Saso change: are you switched on?
How aware are you that Saudi Arabia Standards Organisation (SASO) has introduced standards for electrical accessories in the kingdom? Take our five-minute quiz on your knowledge about the new rule and your views on electrical products available in the region … and win a Blackberry phone and a year’s free subscription to Gulf Construction magazine.
01 November 2010
EARLY this year, the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (Saso) imposed restrictions on the use of electrical accessories within construction.
From March 6, 2010, only electrical plugs and sockets specified in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia International Conformity Certification Program as Saso 2203/2003 (13A BS 1363-1/1363-2) and Saso 2204/2003 (American style 15A/127V two pole flat pin and two pole and ‘U’ shaped earth) may now be used.
These Saso standards specify the marking, dimensional, safety and test requirements for plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar general use in a.c. circuits with rated voltages of 220 and 127V respectively in Saudi Arabia. The legislation also states that all switched socket outlets must now be double pole.
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Hence, the previously widely used standards such as BS 546, BS5733 Universal and 16A 2P+E are now not permitted for use.
This legislation also insists that all electrical wiring devices imported into the kingdom must now be marked with their country of manufacture.
The following survey is aimed at understanding the impact this legislation has had on the sales, specification and installation of electrical accessories such as plugs, sockets and switches.
Please take the time to complete the form and let us know how it has impacted you and your work.
To reward your efforts we will be giving a Blackberry phone and a year’s free subscription to Gulf Construction magazine to one lucky person whose name is randomly drawn out of a list of those who responded to the survey.
Ready, get set... take the survey
Copy and email your responses to: editor@gulfconstructionworldwide.com
Are you aware of the Saso electrical accessories restrictions?
A) YesB) NoC) I have some awareness
What do you feel is the reasoning behind the Saso restrictions?
A) Prevent importation of counterfeit products
B) Encourage manufacture in Saudi Arabia
C) Standardise types of sockets used
D) Other (please specify)
Do you see that country of origin has an impact on whether a product is specified?
A)Yes
B) No
Please rank the following territories by preference of destination of manufacture (1 is most preferred, 17 is least preferred)
A) Canada
B) China
C) East Europe
D) France
E) Germany
F) India
G) Indonesia
H) Japan
I) Malaysia
J) Philippines
K) Saudi Arabia
L) South America
M) South Korea
N) Thailand
O) UK
P) US
Q) Other (please specify)
When we say “low quality”, which country do you think of?
When we say “safety”, which country do you think of?
When we say “high quality”, which country do you think of?
When we say “expensive”, which country do you think of ?
Is there a pricing differential between products manufactured in differing countries of origin?
A) Yes
B) No
Rank these wiring device manufacturers in order of preference
A) Alf
B) Berker
C) Hager
D) Jung
E) Legrand
F) MK Electric
G) Merlin Gerin
H) Panasonic
I) Schneider Electric
J) Crabtree
Are you aware of any other markings or accreditations that may influence the sale, specification or installation of electrical accessories within the Gulf?
Your Name:
Company and designation:
Telephone/email address:
