Kurdistan Regional Government has announced a major shift in construction policy by requiring all investment and development projects across the Kurdistan Region to comply with the standards of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), in a move aimed at improving building quality, public safety, and resistance to natural disasters.

The decision was issued by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers following a recommendation from Masrour Barzani, according to a newly released directive on construction standards.

Under the new policy, all companies involved in investment and construction projects will be required to apply ACI codes in both residential and commercial developments throughout the Kurdistan Region.

Transition from Iraqi Codes to International Standards
Speaking to Kurdistan24 on Saturday, Bargasht Akreyi, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Investment Board, stated that the region had previously relied on Iraqi construction codes.

He explained that the adoption of ACI standards is intended to provide stronger protection for citizens and ensure that buildings can better withstand natural disasters, particularly earthquakes.

“To ensure the safety of citizens and protect projects during natural disasters like earthquakes, it was decided to adopt the American ACI code as the standard, which is considered one of the highest international standards for durable construction,” Akreyi said.

He added that the decision would help establish a unified and consistent framework for all construction projects across the region.

“This code not only raises the quality and infrastructure standards of buildings, but also facilitates the work of the Investment Board during licensing procedures, because the standards are clear and include guaranteed quality benchmarks,” he noted.