Overview
An electrical enclosure is certified as the empty housing verified to IEC 62208, which is what makes it different from certifying the populated switchgear or the breakers fitted inside it. The certificate has to show the enclosure — whether sheet steel, stainless or moulded polycarbonate — keeps out dust and water to its declared IP rating, survives mechanical impact to its IK rating, resists the spread of fire from within, and holds up to heat and UV. Because enclosures and DB boxes are installed everywhere from villas to substations across Saudi Arabia — often outdoors in harsh sun and dust — this protective performance is examined closely.
Electrical enclosures fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the enclosure range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. For enclosures, the certificate relies heavily on the IEC 62208 verification, the declared IP and IK ratings and the material's fire behaviour.
Product Types
The SABER route and IEC 62208 requirements apply across empty enclosures and boxes, including:
- Sheet-steel wall-mounted and floor-standing enclosures
- Stainless-steel enclosures for corrosive and washdown areas
- Polycarbonate, ABS and GRP insulated enclosures
- Distribution board (DB) boxes and consumer-unit enclosures
- Junction boxes and terminal boxes
- Weatherproof and outdoor IP65 / IP66 cabinets
- Meter boxes and modular enclosure systems
- Empty enclosures and bases intended to be equipped later
The scope of your certificate is defined from the enclosure type, material, size, IP degree and IK rating. We structure the certificate so the enclosures you actually export are covered.
HS Codes
Electrical enclosures and DB boxes are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the material and construction.
- 8538.10 — Boards, panels and bases for the goods of heading 8537, not equipped (empty enclosures)
- 8537.10 — Enclosures equipped with switching / protective apparatus, ≤ 1,000 V
- 3926.90 — Insulated (plastic) enclosures and junction boxes
- 7326.90 — Enclosures of iron or steel (general fabricated)
- 8536.90 — Junction / terminal boxes for electrical connections
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Electrical enclosures are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation for LV enclosures (IEC 62208)
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- A declared IP degree of protection (IEC 60529) verified for the enclosure
- A declared IK impact rating (IEC 62262) for mechanical protection
- Glow-wire / fire-resistance evidence for insulating (plastic) enclosures
- Corrosion, heat and UV resistance suited to Saudi outdoor conditions
- A durable label showing manufacturer, material, IP / IK ratings and standard
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Empty electrical enclosures are assessed under the Saudi Technical Regulation for low-voltage electrical equipment as enclosures verified to IEC 62208. The regulation is built around the enclosure's degree of protection (IP), impact resistance (IK), resistance to abnormal heat and fire, and its mechanical and material durability. The exact regulation and standard part is confirmed at assessment from the enclosure type, material and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Electrical enclosures are typically evaluated against IEC 62208 with the supporting rating standards. Typical testing includes:
- IEC 62208 — empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies
- IEC 60529 — degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code)
- IEC 62262 — degrees of protection against external mechanical impacts (IK code)
- IEC 60695-2-11 — glow-wire flammability of insulating materials
- Verification of lifting, static-load and mechanical strength
- Corrosion, heat-ageing and UV resistance for outdoor use
Existing IEC 62208 test evidence may be accepted where it covers the correct enclosure type, material and ratings. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical enclosure application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the enclosure
- Technical datasheet showing material, dimensions, IP and IK ratings
- IEC 62208 test report (with IP / IK and glow-wire results)
- General-arrangement drawings and material specification
- Label / marking photograph showing ratings and standard
- Declaration of Conformity and manufacturer details
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the enclosure range against IEC 62208. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the enclosure type, material, IP / IK ratings, HS code and applicable standard, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Test review
We check whether your IEC 62208 test evidence can be reused and confirm the marked IP / IK ratings match the test results and the enclosure label.
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Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, label 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 ratings 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 IEC 62208 test evidence already exists and whether the declared IP / IK ratings are supported. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing IEC 62208 test reports — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — IP, IK and glow-wire testing turnaround is the main driver, usually one to a few weeks
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- Marked IP rating not supported by an IEC 60529 test
- Plastic enclosure without glow-wire / fire-resistance evidence
- IK impact rating claimed but not verified to IEC 62262
- Cable glands or gaskets that break the claimed sealing / IP degree
- Outdoor cabinet with no UV or corrosion-resistance evidence
- HS code declared on the invoice not matching the enclosure type shipped
We check these points up front — especially the IP and IK ratings, the fire evidence for plastic enclosures and the label — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an empty enclosure certified separately from the switchgear inside it?
Yes. An empty enclosure is a product in its own right and is verified to IEC 62208 — the standard for empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. It proves the housing keeps out dust and water, survives impact and resists fire. Once populated with breakers and busbars, the finished assembly is instead verified as switchgear to IEC 61439. If you export empty DB boxes and cabinets, the enclosure standard is the relevant one.
What do the IP and IK ratings on an enclosure mean?
The IP (Ingress Protection) code, to IEC 60529, tells you how well the enclosure keeps out solid objects, dust and water — for example IP66 means dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets. The IK code, to IEC 62262, tells you how much mechanical impact energy the enclosure can take. Both must be marked on the enclosure and backed by test evidence; the marked rating not matching the test is one of the most common reasons an enclosure certificate is queried.
Why do plastic enclosures need a glow-wire test?
Because an insulating enclosure that could ignite or spread fire from a fault inside is a safety risk. The glow-wire test (IEC 60695-2-11) checks the material resists ignition from a hot wire at a set temperature. Metal enclosures do not need it, but polycarbonate, ABS and GRP enclosures do — a plastic enclosure submitted without glow-wire evidence is a frequent gap.
How much does SABER certification for electrical enclosures cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid IEC 62208 test evidence (IP, IK and glow-wire) is already in place. With acceptable reports a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh testing is required the laboratory turnaround is the main variable. Send your enclosure 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 enclosures 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 empty enclosures, DB boxes, junction boxes and outdoor cabinets — generally classified under HS heading 8538.10 for empty enclosures (with plastic boxes under 3926 and steel enclosures under 7326). We confirm the correct classification and applicable requirements for your exact enclosure during assessment.
Get Your Electrical Enclosures Certified
Send us your enclosure type, material, dimensions, IP degree, IK rating, HS code and any existing IEC 62208 / IEC 60529 test reports. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation and standard, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.