificate by Loss Prevention Department.
Page 36 of 36

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Engineering Procedure

SAEP-138 1 May 2016

Previous Issue: New Next Planned Update: 1 May 2019

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2016. All rights reserved.

3 Conflicts and Deviations

4.1 Saudi Aramco Documents

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure (SAEP)

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards (SAESs)

Saudi Aramco Standard Drawing

Saudi Aramco General Instruction (GI)

Saudi Aramco Safety Management Guide

Saudi Aramco Environmental Health Code (SAEHC)

Saudi Aramco Minimum Medical Standards Requirements Manual (MMSR)

Construction Safety Manual, Vol.1, Administrative Requirements; Vol.2 Work

4.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American National Standards Institute

American Society for Testing and Materials

European Committee for Standardization

International Code Council (ICC)

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Underwriter Laboratories, Inc. (UL)

4.3 Other Documents

Ministry of Interior Directive No. 1540, Dated 27/1/1436H

CPSC 16 Part 1630 (Doc FF 1-70)

Building: A building is an enclosed structure used or intended for supporting or

combustible is considered as combustible.

Egress or Means of Egress (Exiting): A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical

Listed: Equipment, materials, construction products, building assemblies or services

Membrane Structure: An air-inflated, air-supported, cable or frame-covered

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL): An independent, third-party

NFPA or the National Fire Protection Association: The NFPA is a standards

Non-Combustible Materials: Materials tested according to ASTM E136 that do not

Occupancy or Occupancy Group: A single letter designation in the IBC used to

Tent: A structure, enclosure or shelter, with or without sidewalls or drops, constructed

6.6 Pre-occupancy inspection of Tent, Canopies and Membrane Structure shall be

construction completion per GI-0002.710 and in this SAEP under Appendix B,

6.9.1 Temporary tents and membrane structure designed, erected and

6.9.2 Temporary tents and membrane structure designed, erected and

6.9.3 Temporary tents and membrane structure designed, erected and

7.1 Saudi Aramco Loss Prevention Department (LPD)

vendor and for their designs to be reviewed/corrected according to LPD

7.2.1 Shall be responsible for informing contracting vendors and designers of

7.2.2 Proponents and their contracting vendors shall be responsible for

7.2.3 Proponents shall be responsible for the follow up and correction of

7.2.4 Proponent shall be responsible for providing crowd management

7.3 Consulting Services Department (CSD)

7.4 Security Department

7.5 Fire Protection Department (FrPD)

7.6 Environmental Protection Department (EPD)

7.6.1 Shall review the design to ensure adequate environmental/sanitary design

7.7 Civil Defense

Following a directive from “His Royal Highness Minister of Interior”, Civil

8 Requirements of the Site and Tent Design Process

dimensions to determine size and areas proposed.

Step 8: Qualified personnel requirements.

8.1.1 Tents erected at a site shall include the following:

8.1.3 Example minimum tent areas for a 4,000 person site:

b) Cooking operations are required to occur in dedicated, stand-alone

b) Group F Dedicated cooking tents.

8.2.3 If quantities of liquid fuel and/or hazardous materials are to be stored or

8.3.2 To determine egress requirements for a building, the maximum

Table 1A - Area per Occupant (from IBC Table 1004.1.1)

Table 1B - Maximum Occupant Load for a Tent or Room