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SABER Certification for LV Switchgear in Saudi Arabia

Low voltage switchgear is certified through SABER as an assembly, not just a box of parts. LV switchgear and controlgear assemblies, motor control centres and distribution boards must be verified to IEC 61439 — proving the whole assembly withstands its rated current, temperature rise and short-circuit level, with the correct protection and marking. We coordinate the full SABER PCoC and SCoC process against the right IEC 61439 verification for your assembly.

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Overview

LV switchgear is certified as a complete assembly verified to IEC 61439, which is what makes it different from certifying the individual breakers or components inside. The certificate has to show the finished assembly — its enclosure, busbars, devices and wiring together — withstands its rated current without overheating, holds up to its declared short-circuit level, and provides the right protection, clearances and marking. Because switchgear sits at the heart of the electrical installation across buildings, plants and infrastructure in the Kingdom, this assembly-level verification is examined closely.

LV switchgear falls under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the assembly range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. For switchgear, the certificate relies heavily on the IEC 61439 verification (design and routine), the short-circuit rating and the assembly marking.

Low voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies and motor control centres requiring SABER certification for Saudi Arabia

Product Types

The SABER route and IEC 61439 requirements apply across LV assemblies, including:

  • LV switchgear and controlgear assemblies (main LV panels)
  • Power distribution boards and sub-distribution boards
  • Motor control centres (MCCs)
  • Final distribution boards / consumer units
  • Feeder pillars and cable distribution cabinets
  • Automatic transfer switch (ATS) and capacitor-bank panels
  • Control and automation panels
  • Busbar trunking and rising-main assemblies

The scope of your certificate is defined from the assembly type, rated current (In), rated voltage, short-circuit rating (Icw / Ipk) and construction. We structure the certificate so the assemblies you actually export are covered.

HS Codes

LV switchgear and boards are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the assembly type and voltage.

  • 8537.10 — Boards / panels for electric control or distribution, for a voltage ≤ 1,000 V
  • 8537.20 — Boards / panels for a voltage > 1,000 V
  • 8538.10 — Boards, panels and bases for the goods of heading 8537 (empty enclosures)
  • 8535.xx / 8536.xx — Switching apparatus fitted within the assembly
  • 8547.xx — Insulating fittings and busbar supports
HS classification affects registration, duty and which requirements apply, so confirm it before you register. We verify the correct HS code for your exact assembly during assessment. See our HS Code Guide for how classification works.

Applicable Saudi Requirements

LV switchgear is certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The main requirements are:

  • A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation for LV assemblies (IEC 61439)
  • An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
  • IEC 61439 design verification — the assembly's rated characteristics proven by test, calculation or comparison
  • IEC 61439 routine verification — checks on each assembly as manufactured
  • Declared short-circuit withstand (Icw) and peak (Ipk) suited to the installation
  • Temperature-rise verification for the rated current (In)
  • An assembly label showing the manufacturer, ratings, IP rating and IEC 61439 reference
  • A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment

Technical Regulation

LV switchgear is assessed under the Saudi Technical Regulation for low-voltage electrical equipment as an assembly verified to the IEC 61439 series. The regulation is built around the assembly's rated current, temperature rise, short-circuit withstand, protection against electric shock and correct marking. The exact regulation and standard part is confirmed at assessment from the assembly type, ratings and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.

Switchgear certificates most often stall on the short-circuit rating. The declared Icw / Ipk on the assembly label must be supported by the IEC 61439 design verification and must match what the installation requires. An assembly labelled with a short-circuit rating the verification does not support — or built with components that do not achieve it — is a common query. We confirm the label, the verification and the ratings line up before submission.

Testing / Standards

LV switchgear is typically evaluated against the IEC 61439 series for the assembly type. Typical verification includes:

  • IEC 61439-1 — general rules for LV switchgear and controlgear assemblies
  • IEC 61439-2 — power switchgear and controlgear assemblies (PSC)
  • IEC 61439-3 — distribution boards intended to be operated by ordinary persons (DBO)
  • IEC 61439-6 — busbar trunking systems (where relevant)
  • Temperature-rise, short-circuit withstand and dielectric verification
  • Verification of protective circuits, clearances and IP degree of protection

Existing IEC 61439 design-verification evidence may be accepted where it covers the correct assembly type and ratings. We review your verification before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.

