Introduction

Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, the tax and customs authority, requires importers to present a commercial invoice, bill of lading and certificate of origin when importing goods into Saudi Arabia. Importers are also required to submit additional documentation for certain imported goods. For example, for goods that require an IECEE(SIRC) certificate, the importer will be required to provide an IECEE certificate and, if necessary, proof of registration of the product in relevant respects. If domestic LED manufacturers need to export a batch of LED lamps to Saudi Arabia, do they need a certificate? The answer is yes, and it’s Certificate of Conformity (CoC). For products covered by mandatory technical regulations, the Product CoC(PCoC, sometimes short for PC) and Shipment CoC (SCOC, sometimes short for SC) must be generated on SABER after obtaining the IECEE certificate. Generally speaking, this SASO certificate needs to be obtained by the importer. As a manufacturer, we need to make sure our products meet the corresponding standards. For example, solar street lights need to meet the SASO 2902 standard, and standard AC street lights need to meet the SASO 2927 standard.

What’s SASO, SABER and SIRC？

When you google “what certificates are required to import LED lights from China to Saudi Arabia”, you will see SASO, SABAR, and SIRC, and possibly EER, PCOC, and SCOC, etc. These seem a bit complicated, but after understanding the related concepts, I believe they will definitely help you.

What’s SASO?

SASO is the acronym for “Saudi Arabian Standards Organization”. The agency was established by the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry in accordance with Royal Decree M/10 on March 3, 1392 Hijri (April 17, 1972 in the Gregorian calendar). SASO is responsible for formulating national standards for all daily necessities and products, and the standards also involve measurement systems, identification, etc. It also stipulates that imported goods must comply with SASO standards or equivalent standards recognized by SASO. In this way, products entering the Saudi market can be guaranteed to meet the corresponding standards (for example, the safety and functionality of LED lights meet the requirements).

What’s SABER?

SABER is an electronic platform that is designed by SASO for facilitating the online certification of Products and Shipments under the Saudi Product Safety Programme. Furthermore, this online system will serve as the central online repository for all data related to the Saudi Product Safety Programme. The SABER system is also integrated with KSA Customs, GSO GCTS Database, JEEM portal, MoC, SLS and other KSA authorities.

What’s SIRC?

The SIRC is a Recognition Certificate issued by SASO for certain Regulated Products based on: a) valid IECEE Test Report issued under the IECEE CB scheme by IECEE CB Testing Laboratory, b) valid IECEE CB Certificate issued by a National Certification Body (NCB), c) some other performance test reports (if any) . This SIRC is a mandatory pre-requisite Certificate to obtain the Product CoC and Shipment CoC which are required for clearance of the Shipment at the KSA Customs or Ports and Borders.

Lighting products – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

SASO released a new version of SASO 2870 “Energy Efficiency, Function and Labeling Requirements for Lighting Products Part 1” on June 8, 2018. At the same time, SASO 2902:2018 “Energy Efficiency, Function and Labeling Requirements for Lighting Products Part 2” was released. On Aug 1, 2019, SASO released the SASO 2927 standard. Therefore, SASO has different certification requirements for different types of lamps. Now let’s look at the products covered by the different standards.

SASO 2870/2018

SASO 2870/2018: Energy efficiency/functionality requirements and labelling requirements for lighting products – Part 1 covered indirect and direct general light sources with luminous fluxes above 60 lumens and below 12,000 lumens products which as below:

• Incandescent lamps with a luminous flux less than 12,000 lumens
• Halogen lamps with a luminous flux less than 12,000 lumens
• Compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballast with a luminous flux less than 12,000 lumens
• Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps (Incandescent retrofit types)
• Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps (Halogen retrofit types)

SASO 2902/2018

SASO 2902/2018: Energy efficiency/functionality requirements and labelling requirements for lighting products – Part 2 covered some lighting products that are not included in SASO 2870, such as incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, LED and integrated CFL, directional and non-directional integrated lamps, control gear, etc. See below list.

• Incandescent lamps with a luminous flux of 12,000 lumens or more
• Halogen lamps with a luminous flux of 12,000 lumens or more
• Compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballast (CLFi), having a luminous flux of 12,000 lumens or greater
• Compact fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast (CFLni)
• Fluorescent lamps (all types)
• High-pressure discharge lamps, such as mercury vapor lamps, high-pressure/low-pressure sodium vapor lamps, quartz metal-halide lamps or ceramic metal-halide lamps
• LED lamps (including retrofit LED lamps with a luminous flux of 12,000 lumens or more)
• Directional and nondirectional integrated luminaires (with nonreplaceable lamps)

SASO 2927/2019

SASO2927/2019: Energy efficiency functionality and labelling requirements for lighting products – Part 3 covered the HID and LED lamps which used for road lighting or tunnel lighting. It also covers the control gear(LED driver) for below LED lights. See below list.

• Lighting for motorized areas: parameters for selection of M lighting class.
• Lighting for conflict areas: parameters for the selection of C lighting class.
• Lighting for pedestrians areas: parameters for the selection of P lighting Class.
• Lighting for tunnel and underpass lighting.

Lighting requirement of SASO 2902

The certification objects in the scope of this standard are mainly solar street lights, flood lights ( Please review case studies of LED flood lamp. ), and some other LED lamps. In order to get the SIRC corresponding to SASO2902, we need to get CB certificates and reports, energy efficiency certificates or energy efficiency exemption certificates (EER), product photos and instructions, etc. In addition, the application form, the importer’s business registration certificate and the manufacturer’s business license are also required to apply for this certificate.

