Structural design compliance in Qatar: QCS and what reviewers check

The Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS) are the national reference for construction materials, workmanship and testing in Qatar. They cover ground investigation, foundations, concrete, structural steel and many other trades.

Many people still search for QCS 2014. A newer edition, QCS 2024, has been published and supersedes it. For a building permit, your structural engineer must state which QCS edition and which design codes the design follows. The structural drawings must also match the architectural and MEP drawings in the same file.

What QCS is and who publishes it

QCS is a set of technical specifications for building and infrastructure work in Qatar. It was first issued in 2000 and has been revised several times, including editions in 2010, 2014 and 2024. The 2024 edition is published through Qatar's national standards body, the Qatar General Organization for Standardization.

The document is divided into numbered sections by trade. For structural work, the most relevant sections deal with ground investigation, foundations, concrete and structural steel. Other sections cover plumbing, drainage, electrical work, air conditioning and fire systems. QCS describes itself as a reference for minimum acceptable practice. A project specification can ask for more, but should not ask for less.

QCS 2014 and QCS 2024: which edition applies

QCS 2024 supersedes QCS 2014. It was approved as a voluntary Qatari standard, which means it becomes binding when an authority, a client or a contract requires it. In practice, government clients and many private contracts in Qatar name QCS as the governing specification.

A new design should refer to the current edition. A project that was designed and contracted under QCS 2014 may continue to refer to it, depending on the contract. The safe approach is simple. State the edition clearly in the design basis and the drawing notes, and do not mix clauses from two editions.

QCS works alongside structural design codes

QCS does not tell an engineer how to size a beam or a column. That work follows a recognised international design code, such as the British and European codes or the American codes. The engineer names the chosen codes in the design basis and uses them consistently for loads, analysis and member design.

QCS matters most where Qatar's conditions are severe. Ground and groundwater in many parts of Qatar contain chlorides and sulphates that attack concrete and steel reinforcement. Summer heat also affects how concrete is mixed, placed and cured. QCS sets requirements for cement type, concrete cover, protection of buried concrete and hot weather concreting. Drawings and notes should reflect these requirements.

How structural design is reviewed for a building permit

Building permits are issued by the Ministry of Municipality, which many people call Baladiya. A registered engineering consultancy submits the application through the Ministry's electronic building permit system. Structural drawings and reports form one part of the file, next to the architectural and MEP drawings. MEP means mechanical, electrical and plumbing.

In October 2025 the Ministry launched an AI-assisted system that checks submitted drawings automatically. Public reports describe checks on items such as setbacks, heights, areas and room dimensions. Responsibility for structural safety stays with the consultancy and the engineer who sign the design. Reviewers look for a complete, consistent file. They do not redesign the building for you.

The role of the soil investigation

A soil investigation is a site study by a geotechnical laboratory. It uses boreholes and tests to describe the ground under your plot. Foundation design should be based on this report, not on assumed values or on a neighbour's report.

The number and depth of boreholes should suit the building footprint and height. Order the investigation early, because the structural engineer cannot finalise foundations without it. A typical report contains the items below.

• Soil and rock layers found in each borehole
• Groundwater level at the time of drilling
• Recommended bearing capacity and expected settlement
• Chemical tests on soil and groundwater, including sulphates and chlorides
• Recommended foundation type and depth
• Notes on excavation, dewatering and protection of buried concrete

Documents in a typical structural submission

The exact list depends on the building type and the current requirements of the permit system. Most structural submissions include the following documents.

• Design basis report: design codes, QCS edition, loads, material grades and soil parameters
• Calculation report: analysis model, load combinations, design of slabs, beams, columns and foundations, and deflection checks
• Structural drawings: general notes, foundation plan, column schedule, slab and beam reinforcement, sections and details
• Soil investigation report from the geotechnical laboratory
• Details for stairs, water tanks, boundary walls, retaining walls and basements where they apply
• Specialist designs where used, such as post-tensioned slabs, precast elements, steel structures or excavation support

Common review comments and how to avoid them

Most comments are about consistency. They are simple to prevent if one team checks all drawings together before submission.

We check structural drawings against the architectural and MEP drawings before every submission. This removes most of the comments below before a reviewer sees the file.

• Column positions or grid lines do not match the architectural plans.
• The bearing capacity used in the calculations differs from the soil report.
• General notes quote an old QCS edition or mix different design codes.
• Loads from water tanks, roof equipment, swimming pools or heavy finishes are missing.
• Openings for ducts and pipes through beams and slabs are not coordinated with the MEP drawings.
• Concrete grade, cover or protection for buried elements does not suit the ground conditions in the soil report.
• The calculation report refers to an earlier revision of the drawings.

Common questions