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name: country-saudi-arabia description: > Kingdom of Saudi Arabia architectural code and regulatory reference. Covers the Saudi Building Code (SBC) nine-part series issued by the Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC): SBC 201 General Building, SBC 301 Structural Loads (ASCE 7-derived), SBC 302 Concrete (ACI 318-derived), SBC 304 Soil and Foundations, SBC 305 Masonry, SBC 306 Steel (AISC-derived), SBC 401 Electrical, SBC 501 Mechanical, SBC 601 Energy Conservation, SBC 701 Plumbing, SBC 801 Fire (NFPA-aligned), SBC 901 Existing Buildings, SBC 1001 Green Buildings. Also covers the General Directorate of Civil Defence regulations, Saudi Universal Accessibility Code, Mostadamah (Saudi Green Building Program), the Vision 2030 giga-projects (NEOM, Qiddiya, Red Sea, Diriyah, ROSHN), Amana (Municipality) approval workflows, Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC) programs, and Royal Commission jurisdictions (Jubail/Yanbu/AlUla). Includes Mecca/Medina special restrictions (Hajj building regulations), Aramco housing standards reference, and the hot-arid + coastal-humid + highland design overlays for the three national climate zones.

Country: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Architectural code and regulatory reference for projects within Saudi Arabia. Activate this skill on any reference to Saudi cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Dammam, Tabuk, AlUla, NEOM, Khobar, Dhahran), SAR currency, "Amana"/"Baladiya", Royal Commission projects, Mostadamah, SBC codes, or Saudi Civil Defence (Difa'a al-Madani).

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1. Regulatory Hierarchy

Saudi Arabia operates as Archetype A (Unitary National Code): the Saudi Building Code (SBC) is mandatory throughout the Kingdom for all new construction since 2018. Provincial variations are administrative (which Amana issues the permit), not technical.

1.1 Authority Stack

LEVEL 1 -- NATIONAL
  Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing (MoMRAH) -- urban policy & code adoption
    + Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC) -- publishes SBC series
  Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Org (SASO) -- materials/products
  Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC) -- energy programs
  General Directorate of Civil Defence (Mudiriat al-Difa'a al-Madani) -- fire approvals
  Authority of People with Disabilities -- accessibility policy
  General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information -- maps, coordinates
  Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities & Technology Zones (MODON)
  Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) -- separate jurisdiction
  Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) -- separate jurisdiction
  NEOM -- separate regulatory framework
  Qiddiya Investment Company -- separate regulatory framework
  Red Sea Global -- separate regulatory framework
  Diriyah Gate Development Authority -- separate regulatory framework

LEVEL 2 -- REGIONAL
  Regional Council of each Emirate (Riyadh, Mecca, Medina, Eastern, Asir, Tabuk, Qassim,
    Hail, Northern Borders, Jazan, Najran, Al-Bahah, Jouf) -- regional planning oversight

LEVEL 3 -- LOCAL (PERMITTING)
  Amana / Baladiyah (Municipality) -- per city:
    Riyadh: Amanat al-Riyadh (now under Royal Commission for Riyadh City - RCRC)
    Jeddah: Amanat Jeddah
    Mecca: Amanat al-Asimah al-Muqaddasah (Holy Capital Municipality)
    Medina: Amanat al-Madinah al-Munawwarah
    Dammam: Amanat al-Mintaqah al-Sharqiyah
  + Sub-municipalities (Baladiyah Far'iyah) for districts within metropolises

LEVEL 4 -- PROJECT
  Civil Defence (Difa'a al-Madani) -- pre-design + occupancy NOC
  Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) -- electrical sanction
  National Water Co (NWC) / SWCC -- water/sewer
  Ministry of Tourism -- hotel licensing
  Ministry of Health -- hospital/clinic licensing
  Ministry of Education -- school/university licensing
  Ministry of Investment (MISA) -- foreign-owned projects

