Overview
A mattress is a bedding product: its job is to support a sleeper safely for years, and — critically — to resist catching fire from a dropped cigarette or a match. That makes its certification different from general furniture and home furnishings — the key evidence is ignition behaviour under a smouldering cigarette and a small open flame, the density and durability of the foam or spring core, VOC and formaldehyde emissions from the foam and cover, and a restricted-substance (azo dye / formaldehyde) declaration for the ticking fabric.
Mattresses fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the mattress range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. Bed frames, bases, cabinets and other furniture are covered on our wider Furniture & Home Furnishings page; this page covers mattresses specifically.
Product Types
The SABER route and mattress-specific requirements apply across products including:
- Polyurethane (PU) foam mattresses
- Memory-foam / visco-elastic mattresses
- Natural and synthetic latex mattresses
- Pocket-spring and Bonnell-spring (innerspring) mattresses
- Hybrid foam-and-spring mattresses
- Rolled / compressed "bed-in-a-box" mattresses
- Baby and cot mattresses
- Mattress toppers, pads and mattress supports
The scope of your certificate is defined from the core construction (foam grade / spring type), the cover fabric and the HS code. We structure the certificate so the mattress range you actually export is covered.
HS Codes
Mattresses are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the exact product.
- 9404.21 — Mattresses of cellular rubber or plastics, whether or not covered
- 9404.29 — Mattresses of other materials (spring-interior and similar)
- 9404.10 — Mattress supports
- 9404.90 — Other articles of bedding (quilts, toppers, pillows, cushions)
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Mattresses are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation and mattress flammability / safety standards
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- Cigarette (smouldering) ignition-resistance test evidence
- Open-flame (small flame) ignition-resistance test evidence
- Foam density / hardness / fatigue evidence, or spring-core evidence for innerspring products
- VOC and formaldehyde emission evidence for the foam and cover
- A restricted-substance declaration covering azo dyes and formaldehyde in the ticking fabric
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Mattresses are assessed under the applicable Saudi/GCC Technical Regulation for furniture and furnishing products, adapted for mattresses rather than cabinets or seating. The standards most commonly referenced internationally are EN 597-1 and EN 597-2 (assessment of the ignitability of mattresses and upholstered bed bases — the smouldering-cigarette and match-flame-equivalent sources) and BS 7177 (ignitability hazard classification for mattresses, divans and bed bases); the US route uses 16 CFR Part 1632 (cigarette) with 16 CFR Part 1633 (open flame). Foam performance follows the ISO 845 / ISO 2439 / ISO 3385 series, emissions follow the ISO 16000 series, and cover-fabric restricted substances 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
Mattresses are typically evaluated against the applicable standards for ignitability and material performance. Typical verification includes:
- EN 597-1 — ignitability of mattresses, smouldering-cigarette source
- EN 597-2 — ignitability of mattresses, match-flame-equivalent source
- BS 7177 — ignitability hazard classification (low / medium / high) for mattresses, divans and bed bases
- ISO 845 — apparent (bulk) density of flexible cellular foam
- ISO 2439 — indentation hardness of flexible cellular foam
- ISO 3385 — fatigue by constant-load pounding (durability) of foam
- ISO 16000 series — VOC emissions by chamber test
- EN ISO 14184-1 — formaldehyde in the textile cover
- EN 14362 — azo-dye / restricted-amine testing of the ticking fabric
- EN 16890 — additional safety and firmness requirements for cot / children's mattresses
Existing accredited test reports may be accepted where they cover the correct core construction, foam grade and cover fabric. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical mattress application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the mattress range
- Technical datasheet showing core type (foam grade / spring type), dimensions, foam density and hardness, and cover-fabric composition
- Cigarette and open-flame ignition test reports (EN 597-1 / EN 597-2, BS 7177 or 16 CFR 1632 / 1633)
- Foam density / hardness / fatigue test evidence, or spring-core evidence for innerspring products
- VOC and formaldehyde emission report for the foam and cover
- Restricted-substance (azo dye / formaldehyde) declaration for the ticking
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the mattress range against the applicable standards. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the core construction, cover fabric, HS code and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Report review
We check whether your ignition, foam and emission 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 core construction and cover fabric 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 ignition and emission 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 — the cigarette / open-flame ignition programme and the VOC chamber test are the main drivers, usually one to two weeks depending on scope
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- No cigarette and open-flame ignition test — only a general furniture report or a foam datasheet submitted
- Ignition report covers a different foam grade, density or cover fabric than the mattress actually shipped
- VOC / formaldehyde emission evidence missing for the foam or the cover
- Restricted-dye / formaldehyde declaration for the ticking not supported by actual test data
- Mattress routed through the general furniture programme and the mattress-specific ignition tests skipped
- Spring mattress declared under the foam HS sub-heading, or a foam mattress under the spring one
- Cot / baby mattress treated as an adult mattress, missing the children's-product criteria (EN 16890)
We check these points up front — especially the ignition evidence and the restricted-substance declaration — so shipments are not held at customs for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't a general furniture test report enough for a mattress?
A furniture formaldehyde or mechanical-strength report does not measure how a mattress reacts to a smouldering cigarette or a small open flame, which is the defining mattress safety requirement (EN 597-1 / EN 597-2, BS 7177 or 16 CFR 1632 / 1633). A furniture report alone does not satisfy it.
Do foam and spring mattresses follow the same route?
The certification route is the same, but the evidence differs. Both need the cigarette and open-flame ignition tests. A foam mattress additionally needs foam density, hardness and fatigue data; a spring mattress needs spring-core and wire evidence. The HS sub-heading also differs — 9404.21 for foam / cellular, 9404.29 for spring-interior.
Are baby and cot mattresses treated differently?
Yes. Cot mattresses face additional firmness and safety requirements (EN 16890) and tighter limits on restricted substances, because they are a children's product. We apply the children's-product criteria where the mattress is intended for infants.
How much does SABER certification for mattresses cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid ignition and emission reports already exist for your exact construction, foam grade and cover fabric. With acceptable evidence a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh testing is required the ignition and VOC test turnaround is the main variable. Send your mattress 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 mattress 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 foam, memory-foam, latex, spring and hybrid mattresses, plus toppers and mattress supports — generally classified under HS 9404.21 (cellular rubber / plastics), 9404.29 (spring-interior and other materials), 9404.10 (mattress supports) or 9404.90 (other bedding). We confirm the correct classification for your exact product during assessment.
Get Your Mattresses Certified
Send us your core type, foam grade or spring specification, cover-fabric composition, dimensions, HS code and any existing ignition or emission 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.