Documents Required

A typical LV switchgear application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.

  • Commercial invoice and packing list
  • HS code of the assembly
  • Technical datasheet showing rated current, voltage, short-circuit rating and IP degree
  • IEC 61439 design-verification documentation (test / calculation / comparison)
  • IEC 61439 routine-verification records for the assembly
  • Single-line diagram and general-arrangement drawings
  • Assembly-label photograph showing manufacturer, ratings and IEC 61439 reference
  • Declaration of Conformity and manufacturer details
  • Saudi importer registration details

PCoC Process

The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the assembly range against IEC 61439. In outline:

  1. Classification and scope

    We confirm the assembly type, rated current, voltage, short-circuit rating, HS code and applicable IEC 61439 part, and define what the certificate should cover.

  2. Verification review

    We check whether your IEC 61439 design and routine verification can be reused and confirm the assembly label matches the declared ratings and short-circuit level.

  3. Technical review

    An approved certification body reviews the documents, label and verification evidence against the regulation.

  4. 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:

  1. Shipment details submitted

    The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.

  2. Verification

    The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC, the declared ratings and short-circuit level are confirmed, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.

  3. 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 61439 design verification already exists and whether the declared short-circuit rating is supported. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.

  • With acceptable existing IEC 61439 design verification — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
  • When fresh verification is required — temperature-rise and short-circuit testing turnaround is the main driver, usually a few weeks depending on scope
  • SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place

Common Problems

  • Declared short-circuit rating (Icw / Ipk) not supported by the IEC 61439 design verification
  • Design verification carried out but no routine-verification records for the assembly
  • Assembly label missing ratings, IP degree or the IEC 61439 reference
  • Components substituted so the built assembly no longer matches the verified design
  • Temperature-rise verification missing for the declared rated current
  • HS code declared on the invoice not matching the assembly type actually shipped

We check these points up front — especially the short-circuit rating, the design and routine verification and the assembly label — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LV switchgear certified as an assembly or as separate components?

As a complete assembly. IEC 61439 treats the finished switchgear — enclosure, busbars, devices and wiring together — as the product, because how the parts are combined affects heating, clearances and short-circuit performance. Individual breakers may have their own certificates, but the SABER certificate is for the assembly verified to IEC 61439, not the components in isolation.

What is the difference between design verification and routine verification?

Design verification proves the assembly design meets its rated characteristics — by test, calculation or comparison with a tested reference — and covers things like temperature rise and short-circuit withstand. Routine verification is the set of checks done on each assembly as it is built (wiring, protection, operation, dielectric). IEC 61439 requires both, and a certificate missing the routine records is a common query.

Why is the short-circuit rating so important?

The short-circuit rating (Icw for a short time, Ipk for peak) tells you the fault current the assembly can survive without failing dangerously — critical for the point in the installation where the switchgear sits. The declared rating on the label must be backed by the IEC 61439 design verification and suited to the installation; an assembly labelled above what its verification supports is one of the most common reasons a switchgear certificate is queried.

How much does SABER certification for LV switchgear cost and how long does it take?

It depends mainly on whether valid IEC 61439 design verification is already in place. With acceptable evidence a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh verification (temperature-rise and short-circuit) is required the laboratory turnaround is the main variable. Send your assembly details and verification 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 assemblies 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 LV switchgear assemblies, motor control centres, distribution boards and control panels — generally classified under HS heading 8537 (with empty enclosures under 8538). We confirm the correct classification and applicable requirements for your exact assembly during assessment.

Get Your LV Switchgear Certified

Send us your assembly type, rated current, rated voltage, short-circuit rating (Icw / Ipk), IP degree, HS code and any existing IEC 61439 design and routine verification. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation and IEC 61439 part, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.

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