1.2 Giga-Project Special Jurisdictions

Vision 2030 has spawned several non-Amana jurisdictions with their own building authorities:

Giga-Project	Authority	Code Approach
NEOM	NEOM Company (own urban authority)	NEOM Building Code in development; in interim, project-specific authority approval; reportedly aligned to SBC + Eurocodes + bespoke high-performance overlay
The Line	NEOM	Special structural performance criteria (200 m height, 170 km length)
Qiddiya	Qiddiya Investment Company	Qiddiya Design Guidelines + SBC overlay
Red Sea / AMAALA	Red Sea Global	Red Sea Sustainability Standards (target LEED Platinum equivalent) + SBC + bespoke coastal-eco overlay
Diriyah	Diriyah Gate Development Authority	Salmani Architecture Guidelines (Najdi vernacular + modern); UNESCO heritage area compliance
AlUla	Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)	RCU Master Plan + Heritage Conservation Code; UNESCO World Heritage Hegra restrictions
King Salman International Airport (KSIA Riyadh)	RCRC + GACA	Aviation code overlay
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)	Emaar the Economic City	KAEC Guidelines + SBC
Jubail Industrial City	RCJY	RCJY-specific industrial codes + SBC
Yanbu Industrial City	RCJY	Same

In any of these, project teams must follow the specific authority's design guidelines AND the SBC -- the giga-project guidelines layer on top, not replace.

1.3 Sacred City Restrictions (Mecca + Medina)

• Mecca and Medina: only Muslims may permanently reside/work; non-Muslim consultants typically work via Saudi-Arabia-licensed Saudi associates with offsite review
• Both cities have special height limits in zones surrounding the Two Holy Mosques (Masjid al-Haram, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) -- elevations, materials, colors, signage all controlled by Royal Commission for Mecca/Medina + Saudi Heritage Authority
• Hajj building regulations -- special crowd-flow requirements for hotels and infrastructure on the Hajj routes; capacity calculations follow Hajj Research Institute methodologies

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2. Saudi Building Code Structure

The Saudi Building Code (SBC) was first published in 2007 with major revision in 2018 -- the 2018 edition is the operative version (with periodic updates issued by SBCNC). All buildings nationally must comply.

2.1 Nine-Part Structure

Code	Title	Aligned to / Derived From
SBC 201-CR	General Building Requirements	IBC 2018
SBC 301-CR	Structural - Loads	ASCE 7-16
SBC 302-CR	Concrete	ACI 318-14
SBC 303-CR	Foundations / Soil Mechanics	--
SBC 304-CR	(Note: numbering varies by edition; check current)	--
SBC 305-CR	Masonry	TMS 402/602
SBC 306-CR	Steel	AISC 360
SBC 307-CR	Composite	AISC 360 + AISI
SBC 401-CR	Electrical	NEC 2017 (NFPA 70)
SBC 501-CR	Mechanical	IMC 2018
SBC 601-CR	Energy Conservation	IECC 2015 + ASHRAE 90.1-2013 base, with SBC modifications
SBC 701-CR	Plumbing	IPC 2018
SBC 801-CR	Fire	IFC 2018 + NFPA cross-references
SBC 901-CR	Existing Buildings	IEBC 2018
SBC 1001-CR	Green Buildings	LEED + ASHRAE 189.1 + IgCC

SBC-G (general public) and SBC-CR (technical/engineer) are the two reading tiers. Practitioners use SBC-CR.

2.2 Adoption Year by City

While SBC is technically nationally mandatory since 2018, enforcement strength varies:

• Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, Medina: full SBC enforcement at Amana level since 2019
• Tier-2 cities: enforcement strengthening 2020-2024
• Tier-3 / rural: SBC formally applies but on-site practice may lag
• Giga-projects: own authority + SBC overlay

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3. Building Code Core (SBC 201 + 801)

3.1 Occupancy Classification (SBC 201 Ch. 3, IBC-aligned)

Group	Occupancy	Subdivisions
A	Assembly	A-1 (theaters), A-2 (food/drink), A-3 (worship/exhibit), A-4 (indoor sport), A-5 (outdoor)
B	Business	--
E	Educational	up to 12th grade
F	Factory/Industrial	F-1 moderate, F-2 low hazard
H	High Hazard	H-1 to H-5
I	Institutional	I-1 supervised; I-2 medical care; I-3 detention; I-4 day care
M	Mercantile	--
R	Residential	R-1 transient, R-2 apartment, R-3 single-family, R-4 small care
S	Storage	S-1 moderate, S-2 low
U	Utility	--

3.2 Height & Area (SBC 201 Ch. 5 + Table 504)

IBC-aligned; same Type IA through VB construction types; same height-vs-area-vs-occupancy-vs-construction matrix.

Key Saudi-specific note: Saudi practice often uses Type IA or IB (fully fire-protected) for most large buildings due to fire policy + insurance.

3.3 Setback and FAR -- Riyadh Example (RCRC)

Zone	FAR (sometimes "Floor Area Coefficient")	Coverage	Setbacks	Height
R1 villa	1.0-1.5	50%	5 m front, 3 m sides	12 m (2-3 floors typical)
R2 (apartments)	2.5-4.0	50-60%	5-7 m front, 3-5 m sides	20-30 m
Commercial mid-density	4.0-6.0	70%	per street width formula	30-45 m
Commercial high-density / CBD	6-12	70-80%	per zoning + setback minimum 5 m	100 m+ (per skyline plan)
Industrial	0.8	50%	8 m front	varies

Riyadh's Riyadh Strategic Plan 2030 + King Salman Renaissance Project (RCRC) are restructuring zoning. Confirm current Detailed Land Use Plan (DLUP) for any specific plot.

3.4 Setback and FAR -- Jeddah

Jeddah's coastal high-density mid-rise pattern uses Building Coefficient = FAR × site coverage. Old city (Al-Balad UNESCO heritage zone) has strict conservation rules.

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4. Fire and Life Safety (SBC 801)

4.1 SBC 801-CR Structure

IBC/IFC-aligned. Key chapters:

• Ch. 4 General Building Heights and Areas (cross-ref SBC 201 Ch. 5)
• Ch. 5-9 Building Types and Specific Occupancies
• Ch. 10 Means of Egress (IBC Ch. 10 aligned)
• Ch. 11 Accessibility (overlap with Saudi Universal Accessibility Code)
• Ch. 14 Exterior Walls (NFPA 285 cladding alignment)
• Ch. 26-29 Fire-protection systems
• Ch. 33 Existing buildings
• Ch. 34 Special detailed requirements

4.2 Egress Travel Distances (SBC 801 Ch. 10)

Aligned to IBC Table 1017.2 with Saudi modifications:

Occupancy	Sprinklered Travel (m)	Unsprinklered (m)
A	76.2	61.0
B	91.4	61.0
E	76.2	60.96
F-1	76.2	60.96
H-1	22.86	22.86
H-2	30.48	30.48
H-3	45.72	30.48
I-2	60.96	-- (req sprinklered)
M	76.2	60.96
R	76.2	60.96
S-1	76.2	60.96

4.3 High-Rise (SBC 801 Ch. 4 Special Detailed)

• Threshold: building > 23 m (75 ft) above lowest fire-department access
• Required: 2 enclosed exit stairs (pressurized in many cases), 2-hour fire-rated lobbies, sprinklers throughout, voice evacuation, fire command centre, fire lift complying with EN 81-72 equivalent
• Smoke control: required atrium, mall, underground parking, high-rise per SBC 801 Ch. 28

4.4 External Wall Cladding (SBC 801 Ch. 14, post-Mecca crane tower fires)

Aligned to IBC Section 1402-1406 and NFPA 285:

• Buildings > 18 m (60 ft) require NFPA 285 tested assembly OR Class A1/A2 non-combustible
• Storage building heat-released ban: large-scale combustible cladding effectively prohibited
• Approval: Civil Defence reviews + Saudi Standards (SASO) certification of products

4.5 Civil Defence Approval Pre-Design

For any major project (high-rise, hospital, school, hotel, mall, industrial, special hazards):

1. Concept submission to Civil Defence -- review of fire strategy
2. Design Development submission -- complete fire/life safety design package
3. Construction-phase inspections
4. Pre-occupancy inspection -- Civil Defence Completion Certificate required before Amana issues Occupancy Permit

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5. Energy Code (SBC 601)

5.1 SBC 601-CR Structure

Aligned to IECC 2015 + ASHRAE 90.1-2013 with Saudi modifications. Mandatory.

Saudi Climate Zones (SBC 601-CR Section 301.1):

Zone	Type	Cities	ASHRAE 169 Equivalent
Zone 1	Hot-Humid (Coast)	Jeddah, Yanbu, Jubail, Dammam, Khobar	1B-2A margin
Zone 2	Hot-Dry (Interior)	Riyadh, Hail, Buraydah, Hofuf	1B
Zone 3	Cooler/Highland	Abha, Taif, Tabuk, AlUla, NEOM (mountains)	2B-3B margin

5.2 SBC 601 Prescriptive Envelope Targets

Element	Zone 1 (Coastal Humid)	Zone 2 (Interior Dry)	Zone 3 (Highland)
Wall U (W/m2K)	0.50	0.45	0.40
Roof U (W/m2K)	0.30	0.25	0.25
Window U (W/m2K)	2.20	2.20	2.20
Window SHGC	0.30	0.25	0.40
WWR max	40%	30%	40%

(Values indicative; refer to SBC 601-CR current edition tables.)

5.3 Mostadamah (Saudi Green Building Program)

Saudi's voluntary-tier green rating system. Categories: Site, Water, Energy, Materials, IEQ, Innovation. Pursued by government-funded projects and increasingly by private developers (NEOM, Red Sea Global require equivalent).

5.4 SEEC Programs

Saudi Energy Efficiency Center mandates appliance standards (SASO labels), industrial efficiency, district cooling for new developments > 2 million sqm conditioned space.

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6. Accessibility (SBC 801 Ch. 11 + Saudi Universal Accessibility Code)

6.1 Framework

• SBC 801 Chapter 11 -- aligned to ANSI A117.1-2009
• Saudi Universal Accessibility Code (2010, revised) -- by MoMRAH + Authority of People with Disabilities
• King Salman Center for Disability Research standards
• Mowaamah Certification -- accessibility certification for workplaces
• Saudi ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008)

6.2 Key Dimensions

ANSI A117.1-aligned with Saudi additions:

Element	Dimension
Accessible route	1.22 m clear (1.5 m preferred)
Door clear width	813 mm (32 in) -- with Saudi preference for 900 mm at primary entries
Ramp gradient	1:12 max, 1:20 preferred for tactile/wayfinding
Ramp landing	1.5 x 1.5 m every 9 m run
Lift cabin	Type B 1100 x 1300 mm (typical); stretcher type 1100 x 2100 mm (hospital)
Accessible WC	2.0 x 2.0 m minimum; grab rails left + right; emergency call cord
Accessible parking	3.66 m + 1.52 m access aisle (ANSI dimensions); covered preferred for sun protection
Tactile flooring	Per ISO 23599 + Saudi Code; at all level changes, doorways, lift entries, ramp ends
Mosque accessibility	Wheelchair-accessible prayer area at side (not back) per Saudi guidelines; ablution stations dual-height

6.3 Mowaamah Workplace Certification

Three tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold. Requires policy + physical environment + recruitment provisions. Issued by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Many Saudi commercial buildings now target Mowaamah Gold.

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7. Structural and Loads (SBC 301)

7.1 SBC 301 -- Loads

Aligned to ASCE 7-16:

Load	Saudi-Specific
Dead and Live	ASCE 7-16 Ch. 3-4
Wind	ASCE 7-16 + Saudi wind maps; 3-second gust mapped by region
Seismic	Generally low (SDC A-C); higher around Tabuk + Red Sea margin (NEOM site) and Asir region
Snow	Highland regions only (Abha, Tabuk highlands); SBC 301 maps
Dust/Sand	Site-specific additive; significant near Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) edges
Thermal	Critical for facades; design thermal range up to 60 C

7.2 Seismic Zoning

Saudi Arabia has moderate seismicity along Red Sea margin + Tabuk + Asir; low elsewhere.

Region	Seismic Design Category (SDC)	Notes
Central Plateau (Riyadh, Buraydah)	A	Lowest
Eastern Province (Dammam, Khobar)	A-B	Low
Western Coast Jeddah	B-C	Moderate
Tabuk, NEOM region	C-D	Higher
Asir Highlands (Abha)	C	Moderate
Northern Borders	A	Lowest

For SDC D and above, full ductile detailing per SBC 302/306 + ASCE 7 seismic analysis required.

7.3 Materials

Material	Code
Concrete	SBC 302 (ACI 318-14 derived)
Steel	SBC 306 (AISC 360 derived)
Masonry	SBC 305 (TMS 402/602 derived)
Foundations	SBC 304 -- soils, calcareous/sabkha + gypsum special provisions
Aluminium	AA Aluminium Design Manual (referenced)

7.4 Soils

Saudi has problematic soils in many regions:

• Sabkha (coastal salt flats around Persian Gulf, Red Sea): high sulphate + chloride, weak bearing
• Gypsum-bearing soils (Riyadh, Eastern Province): solubility risk
• Calcareous soils (coastal): variable strength
• Expansive clays (some Eastern + Northern areas)

Sulphate-resistant cement per SASO/SBC 302 mandatory for coastal foundations.

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8. Construction Permits Workflow

8.1 Steps (Riyadh as representative)

1. Land documentation: Saqq (Title Deed) verification with Ministry of Justice
2. Survey + soil report by certified office
3. Concept design + plot certificate (Maska al-Aradhi) check
4. Schematic submission to Amana (Belady portal in Riyadh) + Civil Defence pre-approval
5. Detailed Design submission -- structural calculations, MEP, fire engineering report, accessibility, energy compliance per SBC 601
6. Building Permit issuance by Amana
7. Construction supervision contract mandatory -- consultant signs off on phases
8. Milestone inspections -- foundation, structure, MEP, completion
9. Pre-occupancy inspections -- Civil Defence + Amana
10. Occupancy Certificate (Shahadat Itham al-Bina'a) by Amana
11. Utility connections SEC + NWC + others

8.2 Special Workflows

• Giga-projects: own authority handles steps 4-10 internally; SBC compliance reviewed by their consultants
• Royal Commission projects (RCJY, RCU, RCRC): separate workflow within commission's design + permit office
• Mecca/Medina holy precincts: additional Royal Commission approval; restrictions on construction during Hajj season (~6 weeks)

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9. Climate Design Parameters

9.1 Riyadh (Zone 2 -- Hot Dry Interior)

Parameter	Value
Cooling design DB (0.4%)	47-48 deg C
Cooling MCWB	18-20 deg C (dry)
Heating design DB (99.6%)	4-6 deg C
Diurnal swing	15-22 deg C summer
Annual CDD (base 18C)	~3500
Annual HDD (base 18C)	~500
Annual solar (GHI)	2150 kWh/m2
Wind 3-sec gust	38-42 m/s
Dust storms	8-15 events/year

9.2 Jeddah (Zone 1 -- Hot Humid Coast)

Parameter	Value
Cooling design DB	39-41 deg C
Cooling MCWB	27-29 deg C (humid -- bigger challenge)
Heating design DB	13-15 deg C
Annual CDD	5000+
Salt-laden air	severe corrosion risk
Sirocco / khamsin events	dust + heat

