Overview
Safety helmets are certified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is what sets them apart from ordinary headgear. The certificate has to show the helmet protects the wearer — the shell absorbs a defined impact, resists penetration and does not burn readily — and that the standard marked on the helmet is backed by an EN 397 test report. Because a hard hat is worn to prevent a serious head injury, Saudi Arabia examines the protective performance and markings closely.
Safety helmets fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the helmet range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. For safety helmets, the certificate relies heavily on the EN 397 test report, the declared optional features and the PPE markings.
Product Types
The SABER route and PPE requirements apply across safety helmets and protective headgear, including:
- Industrial safety helmets / hard hats (EN 397)
- High-performance industrial helmets (EN 14052)
- Climbing / working-at-height helmets (EN 12492)
- Electrically insulating helmets (EN 50365)
- Vented and non-vented hard hats
- Helmets with integrated face shields or ear defenders
- Industrial bump caps (EN 812)
- Helmets with chin straps and ratchet / harness suspension
The scope of your certificate is defined from the helmet type, standard, shell material and any optional features (low temperature, molten metal, electrical, lateral deformation). We structure the certificate so the helmets you actually export are covered.
HS Codes
Safety helmets are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the helmet type and material.
- 6506.10 — Safety headgear (industrial helmets, hard hats)
- 3926.90 — Other articles of plastics (some plastic protective headgear)
- 6506.91 / 6506.99 — Other headgear (related protective items)
- 8708 / related — Not applicable — safety headgear stays under 6506.10
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Safety helmets are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform under the PPE regime. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the Saudi PPE Technical Regulation for head protection
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- An EN 397 (or applicable EN 12492 / EN 14052) test report covering the helmet
- Shock-absorption and penetration-resistance performance
- Flammability and chin-strap anchorage requirements
- Any declared optional performance (−30 °C, +150 °C, 440 V a.c., lateral deformation, molten metal)
- Correct PPE marking — standard number, year and quarter of manufacture, size range and maker
- User information / instructions with the required Arabic content
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Safety helmets are assessed under the Saudi Technical Regulation for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The regulation is built around protective performance, the declared standard and optional features, correct marking and the user information supplied with the helmet. The exact requirements are confirmed at assessment from the helmet type, standard and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Safety helmets are typically evaluated against the applicable EN head-protection standards. Typical verification includes:
- EN 397 — industrial safety helmets (shock absorption, penetration)
- EN 14052 — high-performance industrial helmets
- EN 12492 — helmets for mountaineering / work at height
- EN 50365 — electrically insulating helmets (up to 1000 V)
- Flammability and chin-strap anchorage / retention
- Optional tests — very low / high temperature, lateral deformation, molten metal splash
Existing accredited EN 397 test reports may be accepted where they cover the correct helmet and declared features. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical safety-helmet application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the helmet
- Technical datasheet showing type, standard, shell material and options
- EN 397 / EN 12492 / EN 14052 test report
- Photographs of the product and the moulded markings
- User information / instruction leaflet (with Arabic content)
- Declaration of Conformity and manufacturer details
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the helmet range against the PPE regulation and declared standard. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the helmet type, standard, shell material, optional features, HS code and applicable requirements, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Report and marking review
We check whether your EN 397 report can be reused and confirm the moulded markings and declared options match the report.
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Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, markings 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 standard and markings 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 a valid EN 397 report already exists and whether it covers the declared options. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With an acceptable existing test report — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — shock-absorption, penetration and optional 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
- Marked standard not supported by the test report
- Optional features (−30 °C, 440 V, molten metal) marked but not tested
- Moulded date of manufacture (year / quarter) missing from the shell
- Chin-strap anchorage or flammability requirement not met
- User information leaflet missing the required Arabic content
- HS code declared on the invoice not matching the helmet actually shipped
We check these points up front — especially the declared standard, the optional features and the moulded markings — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are safety helmets certified as PPE under SABER?
Yes — safety helmets are Personal Protective Equipment, so they are certified under the Saudi PPE Technical Regulation. The certificate depends on the helmet meeting the protective requirements of its declared standard and carrying the correct PPE markings, backed by an EN 397 test report. We confirm the applicable standard and requirements for your exact helmet at assessment.
Which standard applies to safety helmets?
Industrial safety helmets are assessed against EN 397; high-performance industrial helmets against EN 14052; helmets for work at height against EN 12492; and electrically insulating helmets against EN 50365. The right standard depends on the intended use. Marking a helmet to a standard its report does not cover is a common reason a certificate is queried, so we confirm the correct standard before testing.
Why does the moulded date of manufacture matter?
Safety helmets have a limited service life, so EN 397 requires the year and quarter of manufacture to be permanently moulded into the shell, along with the standard number, size range and manufacturer. A helmet missing the moulded date or marked to a standard it was not tested against is one of the most common reasons a head-protection certificate is queried. We check the moulded markings against the report before submission.
How much does SABER certification for safety helmets cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether a valid EN 397 report is already in place. With acceptable evidence 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 product 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 helmets 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 industrial hard hats, high-performance helmets, work-at-height helmets and electrically insulating helmets — generally classified under HS heading 6506.10. We confirm the correct classification and applicable requirements for your exact helmet during assessment.
Get Your Safety Helmets Certified
Send us your helmet type, standard (EN 397 / EN 12492 / EN 14052), shell material, any optional features, HS code and existing test reports. We will confirm the applicable PPE Technical Regulation, testing and marking requirements, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.