Overview
Safety shoes are certified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is what sets them apart from ordinary footwear. The certificate has to show the footwear protects the wearer — the toe cap withstands the required impact and compression, the sole resists slipping and, where declared, penetration — and that the safety class marked on the shoe is backed by an ISO 20345 test report. Because safety footwear is worn to prevent injury, Saudi Arabia examines the protective performance and markings as closely as any electrical product's safety.
Safety shoes fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the footwear range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. For safety footwear, the certificate relies heavily on the ISO 20345 test report, the declared safety class and the PPE markings.
Product Types
The SABER route and PPE requirements apply across safety and protective footwear, including:
- Steel toe-cap safety shoes and boots
- Composite / non-metallic toe-cap footwear
- Safety trainers / sports-style safety shoes
- Ankle and rigger safety boots
- Penetration-resistant (mid-sole) footwear
- Antistatic (ESD) and metatarsal-protection footwear
- Waterproof / chemical-resistant safety boots
- Occupational footwear without a toe cap (ISO 20347)
The scope of your certificate is defined from the footwear type, toe-cap material, safety class (SB, S1, S1P, S2, S3, S4, S5) and additional protection. We structure the certificate so the footwear you actually export is covered.
HS Codes
Safety footwear is commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the upper material and construction.
- 6401 — Waterproof footwear with a protective metal toe cap (rubber / plastic)
- 6402 — Other footwear with rubber or plastic uppers (incl. safety)
- 6403 — Footwear with leather uppers (incl. safety boots)
- 6405 — Other footwear
- 6406 — Parts of footwear (toe caps, soles, insoles)
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Safety shoes 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 protective footwear
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- An ISO 20345 (safety) or ISO 20347 (occupational) test report covering the declared class
- Toe-cap impact (200 J) and compression (15 kN) performance for safety footwear
- Slip resistance and any declared additional protection (penetration, antistatic, water)
- Correct PPE marking — safety class code, standard number and manufacturer identification
- User information / instructions with the required Arabic content
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Safety shoes are assessed under the Saudi Technical Regulation for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The regulation is built around protective performance, the declared safety class, correct marking and the user information supplied with the footwear. The exact requirements are confirmed at assessment from the footwear type, toe-cap material, safety class and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Safety footwear is typically evaluated against the applicable ISO footwear standards. Typical verification includes:
- ISO 20345 — safety footwear (200 J toe-cap impact, 15 kN compression)
- ISO 20346 — protective footwear (100 J toe cap) where applicable
- ISO 20347 — occupational footwear (no toe cap)
- ISO 13287 — slip resistance (SRA / SRB / SRC)
- Penetration resistance, antistatic and heat / oil resistance as declared
- Ergonomic, upper, lining and innocuousness requirements
Existing accredited ISO 20345 test reports may be accepted where they cover the correct footwear and declared class. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical safety-footwear application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the footwear
- Technical datasheet showing type, toe-cap material and safety class
- ISO 20345 / ISO 20347 test report covering the declared class
- Photographs of the product and the PPE 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 footwear range against the PPE regulation and the declared safety class. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the footwear type, toe-cap material, declared safety class, HS code and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Report and marking review
We check whether your ISO 20345 report can be reused and confirm the markings and declared class 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 class 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 ISO 20345 report already exists and whether it covers the declared safety class. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With an acceptable existing test report for the declared class — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — toe-cap, slip and penetration 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 safety class (e.g. S3) not supported by the test report
- Toe cap not meeting the 200 J impact / 15 kN compression requirement
- Slip-resistance or penetration claims not covered by testing
- PPE markings missing the class code, standard number or maker ID
- User information leaflet missing the required Arabic content
- HS code declared on the invoice not matching the footwear actually shipped
We check these points up front — especially the declared class, the toe-cap performance and the markings — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are safety shoes certified as PPE under SABER?
Yes — safety shoes are Personal Protective Equipment, so they are certified under the Saudi PPE Technical Regulation. The certificate depends on the footwear meeting the protective requirements of its declared safety class and carrying the correct PPE markings, backed by an ISO 20345 test report. We confirm the applicable class and requirements for your exact footwear at assessment.
Which standard applies to safety footwear?
Safety footwear with a 200 J toe cap is assessed against ISO 20345; protective footwear with a 100 J toe cap against ISO 20346; and occupational footwear with no toe cap against ISO 20347. The right standard depends on the toe-cap protection and the class you intend to declare. Using a report for the wrong class — for example marking S3 on footwear only tested to S1 — is a common reason a certificate is queried.
What do the safety classes (S1, S3, etc.) mean?
The class summarises the protection: SB is the basic toe-cap requirement, while S1, S1P, S2, S3, S4 and S5 add features such as antistatic properties, energy absorption, water resistance and penetration resistance. The class you mark on the footwear must match what the test report supports. We confirm the correct class for your product and check the markings before submission.
How much does SABER certification for safety shoes cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether a valid ISO 20345 report for the declared class 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 footwear 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 steel and composite toe-cap safety shoes and boots, safety trainers and occupational footwear — generally classified under HS headings 6401, 6402 and 6403. We confirm the correct classification and applicable requirements for your exact footwear during assessment.
Get Your Safety Shoes Certified
Send us your footwear type, toe-cap material, declared safety class (S1–S5), HS code and any existing ISO 20345 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.