Lighting requirement of SASO 2927

The certification objects in the scope of this standard are AC street lights and tunnel lights. In addition to the above CB and EER certificates/reports, it has some additional requirements on the performance of the LED product.

Efficiency / Efficacy requirements

LED efficiency should be over 140W/w, and lamps efficiency should be at least 120lm/W. For HPS and MH, as well as other lighting, the requirements vary according to the type of lighting, wattage and color rendering index, etc., and the light efficiency requirements are generally in the range of 60-135lm/w. These lamps also must meet the relevant standards stipulated in the photobiological safety EN62471.

Functionality requirements

Lifetime(L70, LM84): The lighting unit shall be designed to operate continuously at external temperature and humidity, taking into account the effects of direct exposure to sunlight and dust storms. Life span of LED ships and Luminaire shall be greater than or equal to 70% (L70) after 50,000 hours

CCT and CRI: Color temperature must be between 3000 – 6000 K and CRI should be≥70.

Color consistency in MacAdam ellipse: the color consistency of the light source or luminaire at the time the system is put into operation shall be within a 5 step MacAdam ellipse.

Mechanical requirements and electrical requirements

Energy efficiency labelling

LED lamps and integrated luminaires in the scope of SASO 2902 and SASO 2927 shall all comply with the Energy efficiency classes and calculation according to SASO 2902/2018. Its calculation formula is as follows:

Steps to get SIRC certificate, PCoC and SCoC

In order to have a smooth customs clearance process, the products in the controlled product list need to apply and obtain the SASO IECEE Recognition Certificate (SIRC certificate for short). Products within the scope of SIRC certification need to obtain the IECEE test report and CB certificate from the NCB agency, and then the Saudi official certification body SASO issues an IECEE report approval certificate before applying for a PC certificate (Product CoC) from the SABER platform. Finally electronic Shipment CoC is required for customs clearance before shipment.

SASO 2902

For manufacturers of LED outdoor lamps, LED lamps in scope of this standard involve mainly solar street lamps, floodlights and gas station lamps. In order to obtain the corresponding SIRC certificate, the product firstly has to get the CB test report and CB certificate. Meanwhile, EER label is a prerequisite for the certificates. Then, submit the test report and other materials (such as product pictures, product labels, outer box design, outer box photos with energy efficiency labels, Arabic instructions, etc.) in the SASO online certification system. Finally, SASO reviews relevant documents in the system and issues SIRC certificates. If the review fails, it needs to be revised and resubmitted. After obtaining the SIRC certificate, the products of this mandatory category need to apply for a Product Certificate (PCoC)  and a Shipment Certificate (SCoC) in the Saber system to complete the customs clearance of the goods.

At present, the main process items for exporting lamps to Saudi Arabia are the following:

1. Energy efficiency test + energy efficiency registration (EER) of lamps
2. IEC report + CB certificate of lamps
3. IECEE registration of lamps
4. SABER registration of lamps
5. Application for SABER PC and SC certificates

SASO 2927

SASO2927 is mainly aimed at lamps used in road and tunnel lighting. In addition to the above-mentioned CB test certificates and reports, SASO has additional requirements for luminaires used in road lighting and tunnel lighting. We have shared a lot of performance requirements for street lights and tunnel lights in the previous section. In order to prove that the lamps meet the corresponding requirements, we need to provide a test report issued by a laboratory with relevant qualifications. For example, the LM79 report involves lighting efficiency, and the photobiological safety test report is about the light sources. In terms of product functions, due to the perennial high temperature in Saudi Arabia, the test reports involved are LM82, LM84 and ISTMT, which are related to the performance (luminous efficacy and lifespan) of lamps at high temperatures. In terms of product structure, the required test reports include IP (waterproof, Explore the case study of a waterproof street light. ), IK (collision resistance) and salt spray test reports (anti-corrosion), etc. In terms of electrical performance, THD test report, 1-10V/Dali dimming power supply, surge protection and NEMA socket, etc. are required. Below we list additional information or reports for applying for SASO 2927 certification for street lights.

More products are being classified into this category which requires SIRC. See below lists before year of 2021.

ZGSM lighting solution with SASO2902 and SASO2927

ZGSM has many lighting products exporting to Saudi Arabia, and its products can meet all the requirements of SASO 2902 and SASO 2927. We have rich experience in cooperating with customers to get the product certificated on SABER to meet your project needs. Below are our street lighting, solar street lighting and flood lighting solutions ( Click here, learn more about Smart solar street lighting with Zhaga Socket and LoRaWAN ).

Summary

This article introduces the basic nouns of SASO, SABER and SIRC in detail, through which everyone can deepen their understanding and learning of relevant Saudi standards. We also know what standards should be followed for different products or different types of lighting products to apply for SIRC, PC and SC. At the same time, I have an understanding of the test content involved in SASO2902 and SASO2927. SASO2902 can be obtained relatively easily. On the contrary, SASO2927 involves more test contents and higher requirements. If you want your street lights to get this SASO certificate, we need to pay more attention to the lamp design (structure and performance, etc.). Finally, we also give ZGSM solutions, such as DC street lights, flood lights ( Please view the video of the DOB flood light ) and AC street lights. If you want to know more about the LED lighting market in Saudi Arabia, you can contact us. And we will do our best to answer the relevant knowledge for you. View more about the case study of Outdoor flood light fixtures.

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