The Technical Regulation for Machinery Safety is issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) in multiple parts, covering different categories of machinery depending on their nature and use. Knowing the part relevant to your product is an essential step before reviewing conformity requirements. For a broader checklist of everything to review when importing machinery and equipment into Saudi Arabia, not this regulation alone, see SABER Requirements for Importing Machinery and Equipment into Saudi Arabia.
What Is the Scope of This Regulation?
This regulation addresses the technical safety requirements for machinery and is issued in separate parts. The parts officially confirmed within the machinery safety system include: Part One, for portable or hand-guided machinery; Part Two, for mobile machinery and heavy equipment; and Part Three, for lifting equipment (reference 01-05-21-182). The applicable part must be determined based on the nature of the machine, its use, and the scope of each part. The Authority may issue additional parts in the future, and the detailed scope of each part is set out in the relevant official regulation text.
Does It Apply to All Types of Machinery?
It is not correct to assume that every machine automatically falls under one specific part of this regulation, or that all machinery is subject to the same requirements. Determining the applicable part depends on the nature of the machine, its use, and its method of operation, and some machinery may not be subject to any part of this regulation at all. It is important to distinguish between the scope of the machinery safety regulation and the scope of other regulations; some products, such as household appliances and electric motors, are excluded from the scope of Part One under the official text, and may be subject to other regulatory frameworks depending on their nature.
What Do We Review to Determine Applicability?
We review the nature of the machine, its method of operation, its field of use, and its technical characteristics, to determine the part closest to its case within the regulation, or whether it is subject to a different regulatory framework.
What Might the Conformity Pathway Require?
The conformity pathway may require an assessment by a conformity assessment body accepted by the Authority, and this assessment may be based on technical test reports or technical reviews covering the relevant mechanical or electrical safety aspects. The documents and tests actually required differ depending on the type of machine and the applicable part of the regulation. The confirmed parts include requirements related to an effective quality management system at the factory within the applicable conformity assessment pathway, and the regulation states that an ISO 9001 certificate satisfies this aspect where the requirement applies.
How Does SaberVerify Help?
We review the machine’s data, description, and intended use, and help determine the part closest to its case within this regulation. When needed, we coordinate with the appropriate conformity assessment body or laboratory to complete what the pathway requires.
SaberVerify is an independent platform; it is not a government entity, not a conformity assessment body, not a testing laboratory, and not an accreditation body. Determining the official applicable part and issuing conformity certificates are handled through the entities authorized to do so within the SABER system.
To review whether this regulation applies to your machine, you can fill out the product requirements check form, or contact us directly.