9.3 Tabuk / NEOM (Zone 3 -- Highland)

Parameter	Value
Cooling design DB	38-40 deg C
Heating design DB	-2 to 2 deg C (snow occasionally)
Wind	Highest in Kingdom (NEOM coastal-mountain interaction; significant offshore site potential)
Annual CDD	2000-2500
Annual HDD	1500-2000

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10. Quick Numeric Reference

Parameter	Value	Source
Floor-to-floor residential	3.0-3.3 m	SBC 201 + general practice
Floor-to-floor office	4.0-4.5 m	SBC 201 + Saudi Class A office spec
Hotel ceiling clear	2.7 m min	SBC 201
Corridor width residential	1.118 m (44 in)	SBC 801 Ch. 10
Corridor width office	1.118 m (44 in)	SBC 801 Ch. 10
Stair width	1.118 m (44 in)	SBC 801 Ch. 10
Travel distance B (sprinklered)	91.4 m	SBC 801 Ch. 10 + IBC Table 1017.2
Cladding (high-rise)	NFPA 285 assembly or Class A1/A2	SBC 801 Ch. 14
Wall U (Zone 2 -- Riyadh)	0.45 W/m2K	SBC 601
Glass SHGC (Zone 2)	0.25	SBC 601
Parking residential	1.0-1.5 per unit	Local Amana DCR
Mosque -- prayer area allocation	0.8-1.0 m2 per worshipper (sitting); 0.6 m2 standing	Hajj Research Institute

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11. Application Workflow

1. Identify Amana / Royal Commission / Giga-project jurisdiction.
2. Confirm SBC version in force at current Amana (typically 2018 + latest amendments).
3. Apply SBC 201 for general + classification.
4. Apply SBC 801 for fire/life safety (always).
5. Apply SBC 601 for energy compliance.
6. Apply SBC 301-306 for structural.
7. Apply Saudi Universal Accessibility Code + SBC 801 Ch. 11 for accessibility.
8. Confirm Civil Defence pre-approval workflow at concept/SD/DD/Construction/Completion.
9. Confirm RCRC / RCU / NEOM specific guidelines if within those jurisdictions.
10. Cite clauses: "SBC 201-CR 2018 Chapter 504", "SBC 801-CR 2018 Section 1006.2", "SBC 601-CR 2018 Table C402.1.4", "Saudi Universal Accessibility Code 2010 Section 4.3.1".

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12. Authoritative Sources

• Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC) -- sbc.gov.sa -- all SBC codes
• Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing (MoMRAH) -- momrah.gov.sa
• General Directorate of Civil Defence -- 998.gov.sa
• Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Org (SASO) -- saso.gov.sa
• Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC) -- seec.gov.sa
• Mostadamah Green Building Program -- via MoMRAH
• Amanat al-Riyadh / Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) -- rcrc.gov.sa
• Amanat Jeddah -- jeddah.gov.sa
• Amanat al-Asimah al-Muqaddasah (Mecca) -- holymakkah.gov.sa
• Amanat al-Madinah al-Munawwarah -- amana-md.gov.sa
• Eastern Province Amana -- eamana.gov.sa
• Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) -- rcu.gov.sa
• NEOM -- neom.com (developer regulatory portal)
• Authority of People with Disabilities -- apd.gov.sa
• MISA (Ministry of Investment) -- misa.gov.sa

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Cross-references: load building-codes for IBC fundamentals (SBC 201 is IBC-derived); fire-life-safety for general egress overlaid by SBC 801; building-envelope for hot-arid + coastal-humid detailing; building-sustainability for Mostadamah / LEED comparison; accessibility-design for ANSI A117.1 / Saudi UAC; structural-systems for ACI 318 + AISC content used by SBC 302/306.