Overview
Carpets and rugs are a floor-covering product: their entire job is to perform underfoot for years — resisting wear, holding colour and, critically, behaving safely if exposed to fire. That makes their certification different from general textiles, garments and footwear — the key evidence is flammability performance under a radiant heat source, colorfastness to light and rubbing, tuft-bind or pile-anchorage strength, and a restricted-substance (azo dye / formaldehyde) declaration.
Carpets and rugs fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the carpet range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. Clothing, footwear and general fabric are covered on our wider Textiles, Garments & Footwear page; this page covers floor coverings specifically.
Product Types
The SABER route and carpet-specific requirements apply across products including:
- Woven carpets and rugs
- Tufted carpets and carpet tiles
- Knotted / hand-woven rugs
- Needle-felt and non-woven floor coverings
- Synthetic-fibre (nylon, polypropylene, polyester) carpets
- Wool and blended-fibre carpets and rugs
The scope of your certificate is defined from the construction (woven / tufted / knotted), fibre content and HS code. We structure the certificate so the carpet range you actually export is covered.
HS Codes
Carpets and rugs are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the exact product.
- 5701 — Carpets and other textile floor coverings, knotted
- 5702 — Carpets and other textile floor coverings, woven, not tufted or flocked
- 5703 — Carpets and other textile floor coverings, tufted
- 5705 — Other carpets and textile floor coverings
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Carpets and rugs are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation and textile-floor-covering standard
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- Flammability (critical radiant flux) test evidence
- Colorfastness test evidence (light, rubbing, washing as applicable)
- Tuft-bind / pile-anchorage strength evidence for tufted products
- A restricted-substance declaration covering azo dyes and formaldehyde
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Carpets and rugs are assessed under the applicable Saudi/GCC Technical Regulation for textile products, adapted for floor coverings rather than garments. The standards most commonly referenced internationally are ISO 6925 (EN ISO 6925) for critical radiant flux flammability testing of textile floor coverings, the ISO 105 series for colorfastness, and ISO 10361 for tuft-withdrawal force. Restricted-substance limits for azo dyes and formaldehyde follow the same framework used for general textiles. The exact regulation and standard set is confirmed at assessment from the construction and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Carpets and rugs are typically evaluated against the applicable ISO standards for floor-covering performance. Typical verification includes:
- ISO 6925 / EN ISO 6925 — critical radiant flux (flammability of textile floor coverings)
- ISO 105-B02 — colorfastness to artificial light
- ISO 105-X12 — colorfastness to rubbing (crocking)
- ISO 10361 — tuft-withdrawal force for tufted carpets
- Azo-dye and formaldehyde restricted-substance testing
- Pile-mass and pile-thickness loss (wear) testing where relevant
Existing accredited test reports may be accepted where they cover the correct construction and fibre content. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical carpet application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the carpet range
- Technical datasheet showing construction, fibre content and pile specification
- Critical radiant flux flammability test report (ISO 6925 or equivalent)
- Colorfastness and tuft-bind test evidence
- Restricted-substance (azo dye / formaldehyde) declaration
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the carpet range against the applicable standards. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the construction, fibre content, HS code and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Report review
We check whether your flammability and colorfastness reports can be reused for the exact construction supplied.
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Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, labelling and test evidence against the regulation.
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PCoC issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform. It is typically valid for one year.
SCoC Process
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment and is what customs checks at the border. In outline:
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Shipment details submitted
The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.
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Verification
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC, the declared construction and fibre content are confirmed, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
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SCoC issued
The SCoC is issued for that shipment, allowing it to clear Saudi customs. Each new shipment needs its own SCoC.
Certification Timeline
The main variable is whether valid flammability and colorfastness reports already exist for your exact construction. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing test reports — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — flammability and colorfastness programme turnaround is the main driver, usually one to two weeks depending on scope
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- No critical radiant flux flammability report — only a general fabric flammability test submitted
- Colorfastness or tuft-bind evidence missing for the exact construction shipped
- Restricted-dye / formaldehyde declaration not supported by actual test data
- Carpet mistaken for a general textile and routed through the wrong testing programme
- Confusing floor coverings (HS Chapter 57) with general fabric or garments
- HS code declared on the invoice not matching the product actually shipped
We check these points up front — especially flammability evidence and the restricted-substance declaration — so shipments are not held at customs for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't a general textile flammability test be used for carpets?
A garment or general-fabric flammability test does not replicate how a floor covering behaves near a radiant heat source at floor level — carpets and rugs need a critical radiant flux test (ISO 6925 or equivalent) specifically designed for that exposure. A general textile report alone does not satisfy the requirement.
What is tuft-bind strength and why does it matter?
Tuft-bind (or tuft-withdrawal) strength measures how firmly the pile yarns are anchored into a tufted carpet's backing. Low tuft-bind strength means the pile can pull out or shed excessively under normal foot traffic, so this is checked specifically for tufted constructions alongside flammability and colorfastness.
Does this page cover garments, fabric or footwear?
No — this page covers carpets, rugs and carpet tiles (textile floor coverings) only. General fabric, clothing and footwear are covered on our Textiles, Garments & Footwear page, since they are tested against different standards.
How much does SABER certification for carpets cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid flammability and colorfastness reports already exist for your exact construction and fibre content. With acceptable evidence a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh testing is required the test programme turnaround is the main variable. Send your carpet details and reports for a specific quote and timeline at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
How long is the PCoC valid, and do I need a new SCoC for every shipment?
A Product Certificate of Conformity is typically valid for one year, so one PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same carpet range during that period. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own SCoC before it can clear Saudi customs.
Which products and HS codes does this cover?
The same SABER route applies across woven, tufted and knotted carpets, rugs and carpet tiles — generally classified under HS heading 5701 (knotted), 5702 (woven), 5703 (tufted) or 5705 (other floor coverings). We confirm the correct classification for your exact product during assessment.
Get Your Carpets & Rugs Certified
Send us your construction type, fibre content, HS code and any existing flammability or colorfastness test reports. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation, testing and restricted-substance documentation, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.